Cincinnatus, Lucius Quinctius

Born: 519 BCE Rome, Italy

Died: 430 BCE Rome, Italy

Farmer, politician, and military leader who played a minimal, but crucial role in the Roman Republic and, after his death, became legendary as the epitome of civic virtue and unselfish, outstanding leadership. In 460 BCE, he served as suffect consul of the Republic, then retired to his estate. In 458 or 457 BCE, the Republic summoned him from retirement to help fend off an invasion of Rome. Assuming absolute control of the state as a dictator, he won a quick victory, only to surrender his power and its privileges to return to his farm. It is possible that he became dictator again in 439 BCE. Although some historians view stories of Cincinnatus's exploits as spurious, most accept him as a historical figure, and many cities have erected statutes in his honor. He has also become the inspiration for many civic organizations such as the Society of Cincinnati, established in 1783. Some American politicians and military figures, most notably George Washington, have been compared with Cincinnatus.

Gary Forsythe, A Critical History of Early Rome: From Prehistory to the First Punic War (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2006), 204, 240; Garry Wills, Cincinnatus: George Washington and the Enlightenment (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1984), 13-16, 36-37, 199.