Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus

Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus (519–430 BC) was a Roman aristocrat and statesman whose service as consul in 460 BC and dictator in 458 BC and 439 BC made him a model of civic virtue.

Cincinnatus was regarded by the Romans, especially the aristocratic patrician class, as one of the heroes of early Rome and as a model of Roman virtue and simplicity. He was a persistent opponent of the plebeians. When his son, Caeso Quinctius, was convicted and condemned to death, Cincinnatus was forced to live in humble circumstances, working on his own small farm, until an invasion caused him to be called to serve Rome as dictator, an office which he resigned two weeks later, after completing his task of defeating the rival tribes of the Aequians, Sabines, and Volscians.

His immediate resignation of his near-absolute authority with the end of the crisis has often been cited as an example of outstanding leadership, service to the greater good, civic virtue, lack of personal ambition, and modesty. As a result, he has inspired a number of organizations and other entities, many of which are named in his honor.

Cincinnatus (mural)

Cincinnatus is a public artwork by Richard Haas in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. The mural depicts Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, the namesake of Cincinnati. It's on the Brotherhood Building at Central Parkway and Vine Street. It was commissioned by the Kroger Company 1983 in honor of their 100th year of business. In 2015, the mural was restored by ArtWorks in collaboration with the original artist.

References

Cincinnatus, New York

Cincinnatus is a town in Cortland County, New York, United States. The population was 1,056 at the 2010 census. The town is named after the Roman general Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus. It is in the eastern part of the county and is east of the city of Cortland.

History

The region was part of the Central New York Military Tract used to pay soldiers of the American Revolution. One of the townships was named Cincinnatus. Members of the Oneida tribe persisted in the town during its early history.

The town was first settled around 1795. It was one of the original six towns of Cortland County. The town was formed from the town of Solon in 1804. In 1818, Cincinnatus was split so that part of its territory was used to create the towns of Freetown, Willet, and Marathon.

Notable residents