Aemilia Hilaria

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**Aemilia Hilaria** (1043 – 1116) was a Roman physician who is regarded as one of the most significant physicians of the Pax Aureliana, and the mother of early germ theory. Her work in the aftermath of the Aemilian Plague (the name of which is derived from her) formed the basis of the Hilarian theory of disease (also named for her), an early form of germ theory.

## Biography

Aemilia was born in the Roman Empire, in the town of Aquae Tarbellicae in Gaul. She was the daughter of Caecilius Agricius Arborius and Aemilia Corinthia Maura. Her father was partly descended from the native Celtic Aeduan aristocracy, and her mother came from the local aristocracy of Aquae Tarbellicae. Although despite their aristocratic origins both parents are said to have been poor. Aemilia had one brother, Aemilius Magnus Arborius, and two sisters: Aemilia Dryadia, who died in infancy, and Aemilia Aeonia, the mother of Ausonius.

Aemilia Hilaria was given the male nickname Hilarus while she was still an infant she is said to have been cheerful like a boy (Hilaria from this later became part of how we know her name today). In her youth she is said to have acted like a proper young man, forgoing the traditional feminine Roman role. Taking an interest in medicine she chose to become a physician, despite it being a career at the time dominated by men. To have better freedom pursuing this career she chose not to seek out a spouse, and subsequently was nicknamed *virgo devota* ( *consecrated virgin* ).

As a physician she practiced medicine and wrote books on gynecology, obstetrics, and medicine. In 1072 a plague (which would later be named after her), most likely anthrax, broke out, throughout the brief plague Aemilia was studious, observing how the plague spread among other things. As a result of her experiences in the plague she wrote two books. The first was a short chronology of the plague, interspersed with some observations, it was titled *Annos Pestilentiae* (English: the Years of the Plague). The second, and much more significant work, was De Pestilentia Propagationem, or 'on the epidemic's spread'.

De Pestilentia Propagationem, was finished being written some years after the plague, and compiled not only all of Aemilia's observations on the plague, but also subsequent research, theories. The most noteworthy aspect of the work was the suggestion that diseases were caused by creatures to small to be seen by the eye, that spread through the air, water, and touch, and enter the body through the mouth and nose. This theory is very similar to that which was proposed by Varro some three centuries earlier, and it is believed by modern historians that Varro was possibly a large influence of Aemilia's research and theories. While these propositions were extraordinary, and form an early germ theory, because of the technology of the time (particularly the lack of microscopes) she was unable to definitively prove anything. Aemilia did conclude correctly that better cleanliness could help reduce the spread of disease, though a full understanding of the cause of disease would continue to be elusive for hundreds of more years.

After the death of her sister Aeonia she took care, as a surrogate mother, of her nephew, Ausonius, who went on to become Roman consul twice and a well known writer. Critically, Ausonius, from his position of power, propagated her work and discoveries. The circulation of her work by Ausonius allowed her theories to enter the common knowledge of the Roman educated elite, and some historians believe it helped reduce the severity of plagues in the Roman Empire. Within a hundred years the Miasma theory of disease had largely been replaced within the Roman world by what became known as the Hilarian theory of disease, and after a thousand years the Hilarian theory itself would be replaced by its evolution: the modern germ theory of disease.

## Works

* *De Pestilentia Propagationem*
* *Annos Pestilentiae*
* *De Puerperio*
* *Compendium Corporis Feminei*

Several other lost works

## Legacy and modern evaluation

Aemilia is regarded as one of the progenitors of germ theory of diseases, which was a minor medical concept at the time. Her work ended the prominence of the Miasma theory of disease and ultimately improved the public health of the Roman world. To what level her work helped reduce the effect of plagues is disputed as several major plagues took place, however, as some argue very few of these were as devastating as the preceding Antonine or Cyprian plagues.

Some modern historians believe she might have been a lesbian, some believe she might have seen herself as a male, and of course some historians believe neither of these things. What is clear though is that Amelia transcended the social expectations of the day for women.