Fabius Rullianus

(Quintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus)

d. 291 BC

samnites
SCENE FROM THE SAMNITE WARS
Quintus Fabius Rullianus was a long-serving general of the Second and Third Samnite Wars. His career got off to an auspicious start, when he went against an order from Papirius, the dictator, and won a great battle. Papirius tried to have him put to death, but was unsuccessful. Three years later, when Fabius was consul for the first time, a crisis arose which required him to appoint his foe Papirius as dictator. After this, the two generals served together with mutual respect.

Fabius's most famous victory was Sentinum. During this battle, his co-consul, Publius Decius Mus, son of Decius Mus, sacrificed his life in a manner similar to his father, but a great victory for Rome was won. Three years after Sentinum, Fabius's son was elected consul. When he was ambushed, Fabius went to his rescue with reinforcements and served under him. In the victory that followed, Pontius, the Samnite leader of Caudine Forks, was captured, taken to Rome for a triumph, and beheaded.


Key events during the life of Fabius Rullianus:


Year
Event
325 BC
Disobeys order from Dictator L. Papirius, and gains his enmity.
322 BC
Elected consul, in crisis, appoints his enemy Papirius as dictator
315 BC
Appointed dictator.
310 BC
Second consulship.
295 BC
Fifth consulship, with Decius Mus (the son); led Rome against Samnites at Sentinum.
292 BC
When his son's army became trapped, Fabius brought re-enforcements; served under his son.
291 BC
Died.

Other Resources


Story Links
Book Links
Certain Great Romans  in  Stories From Livy  by  Alfred J. Church
Formidable Neighbours  in  Stories from Ancient Rome  by  Alfred J. Church
Fabius among the Ciminian Hills  in  The Story of Rome  by  Mary Macgregor
Anecdotes of the Latin and Samnite Wars  in  Historical Tales: Roman  by  Charles Morris


Contemporary
Short Biography
Caius Pontius Samnite general who captured the Romans at Caudium Pass.
L. Papirius Cursor General who was alternately friend and foe of Fabius.
Publius Decius Mus Son of Decius Mus, sacrificed himself, like his father, for a Roman victory.
Egnatius Leader of the Samnites at the Battle of Sentinum.