Key figures in Fabius’ life
- Scipio Africanus, young scion of Scipiones, a gifted leader who never lost a battle against the Carthaginians when he had command of Roman forces
- Marcus Minucius, his Master of Horse who worked against Fabius’ strategy of avoiding set-piece battles with Hannibal. He was in favor of direct confrontation with Hannibal
- Gaius Terentius Varro; successor to Consulship and advocate of a military strategy of direct confrontation with Hannibal; responsible in part for the Roman disaster at Cannae
- Hannibal Barca, the Carthaginian general who defined a generation and against whom all individuals and actions were measured
Key events in Fabius’ Life
- Elected Quaestor
- Elected Curule Aedile
- Elected Consul five times
- Appointed Dictator twice
- Elected Censor
- Awarded triumph for victory over the Ligurians
- Took Tarentum by stealth from Carthaginians
Key Characteristics of Fabius
- Mild temperament
- Slow in speech
- Steadfast
- Prudent, never ruled by passion
- Pious, or at least made a great effort to be perceived as such
