[1] Marcus belonged to the influential Fabia gens and was the son of one of the early republic's leading men, Quintus Fabius Vibulanus, consul in 467, 465 and 459 BC.
Marcus was elected consul in 442 BC together with Postumus Aebutius Hela Cornicen.
Their year of office was peaceful and they enacted measures to send commissioners to establish a colony at Ardea.
[2][3][4] In 437 BC Rome was involved with wars against the Veii, Falerii and the Fidenae, A dictator, Mamercus Aemilius Mamercinus, was appointed to handle the crisis.
[7][8][9] Two years later, in 431 BC, he was again appointed legate, serving under the dictator Aulus Postumius Tubertus against the Aequi and Volsci.