Digital Prosopography of the Roman Republic

FABI0712 Q. Fabius (116) Q. f. Q. n. Fal.? Pup.? Maximus Ovicula Verrucosus Cunctator

Status

  • Patrician
  • Nobilis Expand

    Cic. Brut. 14.57-16.62 (founder of family's nobilitas), Sen. Ep. Mor. Ad Lucil. 86.10, Juv. Sat. 8.1-32, Sil. Ital. 3.584-587, Hieron. Ep. 77.2

Life Dates

  • Before 279?, birth (Rüpke 2005)
  • 203, death (Broughton MRR I) Expand

    Illness.

Relationships

brother of
Fabia (171) (daughter of? M. Fabius (44) N. f. M. n. Ambustus (cos. 360)) (Zmeskal 2009) Expand

Val. Max. IV 1.5

father of
Q. Fabius (103) Q. f. Q. n. Maximus (cos. 213) (Zmeskal 2009) Expand

Cic. fam. IV 6.1, Cic. Tusc. III 70, Liv. XXX 26.7-10

grandfather of
? Q. Fabius (105) Maximus (pr. 181) (DPRR Team)

Career

  • Augur? 265 to 241 (Rüpke 2005) Expand
    • An Augur for 62 years (Liv. 30.26.7; cf. Val. Max. 8.13.3). (Broughton MRR I)
    • According to some of Livy's sources Fabius had held the augurate for 62 years (Liv. 30.26.7; Val. Max. 8.13.3), but Pliny (NH 7.156) says 63. (Broughton MRR I)
    • Citing the long periods during which Fabius Ambustus (44) (39 years) and Fabius Rullianus (114) (41 years) held office, Sumner returns to Munzer, against MRR 1.220, note 1, and attributes to Fabius Gurges the consulship of 265, and thus a similar span for his years of office (28 years). If Fabius Verrucosus, the Cunctator, was an augur for 62 or 63 years (see MRR 2.202, 314, 315, note 10) from 266-265 to his death in 203, he must have been born at least by 280 and probably earlier. Livy however cites only quidam auctores for this (30.27.7). This date would bring him his first consulship at the age of 46 or 47, which is surprisingly late. The term of 62 or 63 years may be the sum of the terms of two Fabii, but evidence is lacking. Moreover, Pliny identifies Ambustus, Rullianus, and Gurges as members of three generations of Fabii who in succession became Principes Senatus, by implication omitting Verrucosus as a member of a fourth, while, as against Livy (30.26.8), who describes Verrucosus as a grandson of Rullianus, Plutarch (Fab. 1.3; 24.5) terms him a great-grandson. Sumner is justified in bringing into the stemma another Q. Fabius Maximus, unknown unless he was the Q. Fabius (30) who was aedile in or by 267 (MRR 1.200-201). See Sumner, Orators 30-32, with stemma. On both the censorship of Fabius Maximus Verrucosus in 230 and his consulship in 209, see above, on M. Aemilius Barbula (33), cos. 230, the remarks on the elogium found at Brindisi. (Broughton MRR III)
  • Duovir Aedi Dedicandae 240 to 203 (Rüpke 2005)
  • Pontifex 240 to 203 (Rüpke 2005)
  • Augur 240 to 203 (Rüpke 2005) Expand
    • An Augur for 62 years (Liv. 30.26.7; cf. Val. Max. 8.13.3). (Broughton MRR I)
    • According to some of Livy's sources Fabius had held the augurate for 62 years (Liv. 30.26.7; Val. Max. 8.13.3), but Pliny (NH 7.156) says 63. (Broughton MRR I)
    • Q. Fabius Maximus succeeded Q. Fabius Maximus Verrucosus. Liv. 30.26.7 and 10. On Fabius Maximus, see Elog., CIL 1 .1, p.193- Inscr. Ital. 13.3.80. His successor as Augur was probably his grandson (Münzer, RE). (Broughton MRR I)
    • During both 204 and 203 the Senate had kept a Consul in command in Etruria where there had been unrest. It would be in keeping with Roman{315} practice for the Consul to remain in his province and appoint a Dictator to hold the elections, but quite improbable that a Dictator should be appointed solely to recall another Consul. Furthermore, there is nothing to indicate that the situation in Italy called for a Dictator rei gerundae causa (see Münzer, RE; APF 143f.; Bandel 142). The conditions therefore tend to favor the title given in the Fast. Cap. (Broughton MRR I)
    • Citing the long periods during which Fabius Ambustus (44) (39 years) and Fabius Rullianus (114) (41 years) held office, Sumner returns to Munzer, against MRR 1.220, note 1, and attributes to Fabius Gurges the consulship of 265, and thus a similar span for his years of office (28 years). If Fabius Verrucosus, the Cunctator, was an augur for 62 or 63 years (see MRR 2.202, 314, 315, note 10) from 266-265 to his death in 203, he must have been born at least by 280 and probably earlier. Livy however cites only quidam auctores for this (30.27.7). This date would bring him his first consulship at the age of 46 or 47, which is surprisingly late. The term of 62 or 63 years may be the sum of the terms of two Fabii, but evidence is lacking. Moreover, Pliny identifies Ambustus, Rullianus, and Gurges as members of three generations of Fabii who in succession became Principes Senatus, by implication omitting Verrucosus as a member of a fourth, while, as against Livy (30.26.8), who describes Verrucosus as a grandson of Rullianus, Plutarch (Fab. 1.3; 24.5) terms him a great-grandson. Sumner is justified in bringing into the stemma another Q. Fabius Maximus, unknown unless he was the Q. Fabius (30) who was aedile in or by 267 (MRR 1.200-201). See Sumner, Orators 30-32, with stemma. On both the censorship of Fabius Maximus Verrucosus in 230 and his consulship in 209, see above, on M. Aemilius Barbula (33), cos. 230, the remarks on the elogium found at Brindisi. (Broughton MRR III)
  • Tribunus Militum c. 238 (Broughton MRR II Appendix 2) Expand
    • Tribune of the Soldiers twice (Elogium, Inscr. Ital. 13.3, no. 80 -ILS 56), probably before 236. (Broughton MRR II Appendix 2)
  • Quaestor before 236 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Elogium, CIL 1 .1, p. 193- Inscr. Ital. 13.3.80. His first quaestorship can hardly be dated later than 237, or his second than 236, if he held the curule aedileship before his first consulship in 233 (see 235, Curule Aediles). These offices may all have been held much earlier in his career. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Tribunus Militum before 236 (Broughton MRR II Appendix 2) Expand
    • Tribune of the Soldiers twice (Elogium, Inscr. Ital. 13.3, no. 80 -ILS 56), probably before 236. (Broughton MRR II Appendix 2)
  • Quaestor before 235 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Elogium, CIL 1 .1, p. 193- Inscr. Ital. 3.3.80. See 237, Quaestors; and 235, Curule Aediles. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Aedilis Curulis before 234 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Elogium, CIL 1 .1, p. 193- Inscr. Ital. 13.3.80. Seidel (Fast. Aed. 19) would date this office before his first consulate in 233, with 235 therefore the latest possible year. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Triumphator 233 (Rich 2014) Expand
    • Triumph de Liguribus. MRR I.224, Itgenshorst no. 148, Rich no. 147. (Rich 2014)
  • Consul 233 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Fast. Cap. (names entire); Act. Tr. (names entire); Chr. 354; Fast. Hyd.; Chr. Pasc.; Cassiod.; Zon. 8.18; and on Fabius, Cic. Sen. 10; Elogia, CIL 1 .1, p. 193- Inscr. Ital. 13.3.14 and 80; Degrassi 44f., 117, 438f. Fabius celebrated a triumph over the Ligurians (Act. Tr., Degrassi 76f., 549; Elog., as above; Cic. Pis. 58; Plut. Fab. 2.1; Comp. Per. and Fab. 2.1; Auct. Vir. Ill. 43; Zon. 8.18); and dedicated a temple of Honos (Cic. ND 2.61). On his threat to Carthage, see Gell. 10.27.3-5; Zon. 8.18. Pomponius campaigned in Sardinia and celebrated a triumph (Act. Tr., Degrassi 78f., 549; cf. Zon. 8.18). On Pomponius, see D.- G. 5.3ff., no. 5. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Censor 230 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Fast. Cap., Degrassi 44f., 117, 440f.; and on Fabius, Elog., CIL 1 .1, p. 193- Inscr. Ital. 13.3.80. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Consul 228 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Fast. Cap. (names entire); Cic. Sen. 11; Chr. 354; Fast. Hyd. (Gurga [= Ruga ?] et Maximo Vero); Chr. Pasc. ({Gr}); Cassiod.; and on Fabius, CIL 1 .1, p. 193- Inscr. Ital. 13.3.80; Tzetzes, on Lycophr. Alex. 603 (in Dio, LCL 2.41); see Degrassi 44f., 118, 440f. See 232, note 2. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Interrex? 222 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Plut. Marc. 6.1; cf. Zon. 8.20. Fabius was twice Interrex (Elog., CIL 1 .1, p. 193- Inscr. Ital. 13.3.80), and this is one of the few known occasions in this period when Interreges were appointed. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Dictator? 221 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Fabius' first dictatorship must be dated after 222, when the evidence from Fast. Cap. ends, and before 218 when the evidence from Fast. Cap. and from Livy begins again. Valerius Maximus notes that the squeak of a sorex caused the abdication of Fabius, Dictator, and Flaminius, Master of Horse (cf. Plut. Marc. 5.5, who mistakenly names Minucius as Dictator with Flaminius). Since Flaminius was Censor in 220 and 219, the incident is best placed in 221. See Mommsen, on the Elog. of Fabius (Inscr. Ital., above); and Bandel, Dict. 123-125. (Broughton MRR I)
    • Elog., CIL 1 .1, p. 193- Inscr. Ital. 13.3.80; Liv. 22.9.7; Val. Max. 1.1.5; cf. Plut. Marc. 5.5, with Minucius for Fabius; Plin. NH 8.223; see Degrassi 118, 442f. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Legatus (Ambassador)? 218 Africa (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Livy clearly believes that the leader of this embassy was Q. Fabius Maximus, but Dio and Zonaras call him M. Fabius, who would then be the senior ex-Censor M. Fabius Buteo (Cos. 245, Cens. 241). Willems suggests (2.503, note 3) that {Gr} in Dio is a corruption of {Gr}, but the absence of the name in Polybius and the silence regarding the event in the Elogium, Plutarch's life of Fabius Maximus, and the Auct. Vir. Ill. tend to favor Buteo. The choice remains uncertain. See Münzer, RE s. v. "Fabius," no. 116, col. 116f. (Broughton MRR I)
    • These men, defined by Livy as maiores natu, were sent to Carthage with Rome's ultimatum (Liv. 21.18.1, cf. 21.19.6, and 20.9; Dio fr. 55.10; Zon. 8.22; cf. Polyb. 3.20.6 and 9, and 33.1-4, and 40.2; Frontin. Str. 1.11.4; Sil. Ital. 2.1-390; App. Ib. 13). (Broughton MRR I)
  • Dictator 217 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Appointed (cf. Mommsen, Str. 2.147) or elected Dictator after Trasimene (Polyb. 3.87-88; Liv. 22.8-9, and 10.10, and 31.8-11; 23.30.13; Elogia, CIL 1(2), p. 193, nos. 12 and 13- Inscr. Ital. 13.3.14 and 80; Fast. Cap., Degrassi 44f., 118f., 444f.; Plut. Fab. 4-5; Sil. It. 6.611f.; App. Hann. 11; Dio fr. 57.8; Zon. 8.25). Taking command of the army from Servilius (see Consuls), he instituted his strategy of delay (Polyb. 3.88-94, and 101-103; Nep. Hann. 5; Liv. 22.12-18, and 41.9; Val. Max. 3.8.2; 4.8.1; Quintil. Inst. Or. 2.17.19; Frontin. Str. 1.3.3, and 5.28; Sil. It. 7.90-408; Plut. Fab. 5-7; Comp. per. et Fab. 2.2; App. Hann. 12-16; Polyaen. 8.14; Ampel. 46.10; Dio fr. 57.8-9; Auct. Vir. Ill. 43; Eutrop. 3.9; Zon. 8.25-26). See below, on Minucius Rufus. (Broughton MRR I)
    • Fabius was probably not a Dictator appointed interregni causa as stated in Fast. Cap. (see Mommsen, Str. 2.147; and 161, note 1). He was not involved in the interregnum at the end of this year, and his command, which terminated before the end of the year, involved the duties of a Dictator rei gerendae causa. The title pro dictatore, suggested in Liv. 22.31.8-11, is equally inacceptable{246} against the testimony of Polybius, the inscriptions, and Livy 22.8.5-6 (Mommsen, CIL 1, pp. 288f.; Str. 2.147, note 4). (Broughton MRR I)
  • Duovir Aedi Locandae 215 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Appointed to dedicate the temple to Venus Erycina and the temple to Mens respectively (Liv. 23.30.13-14, and 31.9). Three editors of Livy believe that a line of text has been omitted by some copyist, and they emend the text to read "cum <primum magistratum> inisset." If this emendation is accepted, the later date for the dedication is corroborated. See Conway-Walters ad 23.30.14. (Broughton MRR I)
    • Münzer (RE, s. v. "Fabius," no. 116) placed the dedication of these temples in the previous year. But since Ti. Sempronius Gracchus, Consul designate for 215, was to refer the matter to the people and the appointment of the Duumviri is reported after he entered office, it is more probable that the dedication took place in 215. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Consul Suffectus 215 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Liv. 23.31.12-14; and 34.1.3; Elogia, CIL 1 .1, p. 193- Inscr. Ital. 13.3.14 and 80; Fast. Cap., Degrassi 46f., 119, 446f., cf. Fast. Fer. Lat., Degrassi 148f.; Fast. Hyd.; Chr. Pasc.; Oros. 4.6.12. He was stationed at Cales, and later joined his colleague, then encamped at Suessula (Liv. 23.32, 36-37, 39.5-8). He devastated the region about Capua (23.46.8-11, and 48.1-2; Frontin. Str. 3.4.1; Zon. 9.3), and fortified Puteoli (Liv. 24.7.10; cf. 25.20.2). Held the elections and was re-elected for 214 (see 214, Consuls). (Broughton MRR I)
  • Consul 214 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Nep. Cat. 1; Liv. 24.7-9; Fast. Cap., Degrassi 46f., 119, 446f., cf. Fast. Fer. Lat., Degrassi 148f.; Plut. Marc. 9, and 13, cf. Fab. 19; Apophth. Fab. 3; Chr. 354; Fast. Hyd.; Chr. Pasc.; Cassiod.; Fest. 480 L ; Zon. 9.4; and on Fabius, Elogia, CIL 1(2).1, p. 193- Inscr. Ital. 13.3.14 and 80; Ennius Ann. 8.295 V; on Marcellus, CIL 1(2).2.608, 609. Fabius elected Censors (Liv. 24.10-11), and after campaign preparations, joined Marcellus and captured Casilinum and other towns in Campania.{259} (Liv. 24.19-20), then returned to hold elections in Rome (24.43.5-6). Marcellus was active at Nola (24.13.8-11, and 17.1-8; cf. 23.48.2, and Sil. It. 12.161). After a period of illness at Nola (Liv. 24.20.7), he went later in the year to Sicily, tried to negotiate with Syracuse, and captured Leontini (Polyb. 8.3.1-7; Liv. 24.21.1, and 27-31; Plut. Marc. 3-19; Sil. It. 14.110-113; see De Sanctis 3.2.330f.; CAH 8.64f.). (Broughton MRR I)
    • For Mommsen's emendation and interpretation of this very corrupt passage of Festus, see RF 2.407-416. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Legatus (Lieutenant) 213 Apulia (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Served under his son (Liv. 24.44.9-10, and 45.4-8; Val. Max. 2.2.4; Plut. Fab. 24; Apophth. Fab. 7; cf. Claud. Quad. fr. 57 Peter, with the incorrect title Proconsul). (Broughton MRR I)
  • Consul 209 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Cic. Leg. Agr. 2.90; Liv. 27.6; 29.15.2; Fast. Cap., Degrassi 46f., 120, 448f.; Chr. 354; Fast. Hyd.; Chr. Pasc.; Cassiod.; and on Fabius, Cic. Brut. 72; Elog., CIL 1 .1, p. 193- Inscr. Ital. 13.3.80; Plut. Fab. 19. The Consuls first dealt with formal duties, the levies, and the colonies who had refused to send their quotas of men (Liv. 27.7.7 and 12-13, 8.11-13, and 9-11). Fabius in southern Italy won Manduria and recaptured Tarentum, though he was almost caught by Hannibal at Metapontum (Liv. 27.12, 15-16, cf. 20.9, and 25.1-5; Plut. Fab. 21-23; Polyb. 10.1; Cic. De Or. 2.273 and 290; sen. 10-11; Brut. 72; Elogium; Strab. 6.3.1, 278 c; Val. Max. 7.3.7; Plin. NH 34.40; Sil. It. 15.320-333; Frontin. Str. 4.7.36; Plut. Cat. Mai. 2.3; Apophth. Fab. 4 and 6; Marc. 21 and 25; Polyaen. 8.14.3; App. Hann. 49; Eutrop. 3.16.1-2; Auct. Vir. Ill. 43.5-6; Augustin CD 1.6; Oros. 4.18.5; Zon. 9.8). Other towns surrendered to him (Eutrop. 3.16) and he returned to celebrate a triumph (Elogium; Plut. Fab. 23.1-2; Comp. Per. et Fab. 2; see Degrassi 551). Chosen Princeps Senatus (see below, Censors). Fulvius held the election of Censors (Liv. 27.11.7), went to Capua, and received the surrender of several towns of the Lucani and Hirpini (27.15.2-3), and returned to Rome to hold elections (27.21.1-5). (Broughton MRR I)
  • Triumphator 209 (Rich 2014) Expand
    • Triumph de Tarentineis. MRR I.285, Itgenshorst no. 160, Rich no. 159. (Rich 2014)
  • Princeps Senatus 209 to 203 (Ryan 1998) Expand
    • p. 223 (Ryan 1998)
  • Interrex before 207 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Elogium, CIL 1 .1, p. 193-Inscr. Ital. 13.3.80: interrex bis. The dates remain unknown, but Mommsen suggested that with both Consuls dead he may have acted this year to elect the Consuls of 207. Livy however indicates that the Dictator held the elections (see above, Dictator). (Broughton MRR I)

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