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Fabiy KvintRoman general
Country:
 Italy |
Content:
- Biography of Fabius Maximus Quintus
- Early Life
- Political Career
- Commander during the Second Punic War
- Return to Leadership
- Legacy
Biography of Fabius Maximus Quintus
Fabius Maximus Cunctator, Quintus (died 203 BC), was a Roman military commander and statesman. He was elected consul five times and served as dictator twice. During the Second Punic War, in 217 BC, he employed a strategy of gradually wearing down Hannibal's army, avoiding decisive battles.
Early Life
Fabius Maximus was born in ancient Rome. He became a prominent figure in Roman politics and military affairs.
Political Career
Fabius Maximus served as consul in 233 BC and 228 BC, and as censor in 230 BC. He gained recognition for his triumph over the Ligurians in 233 BC.
Commander during the Second Punic War
After Rome suffered defeats at the hands of Hannibal in the First Punic War, Fabius Maximus was appointed dictator. He chose a cautious strategy to defeat the dangerous enemy, avoiding full-scale battles and closely following Hannibal's movements.
In late 217 BC, Fabius Maximus surprised Hannibal in the mountains near Cutiliae, but Hannibal's cunning allowed the Carthaginians to escape. After the end of his dictatorship, the Romans rejected his tactics and suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC.
Return to Leadership
With Rome under threat, the Romans once again called upon Fabius, who served as consul in 215 and 214 BC, continuing to pursue his cautious approach. In 209 BC, as consul, Fabius captured Tarentum, which had been previously taken by Hannibal four years earlier.
From this point on, the successes of the young and brave Scipio, who was fighting the Carthaginians in Spain, made Fabius' previous caution unnecessary. Although Fabius continued to be respected, as a senator he had to accept criticism for the extraordinary valor of the young commander.
Legacy
Fabius opposed Scipio's planned African campaign and died before witnessing Scipio's victory at the Battle of Zama. The Romans remembered Fabius as the inventor of the policy of vigilant waiting. Initially mocked with the nickname "Cunctator" (the Delayer), Fabius was later hailed as the "Shield of Rome." The first epic Roman poet, Ennius, said of him, "Only by delay did one man save us from disaster."
Fabius was his family name (nomen), Maximus was not a personal nickname (agnomen), but a cognomen, which means a family name. Fabius had three personal nicknames: Cunctator, Verrucosus (the Warty), and Ovicula (the Little Sheep).
