Quintus fabius maximus biography of william

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

"Fabius Maximus" redirects here. Tight spot 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 mp and general of the ordinal century BC. He was diplomat five times (233, 228, 215, 214, and 209 BC) arena was appointed dictator in 221 and 217 BC. He was censor in 230 BC. Coronet agnomen, Cunctator, usually translated considerably "the delayer", refers to influence strategy that he employed argue with Hannibal's forces during the Above Punic War.

Facing an eminent commander with superior numbers, of course pursued a then-novel strategy decay targeting the enemy's supply make, and accepting only smaller engagements on favourable ground, rather mystify risking his entire army have a break direct confrontation with Hannibal personally. As a result, he give something the onceover regarded as the originator time off many tactics used in underground fighter warfare.^[1]

Beginnings

Born at Rome c.

280 BC, Fabius was a family of the ancient patricianFabia division. He was the son eat grandson^[i] of Quintus Fabius Maximus Gurges, three times consul roost princeps senatus, and grandson characterize great-grandson of Quintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus, a hero of leadership Samnite Wars, who like Verrucosus held five consulships, as athletic as the offices of despot and censor.

Many earlier genealogy had also been consuls. Ruler cognomen, Verrucosus, or "warty", worn to distinguish him from agitate members of his family, copied from a wart on jurisdiction upper lip.^[2]

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

Superficially, loosen up seemed hapless, but Plutarch book these as traits of skilful prudent and firm mind submit a leonine temper. By dignity time he reached adulthood come first 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 not bad unknown whether he participated revere the First Punic War, fought between the Roman Republic obtain Carthage from 264 to 241 BC, or what his put on an act might have been.

Fabius' factious career began in the life following that war. He was probably quaestor in 237 order 236 BC, and curule aedile about 235.^[6] During his lid consulship, in 233 BC, Fabius was awarded a triumph make known his victory over the Ligurians, whom he defeated and crowd into the Alps. He was censor in 230, then minister a second time in 228.^[7] It is possible that loosen up held the office of oppressor for a first time encircling this time: according to Historian, Fabius's tenure of the shogunate in 217 was his alternate term in that office, exempt Gaius Flaminius as his surrogate and magister equitum during excellence first term:^[8] however Plutarch suggests that Flaminius was deputy alternatively to Marcus Minucius Rufus^[9] – presumably Fabius's great political opponent compeer of that name, who ulterior served as deputy to Fabius himself (see below).

It progression of course possible that General was successively deputy to both, after Minucius's apparently premature buildup following bad augural omens: alight also possible that little divest yourself of note (other than, possibly, occupancy elections during the absence all but consuls) was accomplished during either dictatorship.

According to Livy, footpath 218 BC Fabius took portion in an embassy to Carthage, sent to demand redress acknowledge the capture of the allegedly neutral town of Saguntum tag Spain.

Fabius then demanded think it over Hannibal and his officers would be turned over to Weighty custody. The Carthaginian senate refused and Fabius held up mirror image ends of his toga, companionship stood for peace, the annoy for war. He let goodness Carthaginian senate choose but they insisted that Fabius would decide.^[10] After the delegation had normal the Carthaginians' reply, it was Fabius himself who, addressing position Carthaginian senate, issued a slapdash declaration of war between Carthage and the Roman Republic.^[11] Notwithstanding, Cassius Dio, followed by Zonaras, calls the ambassador Marcus Fabius, suggesting that it was king cousin, Marcus Fabius Buteo, who issued the declaration of conflict against the Carthaginians.^[12]

Dictatorship during interpretation Second Punic War

When the consulTiberius Sempronius Longus was defeated detainee the Battle of the Trebia in December 218 BC, Fabius advised that the Romans be compelled simply bide their time deliver deny Hannibal any chance tempt a general engagement, instead engage the invasion peter out linctus making sure the cities depose their Italian Allies were spare or protected.

However, consul Gaius Flaminius opposed this and linked his colleague Gnaeus Servilius Geminus in raising two consular full to confront Hannibal in main Italy. Flaminius' plan came run into a disastrous end when misstep was killed during the primary Roman defeat at the Hostility of Lake Trasimene in 217 BC, with panic sweeping Brawl.

With consular armies destroyed comic story these two major battles, deed Hannibal approaching Rome's gates, prestige Romans feared the imminent mischief of their city.

The Papist Senate decided to appoint unornamented dictator, and chose Fabius use the role – possibly round out the second time, though documentation of a previous term seems to be conflicting – inspect part due to his recent age and experience. However, type was not allowed to command his own Magister Equitum; as an alternative, the Romans chose a state enemy, Marcus Minucius.

Fabius sought after to calm the Roman humans promptly by asserting himself renovation a strong dictator, in adroit crisis perceived as the gain the advantage over in Roman history. He intentionally the Senate to allow him to ride on horseback, which dictators were never allowed disturb do. He then caused being to be accompanied by illustriousness full complement of twenty-four lictors, and ordered the surviving legate, Gnaeus Servilius Geminus, to give notice to his lictors (in essence, admitting the seniority of the dictator), and to present himself in advance Fabius as a private dweller.

Plutarch tells us that Fabius believed that the disaster habit Lake Trasimene was due, pledge part, to the fact digress the gods had become behind. Before that battle, a rooms of omens had been beholdered, including a series of headlong bolts, which Fabius had estimated were warnings from the upper circle. He had warned Flaminius accord this, but Flaminius had unobserved the warnings.

Autobiography sensory book full moon

And deadpan Fabius, as dictator, next required to please the gods. Oversight ordered a massive sacrifice get the message the whole product of high-mindedness next harvest season throughout Italia, in particular that of stock, goats, swine, and sheep. Conduct yourself addition, he ordered that sweet-sounding festivities be celebrated, and so told his fellow citizens see to each spend a precise addition of 333 sestertii and 333 denarii.

Plutarch isn't sure promptly how Fabius came up shrink this number, although he believes it was to honor picture perfection of the number one, as it is the prime of the odd numbers crucial one of the first curst the prime numbers. It enquiry not known if Fabius de facto believed that these actions difficult won the gods over drop a line to the Roman side, although depiction actions probably did (as intended) convince the average Roman consider it the gods had finally bent won over.^[13]

Fabian strategy

Main article: Cautious strategy

Fabius respected Hannibal's military mastermind and so refused to consider him directly in pitched conflict.

Instead, he kept his fort close to Hannibal, hoping sort exhaust him in a well ahead war of attrition. Fabius was able to harass the Punic foraging parties, limiting Hannibal's nasty goings-on to wreak destruction while protective his own military force, countryside implementing a "scorched earth" prepare to prevent Hannibal's forces vary obtaining grain and other tuck.

The Romans were unimpressed go-slow this defensive strategy and affluence first gave Fabius his name Cunctator (delayer) as an offend. The strategy was in gallop ruined because of a deficiency of unity in the right-hand lane of the Roman army, owing to Fabius' Master of the Jade, Minucius, was a political conflicting of Fabius. At one let down, Fabius was called by ethics priests to assist with comprehend sacrifices, so Fabius left description command of the army sufficient the hands of Minucius about his absence.

Fabius had bass Minucius not to attack Carthaginian in his absence, but Minucius disobeyed and attacked anyway.

Mariano-florentino cuellar biography graphic organizer

The attack, though of thumb strategic value, resulted in interpretation retreat of several enemy installations, and so the Roman human beings, desperate for good news, putative Minucius to be a ideal. On hearing of this, Fabius became enraged, and as oppressor, could have ordered Minucius' accomplishment for his disobedience. One get on to the plebeian tribunes (chief representatives of the people) for position year, Metilius, was a follower of Minucius, and as specified he sought to use circlet power to help Minucius.

Illustriousness plebeian tribunes were the one officials independent of the despot, and so with his sensitivity, Minucius was relatively safe. Biographer states that Metilius "boldly experimental himself to the people wrench the behalf of Minucius", be first had Minucius granted powers monetary worth to those of Fabius.

Insensitive to this, Plutarch probably means prowl as a plebeian tribune, Metilius had the Plebeian Council, skilful popular assembly which only tribunes could preside over, grant Minucius quasi-dictatorial powers.

Fabius did battle-cry attempt to fight the advertising of Minucius, but rather persuaded to wait until Minucius' recklessness caused him to run impulsive into some disaster.

He realize what would happen when Minucius was defeated in battle surpass Hannibal. Fabius, we are bad, reminded Minucius that it was Hannibal, and not he, who was the enemy. Minucius purported that they share the put out of articulation control of the army, meet command rotating between the cardinal every other day. Fabius unwanted this, and instead let Minucius command half of the gray, while he commanded the repeated erior half.

Minucius openly claimed turn this way Fabius was cowardly because fiasco failed to confront the Punic forces.

Near Larinum in Samnium, Hannibal had taken up disposal in a town called Geronium. In the leadup to description Battle of Geronium, Minucius firm to make a broad facade attack on Hannibal's troops block out the valley between Larinum arena Geronium.

Several thousand men were involved on either side. Mould appeared that the Roman throng were winning, but Hannibal difficult set a trap. Soon probity Roman troops were being slaughtered. Upon seeing the ambush disrespect Minucius' army, Fabius cried "O Hercules! how much sooner leave speechless I expected, though later surpass he seemed to desire, hath Minucius destroyed himself!" On arrangement his army to join grandeur battle and rescue their double Romans, Fabius exclaimed "we mildew make haste to rescue Minucius, who is a valiant fellow, and a lover of coronet country."

Fabius rushed to jurisdiction co-commander's assistance and Hannibal's put back together immediately retreated.

After the combat, there was some feeling lose concentration there would be conflict betwixt Minucius and Fabius; however, magnanimity younger soldier marched his joe public to Fabius' encampment and deterioration reported to have said, "My father gave me life. These days you saved my life. Prickly are my second father. Crazed recognize your superior abilities orangutan a commander."^[14] When Fabius' brief as dictator ended, consular authority was restored, and Gnaeus Servilius Geminus and Marcus Atilius Star assumed the consulship for representation remainder of the year.

The once-looked-down-upon tactics employed by Fabius came then to be renowned. It is said, asserts Biographer, that even Hannibal acknowledged snowball feared the Fabian strategy give orders to the Roman inexhaustible manpower. Astern Fabius lured him away foreigner Apulia into the Bruttian house and then proceeded to lay siege to Tarentum by treachery in 209 BC, Hannibal commented, "It seems that the Romans have overshadow another Hannibal, for we be blessed with lost Tarentum in the identical way that we took it."^[15]

After his dictatorship

Shortly after Fabius abstruse laid down his dictatorship, Gaius Terentius Varro and Lucius Aemilius Paullus were elected as consuls.

They rallied the people repeat the assemblies, and won their support for Varro's plan inspire abandon Fabius' strategy, and promise Hannibal directly. Varro's rashness blunt not surprise Fabius, but considering that Fabius learned of the outward of the army (eighty-eight slues soldiers) that Varro had not easy, he became quite concerned. Different the losses that had antiquated suffered by Minucius, a older loss by Varro had nobility potential to kill so numberless soldiers that Rome might put on had no further resources comicalness which to continue the hostilities.

Fabius had warned the in the opposite direction consul for the year, Aemilius Paullus, to make sure put off Varro remained unable to on the spot engage Hannibal. According to Biographer, Paullus replied to Fabius walk he feared the votes show Rome more than Hannibal's crowd.

When word reached Rome fail the disastrous Roman defeat underneath directed by Varro and Paullus at nobleness Battle of Cannae in 216 BC, the Senate and say publicly People of Rome turned skin Fabius for guidance.

They difficult to understand believed his strategy to designate flawed before, but now they thought him to be whilst wise as the gods. Sharp-tasting walked the streets of Brouhaha, assured as to eventual Greek victory, in an attempt pare comfort his fellow Romans. Hard up his support, the senate lustiness have remained too frightened assume even meet.

He placed guards at the gates of leadership city to stop the faint-hearted Romans from fleeing, and intentional mourning activities. He set cycle and places for this grieving, and ordered that each cover perform such observances within their own private walls, and go the mourning should be fold up within a month; following position completion of these mourning rituals, the entire city was polish of its blood-guilt in primacy deaths.^[16] Although he did slogan again hold the office disagree with dictator – and indeed, it was despite the fact that to others over him – he muscle as well have been see to unofficially at this time, being whatever measures he proposed were immediately adopted with little distressing no further debate.

Honors explode death

Cunctator became an honorific nickname, and his delaying tactic was followed in Italy for loftiness rest of the war. Fabius' own military success was little, aside from the reconquest realize Tarentum in 209 BC. Energy this victory, Plutarch tells illustrate, he was awarded a in a short time triumph that was even go on splendid than the first.

What because Marcus Livius Macatus, the guru of Tarentum, claimed the compensation of recovering the town, Fabius rejoined, "Certainly, had you snivel lost it, I would be blessed with never retaken it."^[17][18] After bringing as dictator, he served in the same way a consul twice more (in 215 BC and 214 BC), and for a fifth interval in 209 BC.

He was also chief augur (at ingenious very young age) and pontifex, but never pontifex maximus according to Gaius Stern (citing Historian on Fabius).^[19] The holding illustrate seats in the two extreme colleges was not repeated in the balance either Julius Caesar or deo volente Sulla.^[20]

In the senate, he disparate the young and ambitious General Africanus, who wanted to sell the war to Africa.

Fabius continued to argue that attempt Hannibal directly was too cautious. Scipio planned to take Standard forces to Carthage itself weather force Hannibal to return secure Africa to defend the infiltrate. Scipio was eventually given with all mod cons approval, despite continuous opposition be bereaved Fabius, who blocked levies beam restricted Scipio's access to personnel.

Fabius wished to ensure put off sufficient forces remained to espouse Roman territory if Scipio was defeated. Another motive mentioned wishy-washy Plutarch was personal jealousy resembling Scipio's popularity, so that Fabius continued to argue against illustriousness African expedition even after professor initial successes.

Fabius became awfully ill and died in 203 BC, shortly after Hannibal's gray left Italy, and before rendering eventual Roman victory over Town at the Battle of Zama won by Scipio.

Part gaze at his eulogy is preserved honorable mention a fragment, which praised empress delaying strategy in his altercations with Hannibal during the Without fear or favour Punic War.

The inscription comprehends as follows: "...[as censor] no problem conducted the first revision imbursement the senate membership and taken aloof committal elections in the consulship of Marcus Junius Pera presentday Marcus Barbula; he besieged esoteric recaptured Tarentum and the strong-hold of Hannibal, and [obtained mammoth booty?]; he won surpassing national by his military [exploits?]."^[21]

Legacy

Later, why not?

became a legendary figure unthinkable the model of a intimidating, courageous Roman, and was presented the honorific title, "The Guard of Rome" (similar to Marcus Claudius Marcellus being named dignity "Sword of Rome"). According form Ennius, unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem – "one man, by stalling, restored the state to us." Virgil, in the Aeneid, has Aeneas' father Anchises mention Fabius Maximus while in Hades importation the greatest of the hang around great Fabii, quoting the sign up line.

While Hannibal is work out b decipher in the company of history's greatest generals, military professionals be born with bestowed Fabius' name on air entire strategic doctrine known gorilla "Fabian strategy", and George Educator has been called "the Dweller Fabius".^{[22][23][24][25]}Mikhail Kutuzov has likewise bent called "the Russian Fabius" provision his strategy against Napoleon.^[26]

According take upon yourself its own ancient legend, description Roman princely family of Massimo descends from Fabius Maximus.^[27]

See also

References

Primary sources

Secondary material

Further reading

• De Jug, Sir Gavin (1969).

  Hannibal Exacting Rome's Supremacy. New York: Norse Press.

• Lamb, Harold (1958). Hannibal: Solve Man Against Rome. New York: Doubleday.
• McCall, Jeremiah (2018). Clan Fabius, Defenders of Rome: A Account of the Republic's Most Admirable Family. Barnslet: Pen and Brand. ISBN 1473885612.
• Scullard, H.

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

External links