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SPQR: The Men Who Made and Secured the Roman Republic

Khalid Elhassan January 3, 2025 13 min

Roman - The Oath of Junius Brutus, by Fragonard Alexander Evarist — The Oath of Junius Brutus, by Fragonard Alexander Evarist. University Online

7. An Inspirational Figure Over the Millennia and Into the Modern Era

Roman - Statue of George Washington resigning his command, in the style of Cincinnatus — Statue of George Washington resigning his command, in the style of Cincinnatus. Roman Roads Media

Cincinnatus was appointed dictator again in 439 BC when Rome was threatened with an internal conspiracy, which he put down. Once again, he laid down his power as soon as the crisis was over and returned to his farm. He went down as one of the most revered figures of the Roman Republic, and as an exemplar of civic virtue, modesty, and outstanding leadership. Centuries later, George Washington consciously sought to model his career after that of Cincinnatus. That comparison resonated with contemporaries during the Age of the Enlightenment, who knew their Roman history well. When America’s first president and first great general voluntarily laid down his power at the end of his second term and went into retirement, he was hailed as a “Second Cincinnatus”.

Written by

Khalid Elhassan

A lifelong history buff, I developed a particular passion for WW2 history as a child, when I spent hours listening to my grandfather, enraptured, as he recounted his wartime experiences in the British East African Campaign and with the British 8th Army in North Africa.

I graduated with a history BA from George Mason University, then went on to get a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law. After lawyering for a decade, I moved to sunny Rio de Janeiro and a less demanding career, opening a tourism agency in Copacabana.

A big chunk of my free time is spent blogging (you can follow me on Quora https://www.quora.com/profile/Khalid-Elhassan ) or freelance writing, mostly about my favorite subject, history.