Fabius Maximus

Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus (c. 275 BC-203 BC), called Cunctator (the Delayer;), was a Roman politician and soldier, born in Rome around 275 BC and died in Rome in 203 BC. He was consul five times (233 BC, 228 BC, 215 BC, 214 BC and 208 BC) and was twice dictator, 221?–219 BC, and 217 BC. His nickname Cunctator (akin to the English noun cunctation) means "delayer" in Latin, and refers to his tactics in deploying the troops during the Second Punic War. His cognomen Verrucosus means warty.

Related Topics:
275 BC - 203 BC - Rome - Consul - 233 BC - 228 BC - 215 BC - 214 BC - 208 BC - Dictator - 221? - 219 BC - 217 BC - English - Noun - Latin - Tactics - Second Punic War

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Descended from a very ancient patrician family, he probably participated in the First Punic War, although no details of his role are known. After the end of the war he rapidly advanced his political career. He served twice as consul and censor and in 218 BC he took part in the embassy to Carthage. It was Fabius who formally declared war on the city after the capture of Sagonte by Hannibal. The Senate named him dictator in 217 BC after the disaster at the Battle of Lake Trasimene in June of that year; this was unusual, as dictators were usually elected by the consuls.

Related Topics:
Patrician - First Punic War - Consul - Censor - 218 BC - Carthage - Sagonte - Hannibal - Senate - Dictator - 217 BC - Battle of Lake Trasimene

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Fabius was well-aware of the military superiority of the Carthaginians, and when Hannibal invaded Italy he refused to meet him in a pitched battle. Instead he kept his troops close to Hannibal, hoping to exhaust him in a long war of attrition. Fabius was able to harass the Carthaginian foraging parties, limiting Hannibal's ability to wreak destruction while conserving his own military force.

Related Topics:
Italy - War of attrition

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The Romans were unimpressed with this defensive strategy and at first gave Fabius his nickname as an insult. The strategy was in part ruined because of a lack of unity in the command of the Roman army: the magister equitum, Minucius, was a political enemy of Fabius. It was only after Fabius had saved him from an attack by Hannibal that Minucius placed himself under Fabius' command. Minucius had been name a co-commander of the Roman forces by Fabuis' detractors in the Senate. Minucius openly claimed that Fabius was cowardly because he failed to confront the Carthaginian forces. Near the present-day town of Larino in the Molise (then called Larinum)Hannibal had taken up a position in a town called Gerione. In the valley between Larino and Gerione Minucius decided to make a broad frontal attack on Hannibal's troops. Several thousand men were involved on either side. It appeared that the Roman troops were winning but Hannibal had set a trap. Soon the Roman troops were being slaughtered. Fabius, despite Minucius' earlier arrogance, rushed to his co-commander's assistance and Hannibal's forces immediately retreated. After the battle there was some feeling that there would be conflict between Minucius and Fabius. However, the younger soldier marched his men to Fabius' encampment and he is reported to have said, "My father gave me life. Today you saved my life. You are my second father. I recognize your superior abilities as a commander."

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At the end of Fabius' dictatorship, the command was given back to the consuls Gnaeus Servilius Geminus and Marcus Atilius Regulus and in the following year (216 BC) to the consuls Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Gaius Terentius Varro. After Paullus and Varro were defeated at the battle of Cannae that year, the wisdom of Fabius' tactic was understood and Cunctator became an honorific title. This tactic was followed for the rest of the war, as long as Hannibal remained in Italy.

Related Topics:
Gnaeus Servilius Geminus - Marcus Atilius Regulus - 216 BC - Lucius Aemilius Paullus - Gaius Terentius Varro - Battle of Cannae

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Fabius' own military success was small, aside from the reconquest of Tarentum in 209 BC. He was named consul twice more after serving as dictator. However, he opposed the young and ambitious Scipio Africanus, who wanted to carry the war to Africa.

Related Topics:
Tarentum - 209 BC - Scipio Africanus - Africa

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Later, he became a legendary figure and the model of a tough, courageous Roman. According to Ennius, unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem ? one man, by delaying, has restored the state to us.

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His cautiousness gave rise to the noun phrase "Fabian strategy."

Related Topics:
Noun phrase - Fabian strategy

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