Page "Fabius Maximus" Paragraph 8

Fabius did not attempt to fight the promotion of the overly-ambitious Minucius, but rather decided to wait until Minucius ' rashness caused him to run headlong into some disaster.

He realized what would happen when Minucius was defeated in battle by Hannibal.

Fabius, we are told, reminded Minucius that it was Hannibal, and not he, who was the enemy.

Minucius proposed that they share the joint control of the army, with command rotating between the two every other day.

Fabius rejected this, and instead let Minucius command half of the army, while he commanded the other half.

Minucius openly claimed that Fabius was cowardly because he failed to confront the Carthaginian forces.

Near the present-day town of Larino in the Molise ( then called Larinum ), Hannibal had taken up position in a town called Gerione.

In the valley between Larino and Gerione, Minucius decided to make a broad frontal attack on Hannibal's troops.

Several thousand men were involved on either side.

It appeared that the Roman troops were winning, but Hannibal had set a trap.

Soon the Roman troops were being slaughtered.

Upon seeing the ambush of Minucius ' army, Fabius cried " O Hercules!

how much sooner than I expected, though later than he seemed to desire, hath Minucius destroyed himself!

" Upon ordering his army to join the battle and rescue their fellow Romans, Fabius exclaimed " We must make haste to rescue Minucius, who is a valiant man, and a lover of his country.