Africanus Fabius Maximus


Africanus Fabius Maximus was the younger son of Quintus Fabius Maximus. Although commonly referred to as Africanus Fabius Maximus, it remains unclear whether that was his official name or whether it was Quintus Fabius Maximus Africanus. His elder brother was Paullus Fabius Maximus and his sister was Fabia Paullina, who married Marcus Titius.
It is believed that Africanus was named in honour of his famous family ancestor Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Aemilianus.

Career

The career of Africanus Fabius Maximus is much less clear than that of his brother. It is believed that Africanus' earliest post was as a military tribune in Spain, though this is not certain. His only two certain civilian posts were as ordinary consul in 10 BCE, and as proconsul of Africa in 6/5 BCE. He was admitted to the priesthood of the septemviri epulonum at some point after 25 BCE.
It was during his tenure as proconsul of Africa that Africanus struck some coins that bore his own image.

Possible family

Although no wife is attested for Africanus, it is possible that he had a daughter named Fabia Numantina. Alternatively, she may have been the daughter of Africanus' brother, Paullus Fabius Maximus and his wife, Marcia.

Footnotes