Ancus Marcius

(reigned 642-617) Ancus Marcius, a direct relative of Numa Pompilius (his mother was the daughter of Numa Pompilius, was chosen by the people and confirmed in the Senate after the death of Tullus Hostilius.[2][3]


Coin: Ancus Marcius left, equestrian statue right



Acus was determined to bring religion back as a major part of Roman culture as it had been during his grandfather's reign, and so made the Pontifex Maxima copy out the state offices of religion as they had been organised before Tullus Hostillius and set them out in a public place.

Despite intending to rule with peace, Ancus fully understood that he needed to be strong in war too, or Rome would fall. This was tested when the Latins made an incursion into Roman territory and refused the Roman redress. And after consulting with the Senate, who urged him that a just and righteous war was necessary, war was declared on the Latins by the ceremonial act of throwing a spear into their territory.[2]


Throughout the war that ensued, Rome continued to grow from the various victories against the Latins. However, after the Latin retaking of Politorium (Latins had previously had it as their capitol and they now reclaimed it from Roman territory), the Romans razed the city. Afterwards a major battle took place in Medullia, which after a long effort, the Romans won, taking a lot of refugees to Rome with them. To have space for all the refugees, Ancus Marcius extended the city wall to include the Aventine Hill, where the district by the altar of Venus Murcia was given to the Latin refugees.

Ancus also included the Janiculum into the Roman boundaries, but not for space, this was a purely tactical move to prevent enemies from taking such a strong position. To include the Janiculum in the city, he not only built the wall around it, but he built a bridge across the Tiber for convenience of travel. It was the first bridge to cross the Tiber and was known as the Pons Sublicius. [1][2][3][4]

With the increase in population also came an increase in crime, and so Ancus Marcius built a the first Roman prison, overlooking the Forum. [2]

Another significant act was the founding of Ostia, a city at the mouth of the Tiber allowing access to the sea and trade routes to expand their empire. Salt pans were built on either side of the river and the temple of Jupiter Feretrius was enlarged.