Paullus Fabius Maximus facts for kids

Paullus Fabius Maximus (died in AD 14) was an important Roman senator. He lived around the end of the first century BC. He became a consul in 11 BC, working alongside Quintus Aelius Tubero. He was also a close friend and trusted advisor of the first Roman emperor, Augustus.

About His Family

The patrician Fabii family was one of Rome's oldest and most respected families. A "patrician" was a member of the highest social class in ancient Rome. A "gens" was like a large family group or clan. Even though they were very old, their importance had started to fade a bit by the time of the Late Roman Republic.

Paullus Fabius Maximus was the older son of Quintus Fabius Maximus. His father was a general who served under Julius Caesar during the Civil War. Caesar even made his father a consul for a short time in 45 BC. Paullus was named after a famous ancestor, Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus. His father passed away on the very last day of his consulship. Paullus had a younger brother, Africanus Fabius Maximus, and a sister named Fabia Paullina.

His Career in Politics

Paullus Fabius Maximus's first known job was as a quaestor. A quaestor was a Roman official who managed public money. He worked for Emperor Augustus from 22 to 19 BC, while Augustus was traveling through the eastern parts of the Roman Empire.

After being a consul, Fabius became a proconsul of Asia. A proconsul was a governor of a Roman province. He governed this province sometime between 10 and 5 BC. During this time, he even made some coins that had his picture on them!

In 3 BC, Fabius became the governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, which is part of modern-day Spain. While he was there, Paullus captured a Celtic city and renamed it Lucus Augusti. Today, this city is known as Lugo.

The New Calendar

While Fabius was governing Asia, the local council held a contest. They wanted to find a special way to honor Emperor Augustus. Fabius himself came up with the winning idea! He suggested creating a new calendar for the province. In this new calendar, the new year would begin on September 23, which was Augustus's birthday.

Later, some grateful settlers built a monument to honor him. This monument was on top of a sacred hill called Monte Giove, near the town of Hatria Picena.

His Personal Life

Between 20 and 10 BC, Fabius married Marcia. Her father was Lucius Marcius Philippus, who was a consul in 38 BC. Marcia's mother, Atia, was Emperor Augustus's aunt. This meant that Marcia was Augustus's cousin!

Paullus and Marcia had at least one son, Paullus Fabius Persicus. He was probably born around 2 or 1 BC. Their son also became a consul in AD 34. Paullus Fabius Maximus and Marcia might also have been the parents of Fabia Numantina, but she might have been the daughter of Paullus's brother, Africanus.

Fabius was a member of the Arval Brethren. This was a very old group of priests. Their importance had faded over time, but Emperor Augustus decided to bring them back. He wanted to show his respect for old Roman traditions. Fabius's son later took over his role in this priestly group.

Friends with Poets

The poet Juvenal wrote that Fabius was very kind and supportive of poets. He was mentioned in one of Horace's poems, written in 13 BC. Another one of Horace's poems also seems to hint at him. Fabius was also the person for whom the poet Ovid wrote a wedding song. Later, when Ovid was sent away from Rome, he wrote to Paullus, asking for his help to return home.

His Death

Many years later, the historian Tacitus wrote a story about Fabius. He said that Fabius went with Emperor Augustus on a secret visit in AD 13. They visited Augustus's last living grandson, Agrippa Postumus. Postumus had been sent away from Rome in AD 9. According to Tacitus, Augustus and his grandson made up, but Postumus was not allowed to return before Augustus died in AD 14.

Tacitus claimed that Fabius told his wife about this secret visit, and she then told the empress. Tacitus reported that Fabius's death in the summer of AD 14 was said to be connected to Augustus's feelings about this. Ovid also thought that Fabius's death might have been related to Augustus's reaction. However, many modern historians today question whether this story is completely true.

See also

In Spanish: Paulo Fabio Máximo para niños

• Fabia gens