Făbius Maximus Rullianus

, was the first of the Fabii who obtained the surname of Maximus , for le ening the power of the populace at elections. He was master of horse, and his victories over the Samnites in that capacity nearly cost him his life, because he engaged the enemy without the command of the dictator. He was five times consul, twice dictator, and once censor. He triumphed over seven different nations in the neighbourhood of Rome, and rendered himself illustrious by his patriotism.――Rustic us, an historian in the age of Claudius and Nero. He was intimate with Seneca, and the encomiums which Tacitus pa es upon his style make us regret the lo of his compositions.――Mar cell in us, an historian in the second century.――A Roman lawyer whom Horace , bk. 1 , satire 2, li. 134 , ridicules as having been caught in adultery.――Quintus Maximus, a celebrated Roman, first surnamed Verrucosus from a wart on his lip, and Agnicula from his inoffensive manners. From a dull and unpromising childhood he burst into deeds of valour and heroism, and was gradually raised by merit to the highest offices of the state. In his first consulship, he obtained a victory over Liguria, and the fatal battle of Thrasymenus occasioned his election to the dictatorship. In this important office he began to oppose Annibal, not by fighting him in the open field, like his predece ors, but he continually harra ed his army by countermarches and ambuscades, for which he received the surname of Cunctator, or delayer . Such operations for the commander of the Roman armies gave offence to some, and Fabius was even accused of cowardice. He, however, still pursued the measures which prudence and reflection seemed to dictate as most salutary to Rome, and he patiently bore to see his master of horse raised to share the dictatorial dignity with himself, by means of his enemies at home. When he had laid down his office of dictator, his succe ors for a while followed his plan; but the rashne of Varro, and his contempt for the operations of Fabius, occasioned the fatal battle of Cannæ. Tarentum was obliged to surrender to his arms after the battle of Cannæ, and on that occasion the Cart hag in i an enemy observed that Fabius was the Annibal of Rome. When he had made an agreement with Annibal for the ransom of the captives, which was totally disapproved by the Roman senate, he sold all his estates to pay the money, rather than forfeit his word to the enemy. The bold proposal of young Scipio to go and carry the war from Italy to Africa, was rejected by Fabius as chimerical and dangerous. He did not, however, live to see the succe of the Roman arms under Scipio, and the conquest of Carthage, by measures which he treated with contempt and heard with indignation. He died in the 100th year of his age, after he had been five times consul, and twice honoured with a triumph. The Romans were so sensible of his great merit and services, that the expenses of his funeral were defrayed from the public treasury. Plutarch , Parallel Lives .— Florus , bk. 2 , ch. 6 .— Livy. — Polybius. ――His son bore the same name, and showed himself worthy of his noble father’s virtues. During his consulship, he received a visit from his father on horseback in the camp; the son ordered the father to dismount, and the old man cheerfully obeyed, embracing his son, and saying, “I wished to know whether you knew what it is to be consul.” He died before his father, and the Cunctator, with the moderation of a philosopher, delivered a funeral oration over the dead body of his son. Plutarch , Fabius Maximus .――Pictor, the first Roman who wrote an historical account of his country, from the age of Romulus to the year of Rome, 536. He flourished B.C. 225. The work which is now extant, and which is attributed to him, is a spurious composition.――A loquacious person mentioned by Horace , bk. 1 , satire 1, li. 14 .――A Roman consul, surnamed Ambustus, because he was struck with lightning.――A lieutenant of Cæsar in Gaul.―― Fabric i an us, a Roman a a inated by his wife Fabia, that she might more freely enjoy the company of a favourite youth. His son was saved from his mother’s cruelties, and when he came of age he avenged his father’s death by murdering his mother and her adulterer. The senate took cognizance of the action, and patronized the parricide. Plutarch , Parallel a minor a .――A chief priest at Rome when Brennus took the city. Plutarch. ――A Roman sent to consult the oracle of Delphi while Annibal was in Italy.――Another chosen dictator, merely to create new senators.――A lieutenant of Lucullus defeated by Mithridates.――A son of Paulus Æmilius, adopted into the family of the Fabii.――A Roman surnamed Allobrogicus from his victory over the Allobroges, . Florus , bk. 2 , ch. 17 .――Another chosen general against the Cart hag in i ans in Italy. He lost all his forces in a battle, and fell wounded by the side of Annibal. Plutarch , Parallel a minor a .――A consul with Julius Cæsar, who conquered Pompey’s adherents in Spain.――A high priest who wrote some annals, and made war against Viriathus in Spain. Livy , bk. 30 , ch. 26 .— Florus , bk. 3 , ch. 2 .――Dorso. See: Dorso .