This 61-year old was retired, working as a farmer, when he was called to lead his country through a crisis as Dictator. He did, retired again, and was called back almost 20 years later to do the same thing. Who was he?

queproblema

This can be no other than Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus (519 BCE – 438 BCE). He was chosen as "Magister Populi"--"Master of the People"--in 458 BCE when the Romans were fighting the Aequians and the Sabines. Loathe to spill blood unnecessarily, he accepted their bowing under a yoke and confessing defeat, and returned to his farm 16 days later, bearing a banner that read, "Mission Accomplished." Wait, I made up that last bit; English wasn't invented yet. Banners were. In 439 BCE he again assumed the role of dictator to put down a conspiracy of Spurius Maelius. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnatus Jun 04 10, 8:32 PM

looney_tunes

"Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus (519 BCE – 438 BCE) was an ancient Roman aristocrat and political figure, serving as consul in 460 BCE and Roman dictator [see below for an explanation of this term] in 458 BCE and 439 BCE." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnatus "On the establishment of the Roman republic the government of the state was entrusted to two consuls, that the citizens might be the better protected against the tyrannical exercise of the supreme power. But it was soon felt that circumstances might arise in which it was important for the safety of the state that the government should be vested in the hands of a single person, who should possess absolute power for a short time, and from whose decisions there should be no appeal to any other body. Thus it came to pass that in 501 BC, nine years after the expulsion of the kings, the dictatorship (dictatura) was instituted." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_dictator Cincinnatus had retired following his son's death sentence, and was (according to the story) literally ploughing a field when he was approached and asked to lead the Roman army. He led them to victory and retired, 16 days later. In 439 BCE he came out of retirement again to put down a conspiracy led by Spurius Maelius. Jun 04 10, 8:36 PM

Datsmeharse

So perhaps the "Mission Accomplished" banner was a Spurius (Maelius) Rumor? Serves Spurius right messing with Cincy then -- that Octo rocked! Well done QP Doll and Multiple Looney Tune Jun 04 10, 9:35 PM