Cincinnatus

Modern Statue in Downtown Cincinnati, OH. He is holding the fasces in one hand and the plow in the other -- symbols so important in Roman life.

Livy: Book 3

written about 1 A.D.

     In 458 B.C., local tribes called the Aequi combined to surround and attack a Roman army. As the army's situation become dire during this siege, the Senate came to the small farm of Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus and appointed him Dictator for 6 months. While a minor incident in early Roman history, the story of Cincinnatus became a 'trend-setter,' a "true myth," a model and hero of the Yeoman values that created, enlarged and supported the Roman State.

   How much can you squeeze from this text about the Romans? Romans accepted that Livy summed up THE model of Roman characteristics here. Try to note as many characteristics and values of Romans as you can. Stretch every sentence into an answer, if you can, about what Romans considered 'excellence'. What seems to compete with this 'excellence'?  For example, are Cato's 'Yeoman values' (linked description above) inherent in this text by Livy? We will discuss your researches in class.

The Text

     26. For those who are disdainful of all human values except riches and who think that high position and excellence are impossible without great wealth, it is worthwhile to listen to the following story. The one hope of the people and the empire of Rome, Lucius Quinctius, cultivated a farm of four acres on the other side of the Tiber. It was directly across from the spot where the dockyard now is situated and to this day is called the Quinctian meadows. There he was found by the deputation from the senate, either bent over his spade as he dug a ditch or plowing—at any rate, as historians agree, occupied with the work of his farm.

        After greetings had been exchanged, they expressed the wish that "It might turn out well for both him and his country...." and requested that he put on his toga and hear the mandate of the senate. Crying out in surprise, "Is everything all right?"  He called to his wife to bring his toga from the cottage and hurry!  There, after wiping off the dust and sweat, he put it on and came forward to the deputation, who hailed him dictator and summoned him into the city. When they had explained the army's alarming situation he crossed over the Tiber in a boat provided by the state. On the other side he was greeted by his three sons, who had come out to meet him, followed by other friends and relatives, and by most of the senators. Accompanied by this gathering he was conducted to his house by the lictors. A great crowd of plebeians also collected, not at all overjoyed to see Cincinnatus' selection; they considered the office too powerful and the man himself even more relentless and uncompromising. For that night no precautions were taken, aside from posting a watch in the city.

     The next morning Cincinnatus arose and went into the Forum before daybreak, where he named Lucius Tarquitius as master of horse. This man was a patrician by birth, although he had been forced by poverty to serve in the infantry, and was considered the finest soldier in Rome. Accompanied by Tarquitius, the dictator went into the assembly of the people, where he proclaimed a suspension of all civic affairs, ordered shops to be closed throughout the city, and forbade the transaction of all private business. He then issued an order that everyone of military age should report in arms at the Campus Martius before sunset, carrying rations for five days and twelve stakes for palisades. Those too old for military duty he ordered to prepare rations for their neighbors serving in the army while these were preparing their arms and looking for stakes.

         Immediately the young men ran to collect stakes, taking the first they came to, with no one stopping them, since everyone was eager to carry out the orders of the dictator. At the appointed time the line was drawn up in an order adapted for battle as well as marching, in the event that the occasion should arise; the dictator led the infantry in person, with Tarquitius at the head of the cavalry. Cincinnatus surprised the enemy at night and the Aequi soon were reduced from besiegers into besieged. Beset by a double attack, the Aequi abandoned their assistance for supplication, begging first the commander of one army, then the other, not to make their victory a slaughter. The consul ordered them to go to the dictator. Cincinnatus, wishing to humiliate them in defeat, angrily ordered that their general Gracchus Cloelius and their other officers be brought to him in chains, and the town of Corbio be evacuated. He did not want the blood of the Aequi, he said; they could go if they would confess that they were conquered and pass under the yoke. A yoke was made of three spears and under it were marched the Aequi .

Observations

     Having won the day, Cincinnatus resigned his power and position of Dictator after just 16 days, and went back to his plowing his farm. Such examples drove Romans to great extremes, great sacrifices. For a time.

        If you were a Roman then, and bought into this value system, what would you do differently from your agenda (Latin for 'things to do') for today?