It happened then, that the Romans were again in danger in the middle of the fifth century, due to an invasion of the equos. One of the consuls had taken charge of leading the battles, but was defeated again and again. The Senate then decided to appoint as dictator Lucius Quincio Cincinato, a man famous for his intelligence and honesty. Lucio had already been consul on another occasion and had demonstrated his qualities.
When they went looking for him to perform the role of dictator, they found him working in the field.
He accepted the post and the next day summoned all citizens to arms.
He divided the men into legions and placed himself at the head of the army.
Cincinato, ordered his men, surround the enemy and build a palisade overnight in the greatest of silences.
The Ecuans went from night to morning from being besieged to being besieged by the Roman army.
Then Cincinato ordered his men to cry out war. The ECs, surprised, signed peace, handed over their weapons and their leaders were held hostage by the Romans to guarantee the peace alliance.
After completing submission, Cincinato returned to work in the field, although he could have remained in office for six months if he wanted to.
Twenty years later, an ambitious and influential Roman attempted a coup d'état. His name was Spurcio Melio.
Drought had occurred and food was scarce. Spurcio imagined that if he distributed the wheat freely among the plebs, he would get to power and be appointed Consul. With this ruse he managed to get himself a lot of followers.
The Senate, seeing that the institution of the Republic was in danger, again summoned Cincinato as Dictator.
Cincinato was already an old man of about eighty years old, but his intellectual capacity had not diminished at all.
When Cincinato learned about the bribery schemes of Spurcio Melio and also learned that he was storing weapons and meeting secretly with his allies, he sent the cavalry chief named Senclio, to look for him and bring him before his presence.
Melio was suspicious of this invitation and quickly summoned his allies to protect him.
Senclio, who was very clever, knew how to advance his intentions, arrested him and ordered his execution.
When Cincinato learned of what happened, he thanked Senclio for his intervention, saying: Thanks to your courage, Gaius, the state has been saved.