When talking about the giants of ancient Rome today, Julius Caesar, Augustus Octavian, and Cicero are usually mentioned as the most famous among them. However, during the period of the Roman Republic, there were also great figures who are not talked about as much. One of them is the consul Fabius Maximus, who was known for his gentleness and fairness. The ancient Greek historian Plutarch tells us that he was naturally peaceful, quiet, kind, and lenient towards his friends. He also mentions that he was a slow learner, which led those who only superficially knew him to consider him somewhat limited. However, those who knew him better knew that he possessed a strong character that came from his inner strength and courage. Later, as he grew into a mature man, his caution merged with prudence, and his steadfastness and stability allowed him to maintain self-control and remain incorruptible. It is also stated that his speeches were moderate and profound. He did not highlight himself in them nor did he cater to the masses; instead, he always had the common good in mind. He worked hard to advocate for the well-being of the Republic. Fortunately, he had the opportunity to do so as he served as consul five times and as dictator twice. The term dictator carries a highly negative connotation today, as it signifies an ambitious and arrogant individual who oppresses the people. However, during the time of the Roman Republic, it referred to a person who possessed self-confidence, prudence, justice, and other virtues in order to handle crisis situations with dignity.
Fabius Maximus proved himself to be exactly that kind of leader in the decisive moments of the Second Punic War when the renowned general Hannibal, after devastating central Italy, arrived at the gates of Rome. His advance was attempted to be halted by the then consul Flaminius in 217 BC. However, the Roman army suffered a fierce defeat, with enormous casualties including Flaminius himself. The news caused panic in Rome, prompting the Senate to declare a state of emergency and electing Fabius Maximus as dictator for the second time. Fabius delivered a speech before the gathered crowd and army, emphasizing the need to worship the gods and not to fear the enemy. This encouraged and instilled optimism and hope for victory among them.
Aware of the strength of his opponent, he employed a strategy of avoiding decisive battles, continuously wearing down the enemy’s army through smaller skirmishes and using the “scorched earth” tactic to disrupt their supply chain. At the same time, he sought to prevent Hannibal’s strategic goal of separating Rome from its Italian allies. However, a portion of the Roman army, the Senate, and the people in Rome considered Fabius Maximus a coward and hesitator. They spoke against him with disdain, claiming he was incompetent. Even the commander of the Roman cavalry, Minucius, who was much younger than Fabius, mocked his tactics. A few friends advised him to engage in battle to rid himself of the bad reputation, to which he responded: In that case, I would truly be a greater coward than I now appear to be, if I were to act out of fear of the enemy. Mockery and offensive jokes discouraged him from his mature plans. Only Hannibal did not consider him incompetent because he understood Fabius’s tactics well.
Unsatisfied with the course of events, some soldiers sided with Minucius, along with the Senate and the people, while others remained loyal to Fabius. Minucius decided to attack Hannibal, who knew that there was discord within the Roman army and used it to trap him. Minucius suffered losses in manpower, and from a distance, Fabius remarked: “Now, soldiers, let everyone hurry with Mark Minucius in mind; for he is a brilliant man and a patriot. And if his ardent desire to drive out the enemy led him astray, we will blame him on another occasion.” After the battle, Fabius did not show arrogance or unleash harsh words on Minucius.
Minucius gathered his own loyal army and said to them: “My comrades, do not make any mistakes in conducting great endeavors beyond human strength, but use your failures after committing mistakes as lessons.” For the future, a characteristic of a correct and reasonable person is to recognize, even though I have little reason to complain about fate, that I have more reasons to praise it. Because what I couldn’t understand before, I learned in a small part of the day, realizing that I am not capable of commanding others, but I need to be under the command of someone else, and I should not strive to be a winner out of ambition over those for whom it is more honorable to be defeated. Afterwards, he led the army to Fabius’ tent and addressed him with these words: “Today, dictator, you have achieved two victories: bravery over Hannibal and wisdom and nobility over your comrade in service. The first you saved our lives, and the second you gave us a great lesson, us who were defeated by the enemy to our shame, but who were saved and honored by you. I address you by the noble name of father because I do not know a more honorable way to address you, for your kindness is greater than the kindness of my own parent. He, after all, only gave birth to me, while I owe you not only my life, but much more.” is Byzantine Empire.The major battles in history took place within the Byzantine Empire and one of the most famous leaders in its history was Alexios I Komnenos. One of his main accomplishments was the successful defense of Constantinople against the attacks of the Seljuk Turks during the First Crusade. This victory not only saved the Byzantine Empire, but also saved the lives of many of its people.
Alexios achieved this victory through his insightful strategy, later known as the Alexian strategy, which forced the Turkish army to retreat. Throughout the following years, in his fifties, he won several more victories against the Turks and became known in Constantinople as one of the greatest military commanders. But he didn’t just leave behind a legacy of a great military leader, but also a life filled with the expression of virtues. He did this not for himself, but for something that the abbreviation SPQR (Senatus Populisque Romanus) represents – For the Senate and People of Rome. Therefore, love for the Senate, as the council of the most experienced, love for the homeland, and love for the people. This awareness was the guiding principle of his life.
1 Alexios I Komnenos (1048 AD – 1118 AD) was born, lived, and died in Constantinople.
2 Emperor was the title given to the highest official of the Byzantine Empire. From 330 AD to the fall of Constantinople in 1453 AD, the Byzantine Empire was ruled by a succession of emperors, with Alexios I Komnenos as one of the most influential figures in its history.
higher judicial, military, and administrative authority.
3 The dictator was elected during times of crisis, usually for a period of six months, when all power would be in his hands, with the right to decide on war and peace.