Aemilius Papinianus (Latin pronunciation: [ae̯ˈmɪliʊs paːpɪniˈaːnʊs]; Ancient Greek: Αἰμίλιος Παπινιανός;[1] 142 CE–212 CE), simply rendered as Papinian (/pəˈpɪniən/)[2] in English, was a celebrated Roman jurist, magister libellorum, attorney general (advocatus fisci) and, after the death of Gaius Fulvius Plautianus in 205 CE, praetorian prefect.

He was of Syrian origin and birth and a native of Emesa, for he is said to have been a kinsman of Septimius Severus' second wife, Julia Domna,[4] who was a member of the Emesene dynasty.

Papinian was an intimate friend of Emperor Severus and accompanied him to Britain during 207 CE, where he served in "the forum of York"[7] in response to an uprising by Scottish Highlanders.

[9] His death followed the 212 CE fratricide of Geta, amongst the general slaughter of his friends and those perceived associated with him, according to one source estimated as 20,000 persons.

[8] The author of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article states that the details of Papinian's death "are variously related, and have undergone legendary embellishment."