Cincinnatus was a Roman statesman famous for his selfless devotion to the republic in a time of crisis and for giving up the reins of power when the crisis was over.

In 458 Cincinnatus was appointed dictator at Rome to rescue a consular army that was surrounded on Mount Algidus. When the call to duty came up, he was busy working his small farm. He accepted the request of the Senate to lead the Roman Army. He defeated the enemy in a single day and celebrated a triumphant return to Rome.

Cincinnatus maintained his authority only long enough to bring Rome through the emergency—fifteen days. He then resigned and returned to his farm. Legend has it that Cincinnatus was given a second dictatorship in 439 to handle another crisis, after which he again returned to his farm.

Source: Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus
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