# Cincinnatus

> two time Roman dictator

**Wikidata**: [Q309637](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q309637)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Quinctius_Cincinnatus)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cincinnatus

## Summary
Cincinnatus (Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus) was a Roman statesman and military leader who served as dictator twice, most notably for his role in defending Rome from the Aequi and Volsci tribes.

## Biography
- Born: -0519-00-00T00:00:00Z
- Nationality: Ancient Rome
- Education: Not specified in source material
- Known for: Two-time Roman dictator
- Employer(s): Roman Republic (as politician and military leader)
- Field(s): Politics, military

## Contributions
Cincinnatus served as Roman dictator twice. His first term was in 458 BC when he led the Roman army to victory against the Aequi tribe. His second term was in 439 BC when he defended Rome against both the Aequi and Volsci tribes. He is remembered for his brief but decisive leadership, serving only for the duration needed to restore order before returning to his farm.

## FAQs
- What was Cincinnatus's most famous role? He served as Roman dictator twice, most notably for his military leadership in defending Rome from the Aequi and Volsci tribes.
- How many times did he serve as Roman dictator? He served as dictator on two occasions, in 458 BC and 439 BC.
- What was his occupation? He was primarily a farmer and politician who also served as a military leader.
- What was his citizenship? He was a citizen of Ancient Rome.

## Why They Matter
Cincinnatus became a symbol of the ideal Roman citizen-soldier who put the state's needs above personal ambition. His brief but decisive leadership demonstrated that a leader could serve the republic and then return to civilian life, establishing a precedent for the Roman dictatorship as a temporary position rather than a permanent power. His legacy influenced later Roman leaders and became a model for public service.

## Notable For
- Served as Roman dictator twice
- Known for his brief but decisive leadership
- Represented the ideal of a citizen-soldier
- Led the Roman army to victory against the Aequi and Volsci tribes

## Body
### Early Life
Cincinnatus was born around 519 BC in Ancient Rome. The source material indicates he was a farmer by profession, as indicated by the occupation codes associated with him (Q131512, Q82955, Q47064). His early life was spent on his farm, where he maintained his agricultural activities while also participating in Roman civic life.

### Career and Political Rise
Cincinnatus entered Roman politics and military service during the early Republic period. He held various positions within the Roman government and military, eventually rising to the position of dictator. The source material shows he was associated with multiple identifiers including P214 values (38733419, 203149841868902840982, etc.) which likely represent different references to his historical records.

### First Dictatorship (458 BC)
In 458 BC, Rome faced an invasion by the Aequi tribe. The Roman Senate appointed Cincinnatus as dictator to lead the defense. He quickly organized the Roman army and led them to victory against the Aequi. After restoring order, he resigned the dictatorship and returned to his farm, demonstrating the Roman tradition of temporary leadership.

### Second Dictatorship (439 BC)
In 439 BC, Rome again faced threats from both the Aequi and Volsci tribes. The Senate once more appointed Cincinnatus as dictator. He successfully defended Rome from these threats and again resigned the position after completing his mission.

### Legacy and Influence
Cincinnatus's brief but effective leadership established the precedent that the Roman dictatorship was a temporary position meant for crisis management rather than a permanent source of power. His return to civilian life after serving as dictator became a celebrated example of Roman virtue and public service. The Society of the Cincinnati, founded in 1783, was named after him as a patriotic-hereditary society that honored the ideals of the American Revolution and the Roman Republic.

### Historical Significance
The source material indicates Cincinnatus was referenced in multiple historical sources, with sitelink counts showing his presence in 43 different references. His story has been preserved through various historical accounts, including the works of Roman historians who documented his brief but impactful reign as dictator. The image associated with him (P18: Cincinnatus Cincinnatorum.png) likely depicts his portrait or a representation of his role as a Roman leader.

### Connection to Modern Concepts
The concept of the "Cincinnatus" has been adopted in modern contexts to represent the ideal of a citizen-soldier who serves the state and then returns to civilian life. This idea influenced the founding fathers of the United States and is reflected in the naming of the Society of the Cincinnati, which was established to honor the ideals of the American Revolution and the Roman Republic.

## References

1. Digital Prosopography of the Roman Republic
2. Quintii
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. CERL Thesaurus
6. Quora