Flaccus, Fu'lvius
3. Cn.
Fulvius Flaccus, M. F. Q. N., a son of No. 1, and a brother of No. 2, was praetor in the third consulship of his brother B. C. 212, and had Apulia for his province.
In the neighbourhood of Herdonea he was defeated by Hannibal, and was the first that took to flight with about 200 horsemen.
The rest of his army was cut to pieces, for out of 22,000 men only 2000 escaped. C. Sempronius Blaesus afterwards charged him before the people with having lost his army through his own want of caution and prudence. Flaccus at first endeavoured to throw the fault upon the soldiers, but further discussion and investigation proved that he had behaved cowardly.
He then tried to obtain the assistance of his brother, who was then in the height of his glory and engaged in the siege of Capua.
But nothing availed; and, as he had to expect the severest punishment from a trial, he went to Tarquinii into voluntary exile. (
Liv. 25.3,
21,
26.2,
3.)
According to Valerius Maximus (2.8.3, comp. 8.4.3), he refused the honour of a triumph; but this must be a mistake, at least we do not know on what occasion it could have happened.
