Why has Cincinnatus been widely admired?

Answer 1

Cincinnatus was mythologised centuries later by Roman historians and the aristocracy. He was appointed dictator in 458 BC to lead the Roman army against Aequi, whom he defeated at the Battle of Mons Algidus. He was a patrician (aristocrat) who had been impoverished by having to pay a huge fine for his son. He retreated to his small farm outside Rome. Cincinnatus was told of his appointment as dictator while he was ploughing his field. After defeating the Aqeui, he disbanded his army, resigned returned to his plough. His resignation in itself was nothing exceptional. Dictators were supposed to resign when they completed their mandated task.

It is the leaving the plough and returning to it which created the mythologising. It epitomised the ideals of the Roman aristocracy who liked to see the Romans as frugal and hardy farmers. Cincinnatus was seen as a perfect case of service to the greater good, civic virtue, lack of personal ambition, modesty and Roman gravitas and was seen as an indication of the rectitude of the older days as compared to the perceived decadence of the later days when Roman historians were writing their histories.

Another element that contributed to the mythologising of Cincinnatus was the fact which he dealt with Spurius Maelius's alleged attempt to become a king. To the Romans of the Republic, monarchy was seen as tyranny and Cincinnatus was seen as a saviour of liberty.

Answer 2

because he fought at the war