Here is a story from the Second Samnite War (sometimes called the Great Samnite War). The war was from 326 – 304 B.C.E. and is considered by most historians to be Rome’s greatest challenge during its conquest of central Italy. After Neapolis (Naples) was taken in 326, the Romans went on the offensive and invaded Samnium. Lucius Papirius Cursor (Rome’s most acclaimed general in the war) was appointed dictator and chose the young Quintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus as Master of Horse (second in command). After joining his army, Papirius was informed that the auspices done to ensure the gods were with them had been faulty, so he returned to Rome to redo the ritual. He firmly ordered Rullianus to avoid battle while he was gone. After he left, Rullianus’ scouts reported a nearby Samnite army that was security-challenged and ripe for the smiting. Rullianus, being young and Roman, could not pass up this chance at glory. He attacked and routed the enemy in the Battle of Imbrinium in 325. The decisive moment in the battle occurred when the cavalry “pulled off the bridles from their horses and spurred them so furiously, that no power could withstand them; forcing their way through the thickest of the enemy, they bore down every thing before them…” [Livy] Apparently, removing the bridles meant the riders could not hold back their horses, so they plowed into the Samnites. Livy wrote that 20,000 Samnites were slain. There was a lot of booty that had been obtained. Rullianus had it piled up and burned. His reason was he did not want Papirius to get back and claim the glory and display the spoils in his triumph. One has to wonder what the troops thought of all that treasure going up in smoke, but Rullianus was charismatic and adored by his men. When Papirius heard that Rullianus had fought a battle without him, he became apoplectic and immediately rode like a bat out of Hades to flay Papirius, literally. Word reached the victor before the storm. He called his men together and made a speech. (This soap opera involving Papirius and Rullianus features several long speeches. Livy is great at putting words in historical figures’ mouths.) Rullianus told the men that Papirius was coming back filled with envy and intent on punishing him for disobeying orders. But he really wants to punish you also. Help! The legionaries had his back, of course. Papirius arrived in the highest dudgeon. He lashed out verbally. Did I not forbid you to attack?! And you did it under faulty auspices which means you could not have been sure of the will of the gods! He ordered his lictors (bodyguards) to strip Rullianus so he could be whipped to death. The soldiers intervened–some begging forgiveness, others threatening mutiny. In the tumult, Rullianus escaped and rode to Rome to try to find succor in the Senate. Before he could finish explaining what a mean dictator Papirius was, the mouth-foaming general arrived. Rullianus’ father, the head of the powerful Fabii family, admitted the Senate had no power to stop the execution of his son, despite everyone being opposed to it. He proposed to go over the dictator’s head to the tribunes. They hastened to the assembly. By this time a huge crowd had gathered to hear the spirited debate. Fabius pointed out examples of dictators forgiving others. For example, Cincinnatus had forgiven the consul who had gotten surrounded by the enemy. Papirius countered with the fact that a dictator was given absolute power. To overrule him would set a very dangerous precedent that went against the Roman ideals of order and discipline. The tribunes would be making a mockery of the dictator’s powers and they would be creating chaos by telling soldiers they did not have to obey orders. “No one would then pay any deference to men, no, nor even to the gods. Neither edicts of generals nor auspices would be observed.” [Livy] Rome will be doomed to chaos! A scary prediction, and yet, virtually everyone in Rome begged Papirius to pardon the disobedient Master of Horse. What would you have done? The torrent of tears from the pleaders finally had their effect and the dictator reluctantly gave in.
- from The Scipios in Spain
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