FA'BIUS MA'XIMUS and the FABII FAMILY. The Fabil were a numerous and powerful gene or patrician house of ancient Rome, which became subdivided into several families or branches distinguished by their respective cognomina, such as Fabii Maximi, Fabii Auffiusti, Fabii Vibulanii, &c. They were of Sabine origin, and settled on the Quirinal from the time of the earliest kings. After the expulsion of the Tarquinii, the Fabii as one of the older houses exercised considerable influence in the senate. Cnso Fabius being Qunstor with L. Valerius, impeached Spurius Cassius in the year of Rome 268 (an. 486), and had him executed. It has been noted as a remarkable fact, that for seven consecutive years from that time, one of the two annual consul ships was filled by three brothers Fabii in rotation. Niebuhr has particularly investigated this period of Roman history, and speculated on the causes of this long retention of offico by the Fabii as con nected with the struggle then pending between the patricians and the plebeians, and the attempt of the former to monopolise the elections. (' History of Rome,' 'The Seven Conaulahips of the Fabii.') Ons of the three brothers, Quintus Fabius Vibulanus, fell in battle against the Velentes, in the year 274 of Rome. In the following year, under the consulship of ems() Fabius and Titus Virginius, the whole house of the Fabii proposed to leave Rome and settle on the borders of the territory of Veii, in order to take the war against the Veientea entirely into their bands. After performing solemn sacrifices, they left Rome in a body, mustering 306 patricians, besides their families, clients, and freedmen, and encamped on the banks of the Cremera in sight of Veii. There they fortified themselves, and maintained for nearly two years a harassing warfare against the Veicutes and other people of Etruria. At last in one of their predatory incursions they fell into an ambuscade, and fighting desperately, were all exterminated. (Livy, ii. 48, 50; and Niebuhr'a 'History,' on tho Vcieutine War.) Ous only of the house, Quintus Fabiva Vibulanus, who had remained at Rome, escaped, and became the parent stock of all the subsequent Fabii. He was repeatedly consul, and was afterwards ono of the decomviri with Appius Claudius for two consecutive years, in which office he disgraced himself by his connivance at the oppressions of his colleague, which caused the fall of the decemvirate. In subse quent years we find several Fabii filling the consulship, until we come to M. Fabius Ambustua, who was consul lu the year 393 of Rome, and again several times after. He fought against the Hernici and the Tarquiniana, and left aeveral sons, one of whom, known by the name of Quintus Fabius Maximus attacked and defeated tho Samnites (429 of Rome) in the absence and egainat the orders of his commanding officer, the Dictator Papirius, who would beam brought him to punishment for disobedience, but was prevented by the inter cession of the soldiers and the people. This Fabius was five times consul, and dictator twice. He triumphed over tho Samnites, Marsi, Gauls, and Tuscans. His son, Quintus Fabius Gurges, was thrice consul, and was the grandfather of QUINTUS FABIUS Al AXIMUS VER. RIICOSIIS, one of the most celebrated generals of Rome. In his first consulate he triumphed over the Liguriana. After the Thrasymenian
defeat he was named Prodictator by the unanimous voice of the people, and waa intruated with the salvation of the Republic. The system which he adopted to check the advance of Hannibal is well known. By a succession of skilful movements, marches, and counter marches, always choosing good defensive positions, he harassed his antagonist, who could never draw him into ground favourable for his attack, while Fabius watched every opportunity of availing himself of any error or neglect on the part of the Carthaginians.
This mode of warfare, which was new to the Romans, acquired for Fabius the name of Cuuctator, and was censured by the young, the real; and the ignorant; but it probably was the means of saving Rome from ruin. Minuciue, who shared with Fabius the command of the army, having imprudently engaged Hannibal, was saved from total destruction by the timely assistance of the dictator. In the following year however, 536 of Rome, Fabius being recalled to Rome, the command of the army was intruated to the consul T. Varro, who rushed imprudently to battle, when the defeat of Cannel made manifest the wisdom of the dictator's previous caution. Fabiva was made consul in the next year, and was again employed in keeping Hannibal in check.' In 543 of Rome, being consul fur the fifth time, he re-took Tarentum by atratagem, after which he narrowly escaped being caught himself in a snare by Hannibal near Metapontum. (Livy, xxvii. 15, 16.) When some years after the question was die cussed in the senate of sending P. Scipio with an army into Africa, Fabius opposed it, saying that Italy ought first to be rid of Haunibal. Fabius died some time after at a very advanced ago. His son, oallod 2 1.
likewise Quintile Fabius Maximus, who Lad also been consul, died before him. Ilia grandson Quintus Fabius Maximus Servilianus, being proconsul, fought against Viriatus in Spain, and concluded with him an honourable peace. (Livy, ' Epitome,' 54.) He was afterwards consul repeatedly, and also censor. Ile wroto 'Annals,' which are quoted by Macrobius. e Saturn.; 16.) His brother by adoption Quintus Fabius Maximus Xmilianus, the son of Paulus Xmilius (Livy, xlv. 41), was consul in 009 of Rome, and was the father of Fabius, called Allobrogicus, who subdued not only the Allobrogcs, but also the people of Southern Gaul, which he reduced into a Roman province, called from that time • provincia,' or ' Gallia ulterior.' Quintus Fabius Maximus, a grandson of Fabius Maximus Servilianus, served in Spain under Julius Caesar, and was made consul in the year 709 of Rome. Two of his sons or nephews, Paulus Fabius Maximus and Quintus Fabius 3laximus were consuls in succession uuder Augustus. There was also a Fabius consul under Tiberius. l'anvinius and others have reckoned that during a period of about five centuries, from the time of the first Fabius, who is mentioned as consul, to the reign of Tiberius, forty-eight consulships, seven dictatorships, eight ceusorships, seven augurehips, besides the offices of master of the horse and military tribune with consular power, were filled by individuals of the Fabian house. It also could boast of thirteen triumphs and two ovations.
(Augustinus, De Familiis Romanortam.)