Vibius Cornelius Scipio Nascia is the scion of a family line long in decline. Although of ancient and noble blood, the Scipio Nasicas have not been prominent for some time. The first of the Scipio Nasicas to come to prominence was Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica who as praetor of Further Spain in 194 defeated a force of invading Lusitani near Ilipa north of Seville. Elected consul for 191, he completed the subjugation of the Boii and celebrated a Triumph.

His son, Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Corculum served with distinction under L. Aemilius Paullus in the Pydna campaign of 168 and was elected consul for 162. He was elected censor in 159 and elected to a second consulship in 155. He completed the Dalmatian War and celebrated a Triumph. Standing for traditional Roman values, he opposed the plans of the censors of 154 to build a permanent theatre in Rome. In 147 and 142 the Censors appointed him Princeps Senatus and he became the Pontifex Maximus in 150.

Continuing the family tradition, Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Serapio was consul in 138. He vigourously opposed his cousin Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus in 133. When Tiberius organized a mob to be re-elected to the Tribunate Serapio, calling on those who wanted to keep the Republic safe to follow him, led a charge by senators and their clients which ended in the death of Tiberius. Elected Pontifex Maximus, he was sent on a mission to Asia (likely to save him from the popular fury over his role in the Gracchan affair) he died at Pergamum.

The family's wealth and prestige were damaged in the ensuing years as populares continuously raised the people against the descendants of Serapio. Three generations have passed since Serapio's death and the Scipio Nasica line of the Cornelius clan nearly died out. Vibius Cornelius Scipio Nasica is the sole remaining male of that line. He inherited very little, the family fortune all but spent. However, he has shrewdly used what resources he had to rebuild his families wealth. While by no means the richest of Romans, his family now has substantial holdings in Italia. Along with the rebuilding of his wealth, Vibius has risen along the cursus honorum and has reached the praetorship. The first in his family to do so since Serapio. His sights are now set on the consulship, returning his family to the glory it once had.

Now, as Praetor Urbanus, Vibius is in the midst of rebuilding his family life. His first wife died in childbirth several years before and he has decided it is time to remarry.