Roman General: Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus

Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, legendary or semi-legendary hero of the early Roman republic. Born Rome, about 519 B.C. Died Rome, about 439 B.C.

Cincinnatus was a Roman consul in 460 B.C. Summoned from his small farm in 458, in order to deliver the consul Minucius from imminent disaster, he served as dictator of Rome during an attack on the city by the Aequi and Volsci tribes.

After about 16 days, Cincinnatus defeated the besiegers, resigned his office, and retired to manual labour on his farm.

An opponent of the plebeians, he was again summoned as dictator of Rome in 439 to defend the privileges of the patricians during a plebeian revolt. Legend has so colored the virtues and achievements of Cincinnatus that it is impossible to distinguish fact from fiction.