Vibula'nus
3. M.
Fabius Vibulanus, K. F., the brother of the two preceding, was consul B. C. 483 with L. Valerius Potitus.
He resisted the efforts of the tribunes to carry the Agrarian law of Sp. Cassius into effect; and as they in consequence impeded the levy of troops, the consuls removed their tribunals outside the city, where the power of the tribunes did not extend, and by heavy punishments compelled the citizens to enlist.
The consuls then carried on war against the Volscians, but without any decisive result. (
Liv. 2.42 ,
Dionys. A. R. 8.87,
88.) In B. C. 480 M. Fabius was consul a second time with Cn. Manlius Cincinnatus.
The two consuls marched against the Veientes, but did not venture at first to attack the enemy, lest their own soldiers Should desert them as they had done K. Fabius in the preceding year. They accordingly kept their troops in their intrenchments, till the soldiers, roused at length by the taunts and scoffs of the enemy, demanded to be led forth to battle, and swore that they would not leave the field except as conquerors.
The bravery of the Fabii in the battle which followed has already been related in the life of Kaeso, who fought under his brother. The Romans gained the victory, but bought it dearly.
The consul Cincinnatus and Q. Fabius were killed; and the surviving consul, on account of the loss which lie had sustained, refused the triumph which the senate offered him.
The care which M. Fabius showed for the wounded and his reconciliation to the plebeians have been related above [No. 2]. Dionysius says that Fabius resigned his consulship two months before the expiration of his year, because his wounds prevented him from discharging the duties of his office. (
Liv. 2.43-
47;
Dionys. A. R. 9.5-
13; Frontin.
Strat. 1.11.1;
V. Max. 5.5.2.)
In the following year, B. C. 479, M. Fabius accompanied the rest of his gens to their fatal settlement on the Cremera and perished along with them two years afterwards. Dionysius (
9.15) represents Marcus as the leader of the Fabii in their migration from Rome, but Livy (
2.49) undoubtedly follows the genuine legend in making the consul Kaeso head his gens on that occasion.
