Marcus Aurelius Scaurus

{{short description|Roman politician and general}}

Marcus Aurelius Scaurus (died 105 BC) was a Roman politician and general during the Cimbrian War. After one of the consul designates was prosecuted and condemned,Swan, Michael, The Consular Fasti of 23 BC and the Conspiracy of Varro Murena, Harvard Studies in Classical Philology, Vol 71, 1967, pg. 240 Scaurus was made consul suffectus in 108 BC.

In 105 BC he went as a senior legate with the consul Gnaeus Mallius Maximus to Gaul to battle the Cimbric invasion. Scaurus was ordered to construct a cavalry camp around 30 miles north of the consular camp. The Battle of Arausio began with the Cimbri and Teutones advancing on the cavalry camp, which provided little resistance. The Roman force was completely overwhelmed and the legate was captured and brought before the Cimbrian chieftain Boiorix. Scaurus was not humbled by his capture and advised Boiorix to turn back before his people were destroyed by the Roman forces. The king of the Cimbri was indignant at this impudence and had Scaurus executed.Livy, Periocha 67[http://www.attalus.org/translate/granius.html#book33 Granius Licinianus, Book 33] According to Granius Licinianus, he could have escaped death but chose not to; in addition, he refused their request to help lead their forces, considering it shameful to outlive his defeated army.