Daily Roman History:

Held as a paragon of virtue for the Roman people Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus showed his country what true civic virtue was. After a full career serving the Republic, capped with a year in the Consulship, he retired to his farm where he planned to spend his remaining days. However, in 458BC a neighborimg tribe broke their treaty with Rome and began an attack. They managed to get then drop on and surround the consular army raised to meet them. Desperate, the Senate appointed Cincinnatus to the role of dictator, giving him full control of the Republic. Acting quickly an army was raised from the young men of Rome and managed to surround the beseging force. Rather then slaughter them Cincinnatus granted them mercy, but made them walk under the yoke, a symbolic humbling. With the job complete, after just 15 days with absolute power, Cincinnatus relinquished his title to rutuen to his farm. Fate not being done with him yet, Cincinnatus was AGAIN appointed to the dictatorship in 439BC to deal with a senator trying to buy the people of Rome confidence and become a king. Once again an army was raised and defeated the insurgent force. And once again, after just 21 days of absolute power, Cincinnatus gave up the title and returned to his fields.

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