Fabius the Delayer

When Hannibal of Carthage descended from the Alps into Italy, the Romans did not know what had hit them. The first Roman army to oppose him was swept aside by the banks of a frozen north Italian river, and another and its commanding consul ambushed and annihilated by the shores of a lake in Umbria. Panic gripped Rome as it seemed that nothing could save it from defeat.

Carthaginian silver half shekel showing war elephant.

In their alarm, the Romans resolved to appoint a dictator—an ancient office which gave its holder almost supreme authority. They chose Fabius, a man with a reputation for quiet steadiness and resolved caution. The dictator realised Hannibal’s military genius and the unpreparedness of Roman legionaries to defeat him. Therefore, rather than facing him in head-on battle, Fabius used his troops to harass the Carthaginians, picking off smaller units and cutting their lines of supply. Unfortunately, the Romans soon began to tire of Fabius’ delaying tactics against Hannibal; certain Roman politicians, including the dictator’s own lieutenant, pushed for a more aggressive strategy to smash the invaders. Fabius was derisively nicknamed “The Delayer”.

. B. Hagenauer, Fabius Cunctator, 1777
 (Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna)

The consuls elected for the next year were confident in their abilities and led out Roman and allied troops to smash Hannibal in a full-scale confrontation. They found the Carthaginian army at Cannae in southern Italy. The Romans outnumbered their enemy and were eager to attack. Hannibal, however, lured his attackers into envelopment by his smaller army, which hemmmed in the Romans on all sides and killed tens of thousands of them, including one of the consuls. It was Rome greatest defeat, not to be surpassed for the 500 years, and some of Rome’s Italian allies rushed to join the invaders. Tragically, Fabius’ strategy of avoiding full battle with Hannibal was vindicated.

When news of the defeat reached Rome, envoys were sent to consult the oracle of Apollo at Delphi and human sacrifices were even made in the forum. It was Fabius who restored calm, walking the streets and assuring the people. He was now called “The Delayer” with honour rather than derision, and it was his tactics the Romans adopted for the next 14 years of war with Hannibal, wearing down the Carthaginians and winning back Italian allies. The Romans realised that prudent steps, rather than foolhardy heroism, are often necessary for success.