Career
In 325 Lucius Papirius Cursor was appointed dictator to carry on the second Samnite War.
His quarrel with Q. Fabius Maximus Rullianus, his magister equitum, is well known.
Cursor treated his soldiers with such harshness that they allowed themselves to be defeated; but after he had regained their good-will by more lenient treatment and lavish promises of booty, they fought with enthusiasm and gained a complete victory.
After the disaster of the Caudine Forks, Cursor to some extent wiped out the disgrace by compelling Luceria (which had revolted) to surrender.
He delivered the Roman hostages who were held in captivity in the town, recovered the standards lost at Caudium, and made 7000 of the enemy pass under the yoke.
Cursor's strictness was proverbial; he was a man of immense bodily strength, while his bravery -wasbeyond dispute.
