Cincinnatus
~519–~430 BCE · Roman · Roman Republic
Known for: Roman farmer called from his plow to save the Republic as dictator—then gave up power and returned to farming
Cincinnatus was farming when messengers arrived telling him Rome was under attack and the Senate had appointed him dictator. He left his plow, defeated the enemy in 16 days, resigned the dictatorship, and returned to his farm—the ultimate model of civic virtue. George Washington was compared to him.
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