Battle of Mons Algidus
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Mons Algidus was fought in 458 BC
(or 457 BC
) between the Roman Republic
and the Aequi
near Algidus Mons
, Latium
. The Roman dictator
Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus
turned a Roman defeat into an important victory.
was already shared between the original Romans, the Latin
and Sabine
peoples. For example, the Quinctia
gens who had a major influence on Roman public life during this time were of Latin origin. The Hernici
were allied to Rome; the Etruscans were not impinging on the Romans, even though the Estruscan town of Veii
was close to Rome.
The greatest enemies of Rome at this time were the Volsci
and the Aequi. The Volsci were based in territory to the west of Rome while the Aequi were based to the east. The Aequi kept attacking, whether with allies or alone, Rome and its surroundings. In particular, the Aequi moved from the Apennine Mountains
towards Tusculum
(Frascati
). Their attacks disturbed trade and commercial communications along the Via Latina
as well as throughout Roman territory.
Within Rome the situation at this time was disturbed. There were conflicts between the Roman patricians and plebians
. There was also a revolt by Rome's slaves. During the revolt, the Campidoglio was held by the slaves for a lengthy period, along with the most important temples of Rome. It was during this revolt that consul
Valerius Publicola had died. The revolt ended only with the arrival of an army from Tusculum, led by Tusculan dictator Lucius Mamilius. Meanwhile, Cincinnatus was appointed as consul to replace Publicola.
In 459 BC
, the Aequi occupied Tusculum. In response to the threat, the Romans decided to send an army to help the allied city, under the command of consul Lucius Cornelius Maluginensis. In addition, the consul Fabius Vibulanus
, who was at that point besieging
Antium, moved his forces to attack Tusculum. In the end, the Tusculans were able to recapture their city, with Vibulanus killing many Aequi near Algidus Mons. A truce was then arranged with the Aequi.
Not long after, in 458 BC
, the Aequi broke the truce. They attacked Tusculum again, and camped near Algidus Mons; at the same time, a Sabinian army moved against Rome. Two Roman armies were formed in haste - consul Gaius Nautius Rutilus
planned to move against the Aequi territories, while consul Lucius Minucius Esquilinus Augurinus
planned to move against the Aequi camped near Algidus Mons.
Minucius did not attack the Aequi, who by nightfall had started to build a fortification all around the Roman camp. Since even Nautius did not know how to handle the situation, Cincinnatus, whose brief term as consul had ended, was elected dictator.
each available Roman, requiring them to bring food for five days and also bring twelve valli. The vallus
was the pole brought by each Roman soldier. The valli were used to build a protective wall around the camp; a requirement of twelve valli instead of one was unusual.
The Roman army arrived at Algidus Mons by night. Cincinnatus signalled to the besieged Romans that he had arrived, then ordered his men to build a wall all around the Aequi. The Aequi attacked Cincinnatus, but they were soon obliged to turn and face the Romans of Minucius, who had left their camp to reach their companions. At dawn, the wall around the Aequi was completed; Cincinnatus ordered his men, who had marched and worked for a whole day without rest, to attack the Aequi within the wall. The Aequi, unable to sustain a double attack, surrendered. Cincinnatus let all but the leaders of the Aequi go.
Cincinnatus received a Roman triumph
, while the Tusculan consul Lucius Mamilius received Roman citizenship. Having been elected dictator for six months, Cincinnatus resigned after only sixteen days.
458 BC
Year 458 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Rutilus and Carvetus...
(or 457 BC
457 BC
Year 457 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Pulvillus and Augurinus or Cincinnatus and Vibulanus...
) between the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
and the Aequi
Aequi
thumb|300px|Location of the Aequi in central Italy.The Aequi were an ancient people of northeast Latium and the central Appennines of Italy who appear in the early history of ancient Rome. After a long struggle for independence from Rome they were defeated and substantial Roman colonies were...
near Algidus Mons
Algidus Mons
The Algidus Mons is the eastern rim of the dormant Alban Volcano in the Alban Hills, about 20 km southeast of Rome, Italy. The ridge is traversed by a narrow crevasse called la Cava d'Aglio...
, Latium
Latium
Lazio is one of the 20 administrative regions of Italy, situated in the central peninsular section of the country. With about 5.7 million residents and a GDP of more than 170 billion euros, Lazio is the third most populated and the second richest region of Italy...
. The Roman dictator
Dictator
A dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power but without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship...
Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus
Cincinnatus
Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus was an aristocrat and political figure of the Roman Republic, serving as consul in 460 BC and Roman dictator in 458 BC and 439 BC....
turned a Roman defeat into an important victory.
Background
The government of RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
was already shared between the original Romans, the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and Sabine
Sabine
The Sabines were an Italic tribe that lived in the central Appennines of ancient Italy, also inhabiting Latium north of the Anio before the founding of Rome...
peoples. For example, the Quinctia
Quinctius
The gens Quinctia, sometimes written Quintia, was a patrician family at Rome. Throughout the history of the Republic, its members often held the highest offices of the state, and it produced some men of importance even during the imperial period...
gens who had a major influence on Roman public life during this time were of Latin origin. The Hernici
Hernici
The Hernici were an ancient people of Italy, whose territory was in Latium between the Lago di Fucino and the Sacco River , bounded by the Volsci on the south, and by the Aequi and the Marsi on the north....
were allied to Rome; the Etruscans were not impinging on the Romans, even though the Estruscan town of Veii
Veii
Veii was, in ancient times, an important Etrurian city NNW of Rome, Italy; its site lies in Isola Farnese, a village of Municipio XX, an administrative subdivision of the comune of Rome in the Province of Rome...
was close to Rome.
The greatest enemies of Rome at this time were the Volsci
Volsci
The Volsci were an ancient Italic people, well known in the history of the first century of the Roman Republic. They then inhabited the partly hilly, partly marshy district of the south of Latium, bounded by the Aurunci and Samnites on the south, the Hernici on the east, and stretching roughly from...
and the Aequi. The Volsci were based in territory to the west of Rome while the Aequi were based to the east. The Aequi kept attacking, whether with allies or alone, Rome and its surroundings. In particular, the Aequi moved from the Apennine Mountains
Apennine mountains
The Apennines or Apennine Mountains or Greek oros but just as often used alone as a noun. The ancient Greeks and Romans typically but not always used "mountain" in the singular to mean one or a range; thus, "the Apennine mountain" refers to the entire chain and is translated "the Apennine...
towards Tusculum
Tusculum
Tusculum is a ruined Roman city in the Alban Hills, in the Latium region of Italy.-Location:Tusculum is one of the largest Roman cities in Alban Hills. The ruins of Tusculum are located on Tuscolo hill—more specifically on the northern edge of the outer crater ring of the Alban volcano...
(Frascati
Frascati
Frascati is a town and comune in the province of Rome in the Lazio region of central Italy. It is located south-east of Rome, on the Alban Hills close to the ancient city of Tusculum. Frascati is closely associated with science, being the location of several international scientific...
). Their attacks disturbed trade and commercial communications along the Via Latina
Via Latina
The Via Latina was a Roman road of Italy, running southeast from Rome for about 200 kilometers.It led from the Porta Latina in the Aurelian walls of Rome to the pass of Mons Algidus; it was important in the early military history of Rome...
as well as throughout Roman territory.
Within Rome the situation at this time was disturbed. There were conflicts between the Roman patricians and plebians
Plebs
The plebs was the general body of free land-owning Roman citizens in Ancient Rome. They were distinct from the higher order of the patricians. A member of the plebs was known as a plebeian...
. There was also a revolt by Rome's slaves. During the revolt, the Campidoglio was held by the slaves for a lengthy period, along with the most important temples of Rome. It was during this revolt that consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
Valerius Publicola had died. The revolt ended only with the arrival of an army from Tusculum, led by Tusculan dictator Lucius Mamilius. Meanwhile, Cincinnatus was appointed as consul to replace Publicola.
In 459 BC
459 BC
Year 459 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Vibulanus and Uritinus...
, the Aequi occupied Tusculum. In response to the threat, the Romans decided to send an army to help the allied city, under the command of consul Lucius Cornelius Maluginensis. In addition, the consul Fabius Vibulanus
Quintus Fabius Vibulanus (467 BC)
Quintus Fabius Vibulanus, son of Marcus Fabius Vibulanus , was consul of the Roman Republic.-Biography:He was consul three times:# 467 BC, with Tiberius Aemilius L.f. Mamercinus...
, who was at that point besieging
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
Antium, moved his forces to attack Tusculum. In the end, the Tusculans were able to recapture their city, with Vibulanus killing many Aequi near Algidus Mons. A truce was then arranged with the Aequi.
Not long after, in 458 BC
458 BC
Year 458 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Rutilus and Carvetus...
, the Aequi broke the truce. They attacked Tusculum again, and camped near Algidus Mons; at the same time, a Sabinian army moved against Rome. Two Roman armies were formed in haste - consul Gaius Nautius Rutilus
Gaius Nautius Rutilus
Gaius Nautius Rutilus, son of Spurius Nautius Rutilus of the Roman Republic.He was first consul in 475 BC with Publius Valerius Publicola....
planned to move against the Aequi territories, while consul Lucius Minucius Esquilinus Augurinus
Lucius Minucius Esquilinus Augurinus
Lucius Minucius Esquilinus Augurinus, son of Publius, was consul of the Roman Republic with Gaius Nautius Rutilus in 458 BC.Minucius was ordered to bring his army against the Aequi camped near Tusculum. However, he camped his army next to the enemy, and did not take the initiative...
planned to move against the Aequi camped near Algidus Mons.
Minucius did not attack the Aequi, who by nightfall had started to build a fortification all around the Roman camp. Since even Nautius did not know how to handle the situation, Cincinnatus, whose brief term as consul had ended, was elected dictator.
The battle
Cincinnatus chose his magister equitum, and levied in Campus MartiusCampus Martius
The Campus Martius , was a publicly owned area of ancient Rome about in extent. In the Middle Ages, it was the most populous area of Rome...
each available Roman, requiring them to bring food for five days and also bring twelve valli. The vallus
Sudis (stake)
The sudis is a Latin word meaning stake. It was the name given to stakes carried by Roman legionaries for employment as a field fortification, sometimes also called valus...
was the pole brought by each Roman soldier. The valli were used to build a protective wall around the camp; a requirement of twelve valli instead of one was unusual.
The Roman army arrived at Algidus Mons by night. Cincinnatus signalled to the besieged Romans that he had arrived, then ordered his men to build a wall all around the Aequi. The Aequi attacked Cincinnatus, but they were soon obliged to turn and face the Romans of Minucius, who had left their camp to reach their companions. At dawn, the wall around the Aequi was completed; Cincinnatus ordered his men, who had marched and worked for a whole day without rest, to attack the Aequi within the wall. The Aequi, unable to sustain a double attack, surrendered. Cincinnatus let all but the leaders of the Aequi go.
Aftermath
The Aequi leaders were kept prisoners in Rome. The spoils of the sacking of the Aequi camp was distributed among Cincinnatus' men, while the Romans who had fought under Minucius were criticised and Minucius himself deposed.Cincinnatus received a Roman triumph
Roman triumph
The Roman triumph was a civil ceremony and religious rite of ancient Rome, held to publicly celebrate and sanctify the military achievement of an army commander who had won great military successes, or originally and traditionally, one who had successfully completed a foreign war. In Republican...
, while the Tusculan consul Lucius Mamilius received Roman citizenship. Having been elected dictator for six months, Cincinnatus resigned after only sixteen days.