Source edition
Plutarch. Plutarch's Lives, Vol. III. Perrin, Bernadotte, editor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1914.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This biography portrays the life of Fabius Maximus, the Roman general who saved Rome from the threat of the Carthaginian general Hannibal during the Second Punic War. The narrative begins with his quiet childhood and noble ancestry, leading to his early military achievements as consul. Following Rome's disastrous defeat at Lake Trasimene, Fabius is appointed dictator and adopts a strategy of attrition, avoiding decisive battles to wear down the enemy. Although his seemingly passive tactics initially draw fierce criticism and ridicule from his peers and the Roman public, the subsequent catastrophic defeat at Cannae proves his wisdom and cautious approach to be the state's only salvation. In the latter half of the work, his clever recapture of Tarentum and his compassionate leadership of his soldiers highlight both his strategic brilliance and moral character. In his final years, he strongly opposes the young Scipio's ambitious plan to invade Carthage directly, but passes away due to illness before witnessing the final victory, mourned by all of Rome as the "Father of the People."