War with Sabines and other tribes The Rape of the Sabine Women

jacques stella, rape of sabines, mid 17th century, princeton university art museum

outraged @ occurrence, king of caeninenses entered upon roman territory army. romulus , romans met caeninenses in battle, killed king, , routed army. romulus later attacked caenina , took upon first assault. returning rome, dedicated temple jupiter feretrius (according livy, first temple dedicated in rome) , offered spoils of enemy king spolia opima. according fasti triumphales, romulus celebrated triumph on caeninenses on 1 march 752 bc.

at same time, army of antemnates invaded roman territory. romans retaliated, , antemnates defeated in battle , town captured. according fasti triumphales, romulus celebrated second triumph in 752 bc on antemnates.

the crustumini started war, defeated , town captured.

roman colonists subsequently sent antemnae , crustumerium romulus, , many citizens of towns migrated rome (particularly families of captured women).

the sabines declared war, led battle king, titus tatius. tatius succeeded in capturing rome, treason of tarpeia, daughter of spurius tarpeius, roman governor of citadel on capitoline hill. opened city gates sabines in return bore on arms , thinking receive golden bracelets. instead, sabines crushed death shields, , body thrown rock known ever since name, tarpeian rock.

the romans attacked sabines, held citadel. roman advance led hostus hostilius, sabine defence mettus curtius. hostus fell in battle, , roman line gave way. retreated gate of palatium. romulus rallied men promising build temple jupiter stator on site. led them battle. mettus curtius unhorsed , fled on foot, , romans appeared winning.

at point, however, sabine women intervened:

[they], outrage on whom war originated, hair dishevelled , garments rent, timidity of sex being overcome such dreadful scenes, had courage throw amid flying weapons, , making rush across, part incensed armies, , assuage fury; imploring fathers on 1 side, husbands on other, fathers-in-law , sons-in-law not contaminate each other impious blood, nor stain offspring parricide, 1 grandchildren, other children. if dissatisfied affinity between you, if our marriages, turn resentment against us; cause of war, of wounds , of bloodshed our husbands , parents. better perish live widowed or fatherless without 1 or other of you.

the battle came end, , sabines agreed unite in 1 nation romans. titus tatius jointly ruled romulus until tatius s death 5 years later.

the new sabine residents of rome settled on capitoline hill, had captured in battle.