Quintus Fabius Maximus (consul 213 BC)
Encyclopedia
Quintus Fabius Maximus was a consul
of the Roman Republic
in 213 BC. He was the son of Fabius Maximus
, the famous dictator
who invented Fabian strategy
, and served with his father during the Second Punic War
.
The younger Fabius was a military tribune
in 216 BC, and was among the survivors of the Battle of Cannae
who ended up at Canusium. In 215, he was curule aedile. As praetor
in 214, he commanded two legions
with which he captured Acuca in Luceria as well as a fortified camp near Ardoneae
.
As consul for the following year, he took over his father's command of the army in Apulia
and recaptured Arpi
. He seems to have remained in Arpi with a few troops as a legatus
, a legate or lieutenant, in 212 BC. In 209–208, he was serving still or again as a legatus during his father's fifth consulship. The elder Fabius sent him to recover the survivors of the army under Gnaeus Fulvius Centumalus
, who had been killed in a surprise attack
by Hannibal in 210. They accompanied him to Sicily, where Fabius took over the legions and fleet
assigned to the proconsul Marcus Valerius Laevinus. In 208, he was sent by the senate
to the army at Venusia. He may have been the envoy of the consul Marcus Livius Salinator
in 207 who reported to the senate that it was safe to withdraw the consular army from Cisalpine Gaul
.
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
of the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
in 213 BC. He was the son of Fabius Maximus
Fabius Maximus
Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus Cunctator was a Roman politician and general, born in Rome around 280 BC and died in Rome in 203 BC. He was Roman Consul five times and was twice Dictator in 221 and again in 217 BC. He reached the office of Roman Censor in 230 BC...
, the famous dictator
Dictator
A dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power but without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship...
who invented Fabian strategy
Fabian strategy
The Fabian strategy is a military strategy where pitched battles and frontal assaults are avoided in favor of wearing down an opponent through a war of attrition and indirection. While avoiding decisive battles, the side employing this strategy harasses its enemy through skirmishes to cause...
, and served with his father during the Second Punic War
Second Punic War
The Second Punic War, also referred to as The Hannibalic War and The War Against Hannibal, lasted from 218 to 201 BC and involved combatants in the western and eastern Mediterranean. This was the second major war between Carthage and the Roman Republic, with the participation of the Berbers on...
.
The younger Fabius was a military tribune
Military tribune
A military tribune was an officer of the Roman army who ranked below the legate and above the centurion...
in 216 BC, and was among the survivors of the Battle of Cannae
Battle of Cannae
The Battle of Cannae was a major battle of the Second Punic War, which took place on August 2, 216 BC near the town of Cannae in Apulia in southeast Italy. The army of Carthage under Hannibal decisively defeated a numerically superior army of the Roman Republic under command of the consuls Lucius...
who ended up at Canusium. In 215, he was curule aedile. As praetor
Praetor
Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army, usually in the field, or the named commander before mustering the army; and an elected magistratus assigned varied duties...
in 214, he commanded two legions
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
with which he captured Acuca in Luceria as well as a fortified camp near Ardoneae
Ordona
Ordona is a small town and comune of the province of Foggia in the region of Puglia in southern Italy.-Geography:Ascoli Satriano, Carapelle, Foggia, Orta Nova, Cerignola are nearby towns.-History:...
.
As consul for the following year, he took over his father's command of the army in Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
and recaptured Arpi
Arpi
Arpi was an ancient city of Apulia, Italy, 20 mi. W. of the sea coast, and 5 mi. N. of the modern Foggia. The legend attributes its foundation to Diomedes, and the figure of a horse, which appears on its coins, shows the importance of horse-breeding in early times in the district...
. He seems to have remained in Arpi with a few troops as a legatus
Legatus
A legatus was a general in the Roman army, equivalent to a modern general officer. Being of senatorial rank, his immediate superior was the dux, and he outranked all military tribunes...
, a legate or lieutenant, in 212 BC. In 209–208, he was serving still or again as a legatus during his father's fifth consulship. The elder Fabius sent him to recover the survivors of the army under Gnaeus Fulvius Centumalus
Gnaeus Fulvius Centumalus Maximus
Gnaeus Fulvius Centumalus Maximus was a consul of the Roman Republic in 211 BC. As consul, Fulvius defended Rome against Hannibal with his colleague Publius Sulpicius Galba Maximus during the Second Punic War....
, who had been killed in a surprise attack
Battle of Herdonia (210 BC)
The second battle of Herdonia took place in 210 BC during the so called Second Punic War. Hannibal, leader of the Carthaginians, who had invaded Italy eight years ago, encircled and destroyed a Roman army which was operating against his allies in Apulia...
by Hannibal in 210. They accompanied him to Sicily, where Fabius took over the legions and fleet
Roman Navy
The Roman Navy comprised the naval forces of the Ancient Roman state. Although the navy was instrumental in the Roman conquest of the Mediterranean basin, it never enjoyed the prestige of the Roman legions...
assigned to the proconsul Marcus Valerius Laevinus. In 208, he was sent by the senate
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
to the army at Venusia. He may have been the envoy of the consul Marcus Livius Salinator
Marcus Livius Salinator
Marcus Livius Drusus Salinator , the son of Marcus , was a Roman consul who fought in both the First Punic wars and Second Punic wars most notably during the Battle of Zama....
in 207 who reported to the senate that it was safe to withdraw the consular army from Cisalpine Gaul
Cisalpine Gaul
Cisalpine Gaul, in Latin: Gallia Cisalpina or Citerior, also called Gallia Togata, was a Roman province until 41 BC when it was merged into Roman Italy.It bore the name Gallia, because the great body of its inhabitants, after the expulsion of the Etruscans, consisted of Gauls or Celts...
.