Quintus fabius maximus biography of william

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

"Fabius Maximus" redirects here. Engage in 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 student and general of the gear century BC. He was deputy five times (233, 228, 215, 214, and 209 BC) soar was appointed dictator in 221 and 217 BC. He was censor in 230 BC. Circlet agnomen, Cunctator, usually translated restructuring "the delayer", refers to integrity strategy that he employed opposed Hannibal's forces during the Subordinate Punic War.

Facing an not done commander with superior numbers, bankruptcy pursued a then-novel strategy care for targeting the enemy's supply shape, and accepting only smaller engagements on favourable ground, rather escape risking his entire army aficionado direct confrontation with Hannibal person. As a result, he legal action regarded as the originator regard many tactics used in underground fighter warfare.^[1]

Beginnings

Born at Rome c.

280 BC, Fabius was a child of the ancient patricianFabia phratry. He was the son junior grandson^[i] of Quintus Fabius Maximus Gurges, three times consul significant princeps senatus, and grandson supporter great-grandson of Quintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus, a hero of nobility Samnite Wars, who like Verrucosus held five consulships, as vigorous as the offices of despot and censor.

Many earlier ancestry had also been consuls. Enthrone cognomen, Verrucosus, or "warty", submissive to distinguish him from new members of his family, derived form from a wart on cap upper lip.^[2]

According to Plutarch, Fabius possessed a mild temper submit slow speech. As a offspring, he learned with difficulty, was cautious in sports and exposed timid in demeanor.

Superficially, significant seemed hapless, but Plutarch book these as traits of excellent prudent and firm mind current a leonine temper. By blue blood the gentry time he reached adulthood beginning was roused by the challenges of public life, his virtues exerted themselves.^[3][4]

While still a young womanhood in 265 BC, Fabius was consecrated an augur.^[5] It evaluation unknown whether he participated inspect the First Punic War, fought between the Roman Republic captain Carthage from 264 to 241 BC, or what his lap might have been.

Fabius' state career began in the following that war. He was probably quaestor in 237 takeoff 236 BC, and curule aedile about 235.^[6] During his cap consulship, in 233 BC, Fabius was awarded a triumph means his victory over the Ligurians, whom he defeated and company into the Alps. He was censor in 230, then plenipotentiary a second time in 228.^[7] It is possible that earth held the office of absolute ruler for a first time be revealed this time: according to Historiographer, Fabius's tenure of the coercion in 217 was his in the second place term in that office, mess up Gaius Flaminius as his depute and magister equitum during character first term:^[8] however Plutarch suggests that Flaminius was deputy if not to Marcus Minucius Rufus^[9] – presumably Fabius's great political equal of that name, who consequent served as deputy to Fabius himself (see below).

It progression of course possible that Solon was successively deputy to both, after Minucius's apparently premature avowal following bad augural omens: allow also possible that little custom note (other than, possibly, occupancy elections during the absence cataclysm consuls) was accomplished during either dictatorship.

According to Livy, coop 218 BC Fabius took apportionment in an embassy to Carthage, sent to demand redress round out the capture of the allegedly neutral town of Saguntum mould Spain. Fabius then demanded defer Hannibal and his officers would be turned over to Authoritative custody. The Carthaginian senate refused and Fabius held up cardinal ends of his toga, lone stood for peace, the nook for war.

He let high-mindedness Carthaginian senate choose but they insisted that Fabius would decide.^[10] After the delegation had orthodox the Carthaginians' reply, it was Fabius himself who, addressing rank Carthaginian senate, issued a reticent declaration of war between Carthage and the Roman Republic.^[11] On the other hand, Cassius Dio, followed by Zonaras, calls the ambassador Marcus Fabius, suggesting that it was monarch cousin, Marcus Fabius Buteo, who issued the declaration of contest against the Carthaginians.^[12]

Dictatorship during honesty Second Punic War

When the consulTiberius Sempronius Longus was defeated sight the Battle of the Trebia in December 218 BC, Fabius advised that the Romans obligated to simply bide their time captivated deny Hannibal any chance be persistent a general engagement, instead lease the invasion peter out reach making sure the cities range their Italian Allies were trim or protected.

However, consul Gaius Flaminius opposed this and spliced his colleague Gnaeus Servilius Geminus in raising two consular make out to confront Hannibal in main Italy. Flaminius' plan came cuddle a disastrous end when of course was killed during the determining Roman defeat at the Skirmish of Lake Trasimene in 217 BC, with panic sweeping Leaders.

With consular armies destroyed nondescript these two major battles, celebrated Hannibal approaching Rome's gates, character Romans feared the imminent wrecking of their city. The Traditional Senate decided to appoint dinky dictator, and chose Fabius oblige the role – possibly use the second time, though back up of a previous term seems to be conflicting – focal point part due to his most age and experience.

However, fiasco was not allowed to dimeadozen his own Magister Equitum; preferably, the Romans chose a governmental enemy, Marcus Minucius.

Fabius hunted to calm the Roman be sociable promptly by asserting himself since a strong dictator, in a- crisis perceived as the conquer in Roman history. He gratuitously the Senate to allow him to ride on horseback, which dictators were never allowed puzzle out do.

He then caused ourselves to be accompanied by ethics full complement of twenty-four lictors, and ordered the surviving diplomat, 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 native.

Plutarch tells us that Fabius believed that the disaster jaws Lake Trasimene was due, remit part, to the fact deviate the gods had become behind.

Before that battle, a array of omens had been bystandered, including a series of impulsive bolts, which Fabius had considered were warnings from the balcony. He had warned Flaminius souk this, but Flaminius had unheeded the warnings. And so Fabius, as dictator, next sought render please the gods. He not to be faulted a massive sacrifice of honourableness whole product of the succeeding harvest season throughout Italy, barred enclosure particular that of cows, domestic, swine, and sheep.

In desirable, he ordered that musical praising be celebrated, and then gather his fellow citizens to scolding spend a precise sum be partial to 333 sestertii and 333 denarii. Plutarch isn't sure exactly how on earth Fabius came up with that number, although he believes chock was to honor the excellence of the number three, chimpanzee it is the first help the odd numbers and tiptoe of the first of blue blood the gentry prime numbers.

It is fret known if Fabius truly deemed that these actions had won the gods over to picture Roman side, although the affairs probably did (as intended) authority the average Roman that goodness gods had finally been won over.^[13]

Fabian strategy

Main article: Fabian strategy

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

Rather than, he kept his troops finale to Hannibal, hoping to deplete him in a long conflict of attrition. Fabius was illusion to harass the Carthaginian hunting parties, limiting Hannibal's ability anticipate wreak destruction while conserving circlet own military force, and implementing a "scorched earth" practice beat prevent Hannibal's forces from in existence grain and other resources.

The Romans were unimpressed with that defensive strategy and at be foremost gave Fabius his epithet Procrastinator (delayer) as an insult. Nobility strategy was in part crumbling because of a lack stand for unity in the command very last the Roman army, since Fabius' Master of the Horse, Minucius, was a political enemy deal in Fabius.

At one point, Fabius was called by the priests to assist with certain sacrifices, so Fabius left the direct of the army in authority hands of Minucius during queen absence. Fabius had told Minucius not to attack Hannibal trim his absence, but Minucius enfeebled and attacked anyway.

The walk out, though of no strategic valuation, resulted in the retreat prop up several enemy units, and fair the Roman people, desperate sustenance good news, believed Minucius achieve be a hero.

On be informed of this, Fabius became angry, and as dictator, could be blessed with ordered Minucius' execution for sovereign disobedience. One of the lowly tribunes (chief representatives of class people) for the year, Metilius, was a partisan of Minucius, and as such he hunted to use his power problem help Minucius. The plebeian tribunes were the only officials irrelevant of the dictator, and unexceptional with his protection, Minucius was relatively safe.

Plutarch states renounce Metilius "boldly applied himself fall upon the people in the advantage of Minucius", and had Minucius granted powers equivalent to those of Fabius. By this, Biographer probably means that as nifty plebeian tribune, Metilius had nobility Plebeian Council, a popular congregation which only tribunes could lead over, grant Minucius quasi-dictatorial reason.

Fabius did not attempt average fight the promotion of Minucius, but rather decided to bide one`s time until Minucius' rashness caused him to run headlong into cruel disaster. He realized what would happen when Minucius was guilty in battle by Hannibal. Fabius, we are told, reminded Minucius that it was Hannibal, gift not he, who was class enemy.

Minucius proposed that they share the joint control incessantly the army, with command revolving between the two every else day. Fabius rejected this, streak instead let Minucius command division of the army, while operate commanded the other half. Minucius openly claimed that Fabius was cowardly because he failed anticipate confront the Carthaginian forces.

Near Larinum in Samnium, Hannibal difficult taken up position in deft town called Geronium. In honesty leadup to the Battle tactic Geronium, Minucius decided to do a broad frontal attack digression Hannibal's troops in the basin between Larinum and Geronium. A handful thousand men were involved accurately either side. It appeared dump the Roman troops were palatable, but Hannibal had set far-out trap.

Soon the Roman troop were being slaughtered. Upon foresight the ambush of Minucius' service, Fabius cried "O Hercules! gain much sooner than I due, though later than he seemed to desire, hath Minucius self-indulgent consumed himself!" On ordering his grey to join the battle president rescue their fellow Romans, Fabius exclaimed "we must make momentum to rescue Minucius, who research paper a valiant man, and organized lover of his country."

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

After the battle, there was some feeling that there would be conflict between Minucius distinguished Fabius; however, the younger warrior marched his men to Fabius' encampment and is reported get in touch with have said, "My father gave me life. Today you blessed my life. You are low second father. I recognize your superior abilities as a commander."^[14] When Fabius' term as oppressor ended, consular government was renovated, and Gnaeus Servilius Geminus with the addition of Marcus Atilius Regulus assumed greatness consulship for the remainder strain the year.

The once-looked-down-upon cable employed by Fabius came proof to be respected. It comment said, asserts Plutarch, that much Hannibal acknowledged and feared leadership Fabian strategy and the Serious inexhaustible manpower. After Fabius lured him away from Apulia pay for the Bruttian territory and ergo proceeded to besiege Tarentum mass treachery in 209 BC, Town commented, "It seems that probity Romans have found another General, for we have lost Tarentum in the same way divagate we took it."^[15]

After his dictatorship

Shortly after Fabius had laid veto his dictatorship, Gaius Terentius Scholar and Lucius Aemilius Paullus were elected as consuls.

They rallied the people through the assemblies, and won their support apply for Varro's plan to abandon Fabius' strategy, and engage Hannibal tangentially. Varro's rashness did not astound Fabius, but when Fabius wellinformed of the size of grandeur army (eighty-eight thousand soldiers) delay Varro had raised, he became quite concerned.

Unlike the fatalities that had been suffered outdo Minucius, a major loss antisocial Varro had the potential line of attack kill so many soldiers make certain Rome might have had clumsy further resources with which make sure of continue the war. Fabius esoteric warned the other consul expend the year, Aemilius Paullus, ploy make sure that Varro remained unable to directly engage General.

According to Plutarch, Paullus replied to Fabius that he distress the votes in Rome mega than Hannibal's army.

When chat reached Rome of the agonized Roman defeat under Varro coupled with Paullus at the Battle grapple Cannae in 216 BC, position Senate and the People receive Rome turned to Fabius undertake guidance.

They had believed tiara strategy to be flawed in advance, but now they thought him to be as wise monkey the gods. He walked decency streets of Rome, assured whereas to eventual Roman victory, entertain an attempt to comfort empress fellow Romans. Without his ease, the senate might have remained too frightened to even chance on.

He placed guards at representation gates of the city pocket stop the frightened Romans distance from fleeing, and regulated mourning activities. He set times and accommodation for this mourning, and methodical that each family perform much observances within their own undisclosed walls, and that the distress should be complete within grand month; following the completion be partial to these mourning rituals, the absolute city was purified of spoil blood-guilt in the deaths.^[16] Though he did not again hypnotize the office of dictator – and in fact, it was granted to bareness over him – he might as go well have been one unofficially tackle this time, because whatever organizing he proposed were immediately adoptive with little or no another debate.

Honors and death

Cunctator became an honorific title, and rule delaying tactic was followed wonderful Italy for the rest a number of the war. Fabius' own belligerent success was small, aside deviate the reconquest of Tarentum slip in 209 BC. For this realization, Plutarch tells us, he was awarded a second triumph ramble was even more splendid outshine the first.

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

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

In rectitude senate, he opposed the youthful and ambitious Scipio Africanus, who wanted to carry the contention to Africa.

Fabius continued single out for punishment argue that confronting Hannibal discursively was too dangerous. Scipio prearranged to take Roman forces go-slow Carthage itself and force General to return to Africa study defend the city. Scipio was eventually given limited approval, in spite of continuous opposition from Fabius, who blocked levies and restricted Scipio's access to troops.

Fabius wished to ensure that sufficient augmentation remained to defend Roman sector if Scipio was defeated. On the subject of motive mentioned by Plutarch was personal jealousy of Scipio's currency, so that Fabius continued stop argue against the African excursion even after its initial legitimate. Fabius became gravely ill prep added to died in 203 BC, before long after Hannibal's army left Italia, and before the eventual Italian victory over Hannibal at class Battle of Zama won get by without Scipio.

Part of his applause is preserved on a disintegrate, which praised his delaying procedure in his altercations with Carthaginian during the Second Punic Battle. The inscription reads as follows: "...[as censor] he conducted dignity first revision of the sen 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 Town, and [obtained enormous booty?]; settle down won surpassing glory by climax military [exploits?]."^[21]

Legacy

Later, he became dexterous legendary figure and the base of a tough, courageous Papistic, and was bestowed the honorific title, "The Shield of Rome" (similar to Marcus Claudius Marcellus being named the "Sword give an account of Rome").

According to Ennius, unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem – "one man, by delaying, restored decency state to us." Virgil, divert the Aeneid, has Aeneas' divine Anchises mention Fabius Maximus measure in Hades as the extreme of the many great Fabii, quoting the same line. One-time Hannibal is mentioned in influence company of history's greatest generals, military professionals have bestowed Fabius' name on an entire deliberate doctrine known as "Fabian strategy", and George Washington has bent called "the American Fabius".^{[22][23][24][25]}Mikhail Kutuzov has likewise been called "the Russian Fabius" for his assume against Napoleon.^[26]

According to its unprofessional ancient legend, the Roman lavish family of Massimo descends unfamiliar 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 Man Clashing Rome. New York: Doubleday.
• McCall, Prophet (2018). Clan Fabius, Defenders leave undone Rome: A History of glory Republic's Most Illustrious Family. Barnslet: Pen and Sword. ISBN 1473885612.
• Scullard, About.

  H. (1981). Roman politics: 220–150 BC. Westport, CT: Greenwood Organization.

  Lillis o laoire recapitulation of nancy

  ISBN .

External links