Who was Cincinnatus, the inspiration for Cincinnati's name? Here's a look

In his final speech as British Prime Minister on Sept. 6, Boris Johnson said, "Like Cincinnatus, I am returning to my plow."

The comparison to the classical Roman figure caused a spike in search terms online to find out who Cincinnatus was, The Washington Post reported.

So, who was this ancient Roman leader? Here's a look.

Who was Cincinnatus? A look at Cincinnati's namesake

Cincinnatus was sort of the inspiration for Cincinnati’s name, and his statue stands at Sawyer Point.

On Jan. 2, 1790, Gen. Arthur St. Clair, governor of the Northwest Territory, changed the name of Losantiville to Cincinnati. The new name derived from the Society of the Cincinnati, an order of Continental Army officers founded by Henry Knox in 1783 to preserve the ideals of the American Revolution.

The society, in turn, was named for Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, a hero of the Roman Republic in the fifth century B.C. who was a model of civic responsibility by relinquishing his role as dictator after his victory in battle.

George Washington, who likewise gave up the opportunity to be king, was often called the American Cincinnatus. Washington served as the first president general of the Society of the Cincinnati, so the city’s name is as much a tribute to the Founding Father as to the Roman leader.

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But who was Cincinnatus? Not much is known for sure, and historians consider most of the stories about him to be legends.

What is a matter of historic record is that Cincinnatus was born about 519 B.C. as a member of the patrician clan Quinctia, making him part of the ruling class. Cincinnatus means “having curly hair.” In 460 B.C., he served as consul, the highest elected position in the Roman Republic.

Volume three of Livy’s “History of Rome,” a 142-volume chronicle of ancient Rome recorded in the first century B.C., contains the most famous story of Cincinnatus.

“It is worth while for those who despise all human interests in comparison with riches, and think that there is no scope for high honours or for virtue except where lavish wealth abounds to listen to this story,” Livy begins.

In 458 B.C., the Aequi people broke their treaty with Rome and attacked the Roman city Tusculum. In reaction, Rome raised two armies led by consuls Minucius and Nautius. When Minucius hesitated to attack the Aequi camp near Mount Algidus, the enemy surrounded and trapped the Roman army.

No one knew what to do. In times of emergency, the senate could appoint a dictator for a six-month term, so they went to the former consul, Cincinnatus, “the one hope of Rome,” who they found plowing his 4-acre farm.

“After mutual salutations he was requested to put on his toga that he might hear the mandate of the senate, and they expressed the hope that it might turn out well for him and for the state,” Livy wrote. “He asked them, in surprise, if all was well, and bade his wife, Racilia, bring him his toga quickly from the cottage. Wiping off the dust and perspiration, he put it on and came forward, on which the deputation saluted him as dictator and congratulated him, invited him to the city and explained the state of apprehension in which the army were.”

Cincinnatus went to the Forum, Livy reports, and called for every able-bodied man to come with five days' provisions and 12 palisades, stakes for fortifications. The army marched to Mount Algidus and used the stakes to besiege the Aequi, who surrendered.

Having rescued the army, Cincinnatus returned to the capital city and a Roman triumph ceremony. Livy wrote, “It is said that tables spread with provisions stood before all the houses, and the feasters followed the chariot with songs of triumph and the customary jests and lampoons.”

Cincinnatus had been in power just 15 days. On the 16th day, he resigned as dictator and went back to his plow.

Modern historians doubt much of Livy’s account, noting similarities to other historic battles, but accept that Cincinnatus did serve as dictator in 458 B.C.

So, are the stories true?

“It does not seem to be important,” Donald L. Wasson wrote for World History Encyclopedia. Wasson notes that Cincinnatus was beheld as an ideal Roman citizen, a hero both virtuous and selfless, regardless if his legend is true. His influence on George Washington is proof enough of that.

Editor’s note: This is an update from a story that ran in 2017.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who was Cincinnatus? Was he the namesake for Cincinnati? Here's a look