Values Emphasized by Livy in the Account of Cincinnatus
The story of Cincinnatus is one of the most unusual examples of a military threat being resolved by changing the strategic approach. According to Livy, inviting Cincinnatus to accept the role of a military dictator was central to the Romans’ victory since he possessed the qualities that allowed him to make the right choice, specifically those of duty and simplicity (Perry, 2015).
The Role of Cincinnatus’ Values in Rome’s Success
These values were paramount to Rome’s success since they helped Cincinnatus focus on making the decisions that required the most effective use of resources and benefited the army most. With no personal interest at heart, a leader with the specified values could choose the options that allowed the army to win, as the case of Cincinnatus proved (Perry, 2015).
Roman Perceptions of Dictatorship Through the Cincinnatus Narrative
The story of Cincinnatus reveals crucial information about the Roman dictatorship. Specifically, it indicates that in the Roman Empire, dictatorship was viewed as the ultimate power that could only be used in dire situations and solely for the benefit of citizens and the state. In other words, dictatorship was viewed as the ultimate measure to be applied in a military crisis that required immediate intervention.
Integration of the Cincinnatus Story Within the Roman Republic Framework
The story of Cincinnatus reflected the core values of Roman society rather accurately. Specifically, it aligned with the Roman state structure and social hierarchy, as well as the principal values of the Roman community: “Rome had become the dominant power in the Mediterranean” (Perry, 2015, p. 100). Furthermore, the story reflected the priorities of Rome as a Republic, namely, the concern for the safety of citizens.
Exploitation of the Roman Dictatorship System by Figures Like Julius Caesar
Finally, the story renders the principles of honesty and loyalty to Roman citizens as essential characteristics of a Roman leader: “Cincinnatus finally resigned” (Perry, 2015, p. 108). However, the Roman dictatorship system as the ultimate wartime measure could be easily exploited, as the reign of Julius Caesar would show later. The reliance on the dictator’s dignity and honesty was this system’s primary flaw. As Julius Caesar became the leader of Rome, he utilized the power of dictatorship to promote the military expansion of Rome without thinking about the needs of the citizens (Perry, 2015).
Reference
Perry, M. (2015). Western civilization: A brief history. Cengage Learning.