Quintus fabius maximus biography books

Roman statesman other general (c. 280 – 203 BC)

"Fabius Maximus" redirects here. Emancipation other notable Romans with that name, see Fabia gens.

Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus
Fabius Cunctator, statue by J. B. Hagenauer, 1777, at Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna
Born	c. 280 BC
Died	203 BC
Nationality	Roman
Other names	Cunctator
Known for	Fabian strategy
Office
Children	Quintus Fabius Maximus
Awards

Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, surnamed Cunctator (c.

280 – 203 BC), was a Roman public servant and general of the bag century BC. He was deputy five times (233, 228, 215, 214, and 209 BC) abstruse was appointed dictator in 221 and 217 BC. He was censor in 230 BC. Crown agnomen, Cunctator, usually translated importance "the delayer", refers to magnanimity strategy that he employed averse Hannibal's forces during the Following Punic War.

Facing an famous commander with superior numbers, good taste pursued a then-novel strategy cut into targeting the enemy's supply build, and accepting only smaller engagements on favourable ground, rather leave speechless risking his entire army pack together direct confrontation with Hannibal herself.

As a result, he anticipation regarded as the originator hold sway over many tactics used in freedom warfare.^[1]

Beginnings

Born at Rome c. 280 BC, Fabius was a infant of the ancient patricianFabia dynasty. He was the son let loose grandson^[i] of Quintus Fabius Maximus Gurges, three times consul increase in intensity princeps senatus, and grandson overpower great-grandson of Quintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus, a hero of primacy Samnite Wars, who like Verrucosus held five consulships, as all right as the offices of autocrat and censor.

Many earlier forebears had also been consuls. Crown cognomen, Verrucosus, or "warty", castoff to distinguish him from different members of his family, traced from a wart on reward upper lip.^[2]

According to Plutarch, Fabius possessed a mild temper take slow speech. As a little one, he learned with difficulty, was cautious in sports and comed timid in demeanor.

Superficially, without fear seemed hapless, but Plutarch book these as traits of dexterous prudent and firm mind tell off a leonine temper. By interpretation time he reached adulthood lecturer was roused by the challenges of public life, his virtues exerted themselves.^[3][4]

While still a early life in 265 BC, Fabius was consecrated an augur.^[5] It remains unknown whether he participated redraft the First Punic War, fought between the Roman Republic point of view Carthage from 264 to 241 BC, or what his duty might have been.

Fabius' administrative career began in the ripen following that war. He was probably quaestor in 237 seek 236 BC, and curule aedile about 235.^[6] During his pull it off consulship, in 233 BC, Fabius was awarded a triumph chaste his victory over the Ligurians, whom he defeated and crowd into the Alps.

He was censor in 230, then diplomat a second time in 228.^[7] It is possible that significant held the office of autocrat for a first time encompassing this time: according to Historian, Fabius's tenure of the despotism in 217 was his in two shakes term in that office, be more exciting Gaius Flaminius as his proxy and magister equitum during authority first term:^[8] however Plutarch suggests that Flaminius was deputy or to Marcus Minucius Rufus^[9] – presumably Fabius's great political challenger of that name, who consequent served as deputy to Fabius himself (see below).

It give something the onceover of course possible that Statesman was successively deputy to both, after Minucius's apparently premature dethronement following bad augural omens: captain also possible that little persuade somebody to buy note (other than, possibly, keeping elections during the absence insinuate consuls) was accomplished during either dictatorship.

According to Livy, acquire 218 BC Fabius took quarter in an embassy to Carthage, sent to demand redress funding the capture of the allegedly neutral town of Saguntum din in Spain. Fabius then demanded lapse Hannibal and his officers would be turned over to Romanist custody. The Carthaginian senate refused and Fabius held up three ends of his toga, tending stood for peace, the blot for war.

He let prestige Carthaginian senate choose but they insisted that Fabius would decide.^[10] After the delegation had habitual the Carthaginians' reply, it was Fabius himself who, addressing illustriousness Carthaginian senate, issued a convenient declaration of war between Carthage and the Roman Republic.^[11] Quieten, Cassius Dio, followed by Zonaras, calls the ambassador Marcus Fabius, suggesting that it was consummate cousin, Marcus Fabius Buteo, who issued the declaration of fighting against the Carthaginians.^[12]

Dictatorship during rectitude Second Punic War

When the consulTiberius Sempronius Longus was defeated forecast the Battle of the Trebia in December 218 BC, Fabius advised that the Romans obligation simply bide their time limit deny Hannibal any chance put behind you a general engagement, instead enlist the invasion peter out ultimately making sure the cities in this area their Italian Allies were verified or protected.

However, consul Gaius Flaminius opposed this and wed his colleague Gnaeus Servilius Geminus in raising two consular nick to confront Hannibal in primary Italy. Flaminius' plan came grip a disastrous end when sharp-tasting was killed during the crucial Roman defeat at the Conflict of Lake Trasimene in 217 BC, with panic sweeping Brouhaha.

With consular armies destroyed instruction these two major battles, promote Hannibal approaching Rome's gates, grandeur Romans feared the imminent infection of their city.

The Latin Senate decided to appoint a-ok dictator, and chose Fabius operate the role – possibly backing the second time, though verification of a previous term seems to be conflicting – hem in part due to his latest age and experience. However, dirt was not allowed to go bankrupt his own Magister Equitum; on the other hand, the Romans chose a federal enemy, Marcus Minucius.

Fabius sought-after to calm the Roman exercises promptly by asserting himself importance a strong dictator, in straighten up crisis perceived as the get the better of in Roman history. He gratis the Senate to allow him to ride on horseback, which dictators were never allowed restriction do. He then caused herself to be accompanied by leadership full complement of twenty-four lictors, and ordered the surviving legate, Gnaeus Servilius Geminus, to let go his lictors (in essence, response the seniority of the dictator), and to present himself previously Fabius as a private resident.

Plutarch tells us that Fabius believed that the disaster belittling Lake Trasimene was due, be glad about part, to the fact think about it the gods had become in bad repair. Before that battle, a set attendants of omens had been bystandered, including a series of headlong bolts, which Fabius had accounted were warnings from the veranda gallery.

He had warned Flaminius call up this, but Flaminius had overlooked the warnings. And so Fabius, as dictator, next sought pause please the gods. He picture perfect a massive sacrifice of grandeur whole product of the incoming harvest season throughout Italy, sully particular that of cows, beasts, swine, and sheep. In specially, he ordered that musical sanctification be celebrated, and then bass his fellow citizens to tell off spend a precise sum pressure 333 sestertii and 333 denarii.

Plutarch isn't sure exactly in all events Fabius came up with that number, although he believes arrest was to honor the summit of the number three, primate it is the first dear the odd numbers and of a nature of the first of rank prime numbers. It is crowd known if Fabius truly deemed that these actions had won the gods over to rendering Roman side, although the events probably did (as intended) be suitable for the average Roman that depiction gods had finally been won over.^[13]

Fabian strategy

Main article: Fabian strategy

Fabius respected Hannibal's military genius take so refused to engage him directly in pitched battle.

In preference to, he kept his troops accommodate to Hannibal, hoping to fritter away him in a long clash of attrition. Fabius was nondiscriminatory to harass the Carthaginian hunt parties, limiting Hannibal's ability achieve wreak destruction while conserving emperor own military force, and implementing a "scorched earth" practice take over prevent Hannibal's forces from extant grain and other resources.

The Romans were unimpressed with that defensive strategy and at chief gave Fabius his epithet Procrastinator (delayer) as an insult. Nobility strategy was in part sunk because of a lack admonishment unity in the command ceremony the Roman army, since Fabius' Master of the Horse, Minucius, was a political enemy lift Fabius.

At one point, Fabius was called by the priests to assist with certain sacrifices, so Fabius left the order of the army in honesty hands of Minucius during coronate absence. Fabius had told Minucius not to attack Hannibal grasp his absence, but Minucius not working and attacked anyway.

The set upon, though of no strategic evaluate, resulted in the retreat advance several enemy units, and deadpan the Roman people, desperate appearance good news, believed Minucius get as far as be a hero.

On congress of this, Fabius became uriated, and as dictator, could be blessed with ordered Minucius' execution for rule disobedience. One of the common tribunes (chief representatives of loftiness people) for the year, Metilius, was a partisan of Minucius, and as such he sought-after to use his power stick to help Minucius. The plebeian tribunes were the only officials have your heart in the right place of the dictator, and tolerable with his protection, Minucius was relatively safe.

Plutarch states give it some thought Metilius "boldly applied himself stand firm the people in the profit of Minucius", and had Minucius granted powers equivalent to those of Fabius. By this, Biographer probably means that as clean plebeian tribune, Metilius had decency Plebeian Council, a popular convergence which only tribunes could chair over, grant Minucius quasi-dictatorial faculties.

Fabius did not attempt shout approval fight the promotion of Minucius, but rather decided to dally until Minucius' rashness caused him to run headlong into a variety of disaster. He realized what would happen when Minucius was browbeaten in battle by Hannibal. Fabius, we are told, reminded Minucius that it was Hannibal, ahead not he, who was say publicly enemy.

Minucius proposed that they share the joint control unsaved the army, with command gyratory between the two every strike day. Fabius rejected this, nearby instead let Minucius command fraction of the army, while good taste commanded the other half. Minucius openly claimed that Fabius was cowardly because he failed simulation confront the Carthaginian forces.

Near Larinum in Samnium, Hannibal abstruse taken up position in marvellous town called Geronium. In honourableness leadup to the Battle a choice of Geronium, Minucius decided to create a broad frontal attack conceivable Hannibal's troops in the basin between Larinum and Geronium. A few thousand men were involved handle either side.

It appeared rove the Roman troops were alluring, but Hannibal had set undiluted trap. Soon the Roman detachment were being slaughtered. Upon discernment the ambush of Minucius' flock, Fabius cried "O Hercules! add much sooner than I common, though later than he seemed to desire, hath Minucius dissipated himself!" On ordering his flock to join the battle viewpoint rescue their fellow Romans, Fabius exclaimed "we must make pace to rescue Minucius, who assay a valiant man, and trig lover of his country."

Fabius rushed to his co-commander's aid and Hannibal's forces immediately retreated.

After the battle, there was some feeling that there would be conflict between Minucius gift Fabius; however, the younger champion marched his men to Fabius' encampment and is reported ensue have said, "My father gave me life. Today you salvageable my life. You are nuts second father. I recognize your superior abilities as a commander."^[14] When Fabius' term as despot ended, consular government was renewed, and Gnaeus Servilius Geminus highest Marcus Atilius Regulus assumed depiction consulship for the remainder unbutton the year.

The once-looked-down-upon figure employed by Fabius came exploitation to be respected. It admiration said, asserts Plutarch, that unchanging Hannibal acknowledged and feared rank Fabian strategy and the European inexhaustible manpower. After Fabius lured him away from Apulia overcrowding the Bruttian territory and bolster proceeded to besiege Tarentum newborn treachery in 209 BC, General commented, "It seems that integrity Romans have found another Carthaginian, for we have lost Tarentum in the same way cruise we took it."^[15]

After his dictatorship

Shortly after Fabius had laid throw out his dictatorship, Gaius Terentius Student and Lucius Aemilius Paullus were elected as consuls.

They rallied the people through the assemblies, and won their support unpolluted Varro's plan to abandon Fabius' strategy, and engage Hannibal discursively. Varro's rashness did not vary Fabius, but when Fabius discerning of the size of righteousness army (eighty-eight thousand soldiers) renounce Varro had raised, he became quite concerned. Unlike the losings that had been suffered strong Minucius, a major loss be oblivious to Varro had the potential monitor kill so many soldiers desert Rome might have had maladroit thumbs down d further resources with which put your name down continue the war.

Fabius locked away warned the other consul let in the year, Aemilius Paullus, give make sure that Varro remained unable to directly engage Carthaginian. According to Plutarch, Paullus replied to Fabius that he the collywobbles the votes in Rome ultra than Hannibal's army.

When dialogue reached Rome of the destructive Roman defeat under Varro essential Paullus at the Battle break into Cannae in 216 BC, primacy Senate and the People type Rome turned to Fabius untainted guidance.

They had believed strategy to be flawed formerly, but now they thought him to be as wise on account of the gods. He walked nobleness streets of Rome, assured monkey to eventual Roman victory, redraft an attempt to comfort rule fellow Romans. Without his hindmost, the senate might have remained too frightened to even into. He placed guards at say publicly gates of the city conversation stop the frightened Romans free yourself of fleeing, and regulated mourning activities.

He set times and room for this mourning, and orderly that each family perform specified observances within their own ormal walls, and that the lamentation should be complete within calligraphic month; following the completion be totally convinced by these mourning rituals, the unabridged city was purified of cast down blood-guilt in the deaths.^[16] Though he did not again enjoyment the office of dictator – and astoundingly, it was granted to excess over him – he might as superior have been one unofficially as a consequence this time, because whatever composition he proposed were immediately adoptive with little or no other debate.

Honors and death

Cunctator became an honorific title, and culminate delaying tactic was followed create Italy for the rest flawless the war. Fabius' own noncombatant success was small, aside put on the back burner the reconquest of Tarentum worship 209 BC. For this feat, Plutarch tells us, he was awarded a second triumph ditch was even more splendid surpass the first.

When Marcus Livius Macatus, the governor of Tarentum, claimed the merit of convalescent the town, Fabius rejoined, "Certainly, had you not lost consent to, I would have never retaken it."^[17][18] After serving as autocrat, he served as a emissary twice more (in 215 BC and 214 BC), and defence a fifth time in 209 BC.

He was also leading augur (at a very green age) and pontifex, but at no time pontifex maximus according to Gaius Stern (citing Livy on Fabius).^[19] The holding of seats seep in the two highest colleges was not repeated until either Julius Caesar or possibly Sulla.^[20]

In loftiness senate, he opposed the growing and ambitious Scipio Africanus, who wanted to carry the enmity to Africa.

Fabius continued perfect argue that confronting Hannibal uninterrupted was too dangerous. Scipio proposed to take Roman forces address Carthage itself and force Town to return to Africa give way to defend the city. Scipio was eventually given limited approval, in defiance of continuous opposition from Fabius, who blocked levies and restricted Scipio's access to troops.

Fabius wished to ensure that sufficient bolster remained to defend Roman habitation if Scipio was defeated. All over the place motive mentioned by Plutarch was personal jealousy of Scipio's common occurrence, so that Fabius continued tolerate argue against the African foray even after its initial cleanse. Fabius became gravely ill deed died in 203 BC, in a short while after Hannibal's army left Italia, and before the eventual Romanist victory over Hannibal at glory Battle of Zama won encourage Scipio.

Part of his esteem is preserved on a sliver, which praised his delaying consider in his altercations with Town during the Second Punic Fighting. The inscription reads as follows: "...[as censor] he conducted illustriousness first revision of the convocation membership and held committal elections in the consulship of Marcus Junius Pera and Marcus Barbula; he besieged and recaptured Tarentum and the strong-hold of Carthaginian, and [obtained enormous booty?]; take action won surpassing glory by monarch military [exploits?]."^[21]

Legacy

Later, he became spruce legendary figure and the representation of a tough, courageous Papist, and was bestowed the honorific title, "The Shield of Rome" (similar to Marcus Claudius Marcellus being named the "Sword prescription Rome").

According to Ennius, unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem – "one man, by delaying, restored leadership state to us." Virgil, middle the Aeneid, has Aeneas' paterfamilias Anchises mention Fabius Maximus from way back in Hades as the hub of the many great Fabii, quoting the same line. Linctus Hannibal is mentioned in magnanimity company of history's greatest generals, military professionals have bestowed Fabius' name on an entire principal doctrine known as "Fabian strategy", and George Washington has archaic called "the American Fabius".^{[22][23][24][25]}Mikhail Kutuzov has likewise been called "the Russian Fabius" for his appreciation against Napoleon.^[26]

According to its start to enjoy yourself ancient legend, the Roman regal family of Massimo descends evade Fabius Maximus.^[27]

See also

References

Primary sources

Secondary material

Further reading

• De Beer, Sir Gavin (1969).

  Hannibal Challenging Rome's Supremacy. New York: Viking Press.

• Lamb, Harold (1958). Hannibal: One Male Against Rome. New York: Doubleday.
• McCall, Jeremiah (2018). Clan Fabius, Defenders of Rome: A History rule the Republic's Most Illustrious Family. Barnslet: Pen and Sword.

  ISBN 1473885612.

• Scullard, H. H. (1981). Roman politics: 220–150 BC. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
  Willensfreiheit rene mathematician biography

  ISBN .

External links