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The third century before the common era was a time of empire-making and empire-breaking especially in the western Mediterranean, where a conflict was brewing that would shape the future of the known world. |
Second Punic War (218-201BC)
(- threads, 48 posts)
 Quintus Fabius Maximus
Historical Thread
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"I have two folds in my toga. Which shall I let drop - that holding peace, or that with war?" Quintus Fabius Maximus, with the power of war or peace literally in his hands in front of the Carthaginian Senate
Whether it be 'Ovuncula', 'Verrucosus' or 'Cunctator', there is no denying the impact that Quintus Fabius Maximus had on Rome's survival and development. He held the first of his five consulships in 233BC and campaigned against the Ligurians, winning a triumph. He was a censor in 230BC and consul again in 228BC. By the Second Punic War, he was one of the leading men in Rome and supposedly led a delegation to Carthage, who refused to disavow Hannibal, despite his actions in Spain. Theatrically, Fabius let the fold in his toge that he deemed for war fall and war was declared. Following the defeat of Caius Flaminius at Lake Trasimene in 217BC, Fabius was elected dictator. Perhaps through his own defects coupled with Hanniabl's brilliance, he refused to to meet the Carthaginian in battle, hoping instead to erode his manpower and supplies down to nothing. This new strategy made Fabius very unpopular as it was seen as extremely un-Roman. This public outrage gave Fabius the nickname of 'the Delayer'. However, following the defeat of his "reckless and impulsive" Magister Equitum, Lucius Minucius, people started to find the merits in the Fabian Strategy - the last deviation from this strategy ended in one of the heaviest defeats that any army has ever received in history at Cannae. Fabius was again consul in 214BC and 215BC as well as being Chief Augur and Pontifex Maximus - a combination not repeated until Julius Caesar. Throughout this time the Fabian Strategy continued to wear down Hannibal and Rome began to regain control. During his fifth consulship, Fabius oversaw the recapture of Tarentum and remained a major player in Rome despite not holding a top magistry again. He opposed the invasion of Africa and died in 203BC before Africanus's final victory at Zama. He got a huge public funeral as Rome paid its respects to a true father figure of the Republic.
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Kallistos says... (* Quintus Julius Caesar, Aug 8, 2005 - 22:13 ) Images Of Fabius (* Kallistos Alexandros, Oct 30, 2004 - 15:59 ) The Memory of Cunctator (* Publius Fabius Scipio, Oct 30, 2004 - 15:12 ) Fabius In The North (* Kallistos Alexandros, Oct 30, 2004 - 09:11 ) The Delayer (* Publius Fabius Scipio, Oct 30, 2004 - 06:46 ) Poor Quintius Fabius Maximus (* Kallistos Alexandros, Oct 29, 2004 - 22:35 )|
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