Faba'tus, L. Ro'scius
was one of Caesar's lieutenants in the Gallic war, and commanded the thirteenth legion on the Lower Rhine, in the winter of B. C. 54.
It was during this winter that Ambiorix [AMBIORIX] induced the Eburones and Nervii to attack in detail the quarters of the Roman legions, but in the operations consequent on their revolt Fabatus seems to have taken no part, since the district in which he was stationed remained quiet. (
Caes. Gal. 5.24.)
He apprised (Caesar, however, of hostile movements in Armorica in the same winter. (
Ibid. 53.) Fabatus was one of the piaetors in B. C. 49, and was sent by Pompey from Rome to Caesar at Ariminum, with proposals of accommodation, both public and private.
He was charged by Caesar with counter-proposals, which he delivered to Pompey and the consuls at Capua. (
Cic. Att. 8.12;
Caes. Civ. 1.8,
10;
D. C. 41.5.) Fabatus was despatched on a second mission to Caesar by those members of the Pompeian party who were anxious for peace. (Dio Cass.
l.c.) As Cicero mentions his meeting with L. Caesar at Minturnae on his return from Ariminum, and as L. Caesar was the companion of Fabatus, at least on their first journey to and from C. Caesar, Fabatus, though not expressly named by him, probably met Cicero at Minturnae also, and communicated Caesar's offers, January 22. B. C. 49. (
Cic. Att. 7.13.)
According to Cicero (
Cic. Att. 7.14), Fabatus and L. Caesar, on their return from Ariminum, delivered Caesar's offer to Pompey, not at Capua, but at Teanum. Fabatus was killed April 14th or 15th, B. C. 43, in the first of the battles in the neighbourhood of Mutina, between M. Antony and the legions of the senate. (
Cic. Fam. 10.33.) [
W.B.D]
Whether the annexed coin, which bears the name of L. Roscius Fabatus, belongs to the Fabatus above mentioned, is doubtful.
It represents on the obverse the head of Juno Sospita, and the reverse refers to the worship of that goddess at Lanuvium. (Eckhel, vol. v. p. 292, &c.)
