I have a family member that before he was 20 defeated Carthage (in it's entirety), as in no other family member fought Carthage. He fought Pontus for quite awhile (defeated some massive armies of light infantry which seem to just appear). And now he is smashing through the southern flank of the Sweboz.

Goes from Africanus to Germanicus. Many heroic victories, wiped out 1 faction, faction leader, patrician (if that matters), and still no triumph. He could easily be Imperator. Could be that he leads mainly mercenaries that get recruited after I capture a city (I leave some of the old army as a garrison).