the name of the most ancient family of the Fabia gens. It was so powerful in the early times of the republic that three brothers of the family held the consulship for seven years
1253
in succession, B. C. 485_479. The last person of the gens who bore this surname was Q. Fabius Vibulanus, consul, B. C. 412. This Vibulanus assumed the agnomen of Ambustus; and his descendants dropt the name of Vibulanus and took that of Ambustus in its place. In the same way Ambustus was after a time supplanted by that of Maximus. [AMBUSTUS; MAXIMUS.]