Cincinnatus, the First Roman Dictator, Defeated Rome’s Attackers and Then Resigned (458 BCE)
Watch the video here – click “ANCIENT ROME” to begin
By Sasha Alex Lessin, Ph.D. (Anthropology, UCLA)
Cincinnatus, clad in bronze armor and a red cloak, rallies his soldiers beneath torchlight and moonlight. As his men dig trenches with wooden stakes to encircle the Aequi, he raises his fist in command, embodying Rome’s resolve and discipline in its hour of peril.
Cincinnatus stands in bronze armor and a crimson cloak, his fist raised beneath the moonlight. His piercing gaze and stern resolve inspire Roman soldiers in the background as they dig trenches by torchlight, ready to encircle the enemy.
Legendary Perspective
Lucretia, draped in white, stands before her father and husband in a dim Roman villa. Her face is anguished yet noble as she reveals the crime against her, holding a dagger at her side. The men listen in sorrow and shock, lit by torchlight.
The traditional account, dated to 509 BCE, depicts the Etruscan king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus as a cruel and tyrannical ruler. The breaking point came when his son, Sextus Tarquinius, raped the noblewoman Lucretia. After confessing the assault to her father and husband, Lucretia killed herself out of shame.
Lucius Junius Brutus, cloaked in crimson, raises his sword as Roman nobles and soldiers rally at his side. In the background, the royal family flees through the city gates, while the crowd’s defiance marks the birth of the Republic.
Her suicide sparked a revolt led by Lucius Junius Brutus and other noblemen. Supported by the army, they expelled the king and his family, ending the monarchy. The Romans swore never again to be ruled by a king, establishing the Republic.
Alternative Perspective
Modern scholars often view this story as a patriotic legend. Another interpretation suggests that the monarchy ended not through internal revolt, but external defeat.
According to this theory, Lars Porsenna, an Etruscan king, drove Tarquinius Superbus from Rome. Before Porsenna could establish his own rule, circumstances forced him to withdraw, leaving Rome without a king. With the monarchy ended, Roman elites created a Republic governed by two annually elected consuls to prevent any one man from holding supreme power.
A Neoclassical scene of Etruscan king Lars Porsenna leading his army as Tarquinius Superbus and his family flee Rome. In the background, Roman walls and gates loom, while nobles and citizens watch anxiously. The painting conveys a shift in power, with Porsenna victorious but not remaining to rule.
Etruscan king Lars Porsenna commands his army at the Roman gates as Tarquinius Superbus and his family flee the city. Roman citizens look on with fear and uncertainty, capturing the external defeat that marked the end of the monarchy.
Lessin’s Perspective
Both the “legendary” and “alternative” perspectives likely hold elements of truth.
Cincinnatus: Family Tragedy and Humble Beginnings
In a shadowed Roman forum, young Caeso in Patrician dress strikes down Marcus Vulcius Victor in a heated clash. Citizens recoil in horror, while in the background Cincinnatus, in more muted robes, looks anguished. The tension captures the violence that ruined his family’s fortune.
Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus (c. 519–430 BCE) lived during the turbulent early Republic, when tensions between Patricians (aristocrats) and Plebeians (common citizens) ran high.
Cincinnatus, a Patrician, faced personal tragedy through his son Caeso, who joined a radical group supporting Plebeian reforms such as Tertullianus’ Law (which sought to limit consular powers). In a violent clash, Caeso killed Marcus Vulcius Victor, brother of Tribune Tribunea. Charged with murder, Caeso fled Rome.
Cincinnatus was forced to pay an enormous fine on his son’s behalf, bankrupting him. He sold most of his property and retired to a small farm on the city’s outskirts.
The Senate Calls on Cincinnatus
When Rome faced simultaneous threats—the Sabines attacking and the Aequi breaking a treaty and besieging a Roman army—panic swept the Senate. To save the trapped soldiers of Lucius Minutius, the Senate appointed Cincinnatus dictator for six months.
Cincinnatus grips his wooden plow in a rustic field as Roman envoys approach, scroll in hand. The contrast between his humble life and their formal togas marks the moment he is summoned to save the Republic.
A delegation found him plowing his field. He donned his toga, returned to Rome, and swiftly organized an army. He suspended commerce and ordered all able-bodied men to assemble with five days’ rations and wooden stakes for fortifications.
The Battle of Mount Algidus
Cincinnatus marched his newly raised army to Mount Algidus, where the Aequi had encircled Minutius’ forces. At midnight, his men dug a trench around the Aequi, signaling both the trapped Romans and their enemies. Surrounded, the Aequi surrendered. Their leaders were chained, and their arms seized.
Meanwhile, Roman general Gaius Nortius defeated the Sabines, securing a double victory.
Cincinnatus returned in triumph, celebrated with a public parade, and swiftly resigned after just 15 days in office—restoring power to the consuls. His humility became legendary, contrasting with tyrants who clung to power.
Cincinnatus rides a white horse through the Roman Forum, clad in bronze armor and a red cloak, crowned with laurel. Soldiers and citizens cheer as sunlight illuminates the grand architecture. Despite the glory, his stern dignity foreshadows his swift return to humble life on the farm.
Aftermath and Legacy
Cincinnatus later retaliated against Tribune Tribunea, accusing him of perjury regarding his son Caeso. The Senate exiled Tribunea.
In the Senate chamber, Cincinnatus stands tall in his toga, pointing firmly at Tribune Tribunea, who his guards are leading away. Senators murmur among themselves, some nodding in agreement. The scene symbolizes justice, but the greater emphasis is on Cincinnatus’ calm, measured authority.
For Romans, Cincinnatus became the model of civic virtue: a leader who took absolute power only to save the state, then relinquished it.
Cincinnatus sets aside his laurel crown and sword on a stone and resumes work with his wooden plow. Golden sunlight bathes the humble fields and cottage, symbolizing humility after triumph.
Keywords:
Ancient Rome, Roman Republic, Cincinnatus, Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, dictator, civic virtue, humility, leadership, service, duty, legacy, Patricians, Plebeians, Plebeian reforms, Tertullianus’ Law, Caeso, family tragedy, farm life, Roman Senate, Lucius Junius Brutus, revolt of Brutus, Lucretia, Sextus Tarquinius, Tarquinius Superbus, Lars Porsenna, Etruscans, monarchy, exile, Roman consuls, Aequi, Sabines, Battle of Mount Algidus, Lucius Minutius, Roman army, encirclement, triumph, laurel crown, sword, plow, toga, fasces, Neoclassical painting, historical art, epic history, Roman virtue, model of civic duty
References
- Livy, The Early History of Rome (Books I–V), Penguin Classics, London, 1960 (trans. Aubrey De Selincourt).
- Philip Matyszak, Chronicle of the Roman Republic, Thames & Hudson, London, 2003.
- N. Sekunda & S. Northwood, Early Roman Armies, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 2008.
Tags
#AncientRome #Cincinnatus #History #RomanRepublic #Dictatorship #PlebeiansVsPatricians #EpicHistory #EducationalDocumentary
Facebook Description
In 458 BCE, Rome teetered on the brink of disaster. The army was trapped, enemies closed in, and the Senate turned to one man: Cincinnatus. Found plowing his modest farm, he accepted absolute power — only to save the Republic. After defeating Rome’s foes, he laid down his dictatorship and returned to his plow.
His story — part legend, part history — became the Roman model of civic virtue and humility. In an age when leaders cling to power, Cincinnatus reminds us what true service looks like.
👉 Explore Sasha Alex Lessin’s latest article, beautifully illustrated, and see how this ancient tale still speaks to us today.
X Description
In 458 BCE, Rome was saved by a farmer.
Cincinnatus took absolute power, crushed Rome’s enemies — then gave it all up to return to his plow.
A timeless lesson in civic virtue & humility.
Read Sasha Alex Lessin’s latest: ⚔️🌾 #AncientRome #History
Closing thought: May this ancient Roman dictator who willingly resigned inspire today’s leaders to do the same.
📸 Illustration Recommendations
Here’s a suggested sequence of 6 illustrations to break up the text and visually support the narrative:
- The Rape of Lucretia – a solemn, dramatic painting-style image of Lucretia confessing to her family before taking her life. (Goes in “Legendary Perspective” section)
- Romans Expel Tarquinius Superbus – Brutus leading the revolt, soldiers forcing the king and family into exile. (End of “Legendary Perspective”)
- Cincinnatus on His Farm – a humble scene of him plowing his small field as envoys approach. (Beginning of “The Senate Calls on Cincinnatus”)
- The Dictator at Work – Cincinnatus in toga commanding Roman soldiers, organizing defenses. (Before “The Battle of Mount Algidus”)
- Battle of Mount Algidus – Romans digging trenches at night, surrounding the Aequi camp. (Main battle scene)
- The Triumph of Cincinnatus – victorious but modest, riding in a triumphal procession, later stepping down. (“Aftermath and Legacy” section)
Cincinnatus, the 1st Roman Dictator, DEFEATED ROME’S ATTACKERS and then resigned (458 BCE)
https://youtu.be/PutmZfm86IM?si=bhydX2btzC6o_sKP
This is a VIDEO; to start it, click the words “ANCIENT ROME.”
Cincinnatus, the 1st Roman Dictator, DEFEATED ROME‘S attackers and then resigned–all in 458 BCE
By Sasha Alex Lessin, Ph.D. (Anthropology, UCLA)
Legendary Perspective
The legendary account, dated to 509 BCE, depicts the ETRUSCAN KING LUCIUS TARQUINIUS SUPERBUS as a cruel and tyrannical ruler. The final straw was the actions of his son, SEXTUS TARQUINIUS, who raped the virtuous noblewoman Lucertia. After revealing the assault to her father and husband, she killed herself out of shame.
Her suicide prompted a group of Roman noblemen, led by LUCIUS JUNIUS BRUTUS, to lead a popular revolt. The army, loyal to Brutus, forced the king and his family into exile, bringing an end to the monarchy. Brutus and the ROMANS THEN SWORE AN OATH NEVER TO BE RULED BY A KING AGAIN AND ESTABLISHED A REPUBLIC.
Alternative Perspective
Many modern scholars view the traditional story as a dramatic and patriotic tale, possibly covering up a different set of events. The prevalent theory suggests the Etruscan monarchy was ended by external military defeat rather than internal revolt. >
According to this view, an Etruscan king named Lars Porsenna defeated the Romans and expelled Tarquinius Superbus. Before Porsenna could establish his own rule, he was forced to withdraw, leaving Rome without a king. With the monarchy already abolished, the Roman elites established the Republic, featuring two annually elected consuls to prevent any one person from becoming too powerful.
Lessin’s Perspective
Both the “legendary” and “alternative” perspectives are probably true.
PATRICIAN CINCINATUS’S SON CHAMPIONED THE PLEBIANS, KILLED AN ARISTOCRAT, & BANKRUPTED HIS DAD
Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus lived in the mid-5th Century between 519 and 430 BCE in the early Roman Republic, when tensions were high between the Plebeians (Plebs)–everyday Romans and Rome’s aristocratic Patricians.
Cincinnatus came from an influential Patrician family, loyal to its interests.
TERTULLIANUS’ LAW & PATRICIAN CINCINATUS’ SON CAESO FAVORED PLEBS
The main quarrel between Rome’s Patricians and Plebeians, Tertullianus’ Law, favored the Plebeians.
Tertullianus proposed that five Commissioners define the powers granted to the Consuls. Consuls, the two most powerful officers in Rome, served for a one-year term.
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Cincinnatus’s son, CAESO, joined a gang of young progressive nobles who supported the Plebs. The gang physically attacked everyone in the Forum who spoke against Tertullianus’ Law.
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Caeso punched the brother of Tribune Tribunea’s brother Marcus Vulcius Victor to death for dissing Tertullianus’ Law. Tribunea charged Caeso with murder, but Patricians argued for his release before he could the Senate could try him. The Tribunes agreed to let Caeso go if he paid a fine if he failed to turn up for his trial, but Queso, fearing he might get a death sentence if the Senate tried him, fled Rome.
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Cincinnatus had to pay the Tribune a fine for the murder Qaeso committed so hefty that he had to sell almost everything he owned, including his house. He moved into a deserted little cottage on a small plot of land on the outskirts of the city.
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When one of the two Senate Consuls died in office, the Senate appointed Cincinnatus as Consul. When he got the job, he did everything he could to block Terentillus’s Law.
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THE SENATE APPOINTED CINCINATUS DICTATOR TO SAVE ROME & ITS ARMY FROM THE AEQUI
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A few years later, the Sabines invaded Rome. At the same time, the Aequi, a neighboring Italic tribe, broke its treaty with Rome and invaded Roman turf. Rome sent Envoys to negotiate with the Aequi, but the Aequi snubbed the envoys.
The envoys invoked the expat “gods” (Anunnaki from Sumer ruled by Marduk in his Roman persona as JUPITER/Zeus) to curse the Aequi for breaking their oath of non-aggression.
Lucius Minutius raised a Roman army and marched against the Aequi. The Aequi, however, in the cover of a night, built Earthworks around the Romans, though the Roman cavalry got out and reported to the Senate.
When the news reached Rome, the Senators panicked and appointed Cincinnatus DICTATOR for six months so he could lead Rome’s besieged Army and save Lucius Minutius and his men from the Aequi.
The Senate sent a delegation to Cincinnatus’ humble farm to bring him to the Roman Assembly. They found him plowing his field. He donned his Toga, returned to Rome, and appointed Lucius Tarquitius as his second-in-command.
Cincinnatus suspended all commerce and ordered all men of military age to assemble with five days’ rations and a wooden stake for defense structures.
CINCINNATUS DEFEATED THE AEQUI AT THE BATTLE OF MOUNT ALGIDUS
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Cincinnatus and his Army arrived at Mount Algidus at midnight, where the Aequi had besieged them for three days. He moved his troops into a ring around the Aqueon Army. He had his men shout as loud as they could as they dug a continuous trench around Aequi’s position to let Lucius Minutius’s trapped force know a Roman army was here to rescue them and to let the Aqueons know that now his Romans surrounded them with the stakes they brought.
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The Aequi surrendered. The Romans plundered their arms and armor. Cincinnatus had their leaders chained.
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Gaius Nortius, who had been campaigning against the Sabines, was also Victorious.
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When Cincinnatus returned to Rome with his captives, the Senate awarded him a Triumph [Public parade]. The Senators berated Lucius Minutus for his failure and replaced him as Consul.
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Cincinnatus charged Tribune Tribunea, who had brought allegations against his son Queso, with perjury. Cincinnatus said that Tribune Triunea’s brother had died at home in bed as a result of being sick and not as a result of Queso’s attack. The Senate found Tribunea guilty and exiled him from Rome.
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References
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Livy, Books I-V Livy, The Early History of Rome, Penguin Classics, London, Translated by Aubrey De Selincourt, 1960. Secondary Sources Chronicle of the Roman Republic, Rulers of Ancient Rome from Romulus to Augustus, Philip Matyszak, Thames & Hudson, London, 2003. Early Roman Armies, N Sekunda & S Northwood, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 2008.
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#AncientRome #Cincinnatus #History #History #Rome #Dictatorship #PlebiansVsPatricians #EpicHistory #RomanRepublic #EducationalDocumentary
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Preview YouTube video Legends of Ancient Rome: Cincinnatus, the Legend, the Truth
