Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, Rev. Canon Roberts (Translator), 1.33

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[1] After handing over the care of the various sacrificial rites to the Flamens and other priests, and calling up a fresh army, Ancus advanced against Politorium, a city belonging to the Latins. He took it by assault, and following the custom of the earlier kings who had enlarged the State by receiving its enemies into Roman citizenship, he transferred the whole of the population to Rome .

[2] The Palatine had been settled by the earliest Romans, the Sabines had occupied the Capitoline hill with the Citadel, on one side of the Palatine , and the Albans the Caelian hill, on the other, so the Aventine was assigned to the new-comers.

[3] Not long afterwards there was a further addition to the number of citizens through the capture of Tellenae and Ficana. Politorium after its evacuation was seized by the Latins and was again recovered; and this was the reason why the Romans razed the city, to prevent its being a perpetual refuge for the enemy.

[4] At last the whole war was concentrated round Medullia, and fighting went on for some time there with doubtful result. The city was strongly fortified and its strength was increased by the presence of a large garrison. The Latin army was encamped in the open and had had several engagements with the Romans.

[5] At last Ancus made a supreme effort with the whole of his force and won a pitched battle, after which he returned with immense booty to Rome , and many thousands of Latins were admitted into citizenship. In order to connect the Aventine with the Palatine , the district round the altar of Venus Murcia was assigned to them.

[6] The Janiculum also was brought into the city boundaries, not because the space was wanted, but to prevent such a strong position from being occupied by an enemy. It was decided to connect this hill with the City, not only by carrying the City wall round it, but also by a bridge, for the convenience of traffic.

[7] This was the first bridge thrown over the Tiber , and was known as the Pons Sublicius.¹ The Fossa Quiritium also was the work of King Ancus and afforded no inconsiderable protection to the lower

[8] and therefore more accessible parts of the City .Amidst this vast population now that the State had become so enormously increased, the sense of right and wrong was obscured, and secret crimes were committed. To overawe the growing lawlessness a prison was built in the heart of the City overlooking the

[9] Forum. The additions made by this king were not confined to the City. The Mesian Forest was taken from the Veientines and the Roman dominion extended to the sea, at the mouth of the Tiber the city of Ostia was built, salt pits were constructed on both sides of the river, and the temple of Jupiter Feretrius was enlarged in consequence of the brilliant successes in the war.

Ab urbe condita. Titus Livius (Livy). Rev. Canon Roberts (Translator). Medford, MA. 1997-10-28.

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Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

History of Rome (English) (Volumes 1-2. Roberts, Canon, Rev, translator. London, New York: J. M. Dent and Sons; E. P. Dutton and Co., 1912.)

Editions (3)

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Pars I-IV, Libri I-XL. Editio Stereotypica. Weissenborn, Wilhelm; Mueller, Moritz, editors. Leipzig: Teubner, 1884-1911.) — 1.33 focus

[1] Ancus demandata cura sacrorum flaminibus sacerdotibusque aliis, exercitu novo conscripto profectus Politorium, urbem Latinorum, vi cepit secutusque morem regum priorum, qui rem Romanam auxerant hostibus in civitatem accipiendis, multitudinem omnem Romam traduxit,

[2] et cum circa Palatium, sedem veterum Romanorum, Sabini Capitolium atque arcem, Caelium montem Albani inplessent, Aventinum novae multitudini datum. additi eodem baud haud ita multo post, Tellenis Ficanaque captis, novi cives.

[3] Politorium inde rursus bello repetitum, quod vacuum occupaverant Prisci Latini; eaque causa diruendae urbis eius fuit Romanis, ne hostium semper receptaculum esset.

[4] postremo omni bello Latino Medulliam conpulso aliquamdiu ibi Marte incerto varia victoria pugnatum est; nam et urbs tuta munitionibus praesidioque firmata valido erat, et castris in aperto positis aliquotiens exercitus Latinus comminus cum Romanis signa contulerat.

[5] ad ultimum omnibus copiis conisus Ancus acie primum vincit; inde ingenti praeda potens Romam redit, turn tum quoque multis milibus Latinorum in civitatem acceptis, quibus, ut iungeretur Palatio Aventinum, ad Murciae datae sedes.

[6] Ianiculum quoque adiectum, non inopia loci, sed ne quando ea arx hostium esset. id non muro solum, sed etiam ob commoditatem itineris ponte sublicio, tum primum in Tiberi facto, coniungi urbi placuit. Quiritium quoque fossa,

[7] baud haud parvum munimentum a planioribus aditu locis, Anci regis opus est.

[8] ingenti incremento rebus auctis cum in tanta multitudine hominum discrimine recte an perperam facti confuso facinora clandestina fierent, career carcer ad terrorem increscentis audaciae media urbe inminens foro aedificatur.

[9] nec urbs tantum hoc rege crevit, sed etiam ager finesque: silva Mesia Maesia Veientibus adempta usque ad mare imperium prolatum et in ore Tiberis Ostia urbs condita, salinae circa factae egregieque rebus bello gestis aedis Iovis Feretrii amplificata.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 1.33 focus

[1]

Ancus demandata cura sacrorum flaminibus sacerdotibusque aliis, exercitu nouo conscripto profectus, Politorium, urbem Latinorum, ui cepit; secutusque morem regum priorum, qui rem Romanam auxerant hostibus in ciuitatem accipiendis, multitudinem omnem Romam traduxit.

[2] et cum circa Palatium, sedem ueterum Romanorum, Sabini Capitolium atque arcem, Caelium montem Albani implessent, Auentinum nouae multitudini datum. additi eodem haud ita multo post, Tellenis Ficanaque captis, noui ciues.

[3] Politorium inde rursus bello repetitum quod uacuum occupauerant Prisci Latini, eaque causa diruendae urbis eius fuit Romanis ne hostium semper receptaculum esset.

[4] postremo omni bello Latino Medulliam compulso, aliquamdiu ibi Marte incerto, uaria uictoria pugnatum est; nam et urbs tuta munitionibus praesidioque firmata ualido erat, et castris in aperto positis aliquotiens exercitus Latinus comminus cum Romanis signa contulerat.

[5] ad ultimum omnibus copiis conisus Ancus acie primum uincit; inde ingenti praeda potens Romam redit, tum quoque multis milibus Latinorum in ciuitatem acceptis, quibus, ut iungeretur Palatio Auentinum, ad Murciae datae sedes.

[6] Ianiculum quoque adiectum, non inopia loci sed ne quando ea arx hostium esset. id non muro solum sed etiam ob commoditatem itineris ponte sublicio, tum primum in Tiberi facto, coniungi urbi placuit.

[7] Quiritium quoque fossa, haud paruum munimentum a planioribus aditu locis, Anci regis opus est.

[8] ingenti incremento rebus auctis, cum in tanta multitudine hominum, discrimine recte an perperam facti confuso, facinora clandestina fierent, carcer ad terrorem increscentis audaciae media urbe imminens foro aedificatur.

[9] nec urbs tantum hoc rege creuit sed etiam ager finesque. Silua Maesia Ueientibus adempta usque ad mare imperium prolatum et in ore Tiberis Ostia urbs condita, salinae circa factae, egregieque rebus bello gestis aedis Iouis Feretri amplificata.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Livy in Fourteen Volumes. Foster, Benjamin Oliver; Moore, Frank Gardener; Schlesinger, Alfred C., editors. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd., 1919-1959 (printing).) — 1.33 focus

[1]

Ancus demandata cura sacrorum flaminibus sacerdotibusque aliis, exercitu novo conscripto profectus, Politorium, urbem Latinorum, vi cepit, secutusque morem regum priorum, qui rem Romanam auxerant hostibus in civitatem accipiendis, multitudinem omnem Romam traduxit,

[2] et cum circa Palatium, sedem veterum ¹ Romanorum, Sabini Capitolium atque arcem, Caelium montem Albani implessent, Aventinum novae multitudini datum. additi eodem haud ita multo post, Tellenis Ficanaque captis, novi cives.

[3] Politorium inde rursus bello repetitum, quod vacuum occupaverant Prisci Latini; eaque causa ² diruendae urbis eius fuit Romanis, ne hostium semper receptaculum esset.

[4] postremo omni bello Latino Medulliam compulso aliquamdiu ibi Marte incerto, varia victoria pugnatum est; nam et urbs tuta munitionibus praesidioque firmata valido erat, et castris in aperto positis aliquotiens exercitus Latinus comminus cum Romanis signa contulerat.

[5] ad ultimum omnibus copiis conisus Ancus acie primum vincit; inde ingenti praeda potens Romam redit, tum quoque multis milibus Latinorum in civitatem acceptis, quibus, ut iungeretur Palatio Aventinum, ad Murciae datae sedes.

[6] Ianiculum quoque adiectum, non inopia loci, sed ne quando ea arx hostium esset. id non muniri ³ solum sed etiam ob commoditatem itineris ponte sublicio, tum primum in Tiberi facto, coniungi urbi placuit.

[7] Quiritium quoque fossa, haud parvum munimentum a planioribus aditu locis, Anci regis opus est.

[8] ingenti incremento rebus auctis cum in tanta multitudine hominum, discrimine recte an perperam facti confuso, facinora clandestina fierent, carcer career ad terrorem increscentis audaciae media urbe inminens foro aedificatur.

[9] nec urbs tantum hoc ⁴ rege crevit, sed etiam ager finesque. Silva Maesia Veientibus adempta usque ad mare imperium prolatum et in ore Tiberis Ostia urbs condita, salinae circa factae, egregieque rebus bello gestis aedis Iovis Feretri amplificata.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Foster, Benjamin Oliver; Moore, Frank Gardener; Sage, Evan T.; Schlesinger, Alfred C., translators. Cambridge, Mass.; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1919-1959. (Loeb Classical Library)) — 1.33 focus

[1]

Ancus delegated the care of the sacrifices to the flamens and other priests, and having enlisted a new army proceeded to Politorium, one of the Latin cities. He took this place by storm, and adopting the plan of former kings, who had enlarged the state by making her enemies citizens, transferred the whole population to Rome.

[2] The Palatine was the quarter of the original Romans; on the one hand were the Sabines, who had the Capitol and the Citadel; on the other lay the Caelian, occupied by the Albans. The Aventine was therefore assigned to the newcomers, and thither too were sent shortly afterwards the citizens recruited from the captured towns of Tellenae and Ficana.

[3] Politorium was then attacked a second time, for having been left empty it had been ¹ seized by the Ancient Latins, and this gave the Romans an excuse for razing the town, lest it should serve continually as a refuge for their enemies.

[4] In the end the Latin levies were all forced back upon Medullia, where for some time the fighting was indecisive and victory shifted from one side to the other; for the city was protected by fortifications and was defended by a strong garrison, and from their camp in the open plain the Latin army several times came to close quarters with the Romans.

[5] At last, throwing all his troops into the struggle, Ancus succeeded first in defeating the enemy's army, and then in capturing the town, whence he returned to Rome enriched with immense spoils. On this occasion also many thousands of Latins were granted citizenship. These people, in order that the Aventine might be connected with the Palatine, were made to settle in the region of the Altar of Murcia.

[6] Janiculum was also annexed to the city, not from any lack of room, but lest it might some day become a stronghold of Rome's enemies. It was decided not only to fortify it, but also to connect it with the City, for greater ease in passing to and fro, by a bridge of piles, the first bridge ever built over the Tiber. ²

[7] The Quirites' Ditch also, no small protection on the more level and accessible side of town, was the work of King Ancus.

[8] When these enormous additions to the community had been effected, it was found that in so great a multitude the distinction between right and wrong had become obscured, and crimes were being secretly committed. Accordingly, to overawe men's growing lawlessness, a prison was built in the midst of the city, above the Forum. ³

[9] And ⁴ this reign was a period of growth, not only for the City, but also for her lands and boundaries. The Maesian Forest was taken from the Veientes, extending Rome's dominion clear to the sea; at the Tiber's mouth the city of Ostia was founded, and salt-works were established near-by; while in recognition of signal success in war the temple of Jupiter Feretrius was enlarged.

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 1.33 focus

[1]

Ancus, having committed the care of sacred things to the famines and other priests, set out with a new army, which he had levied, and took Politorium, a city of the Latins, by storm; and following the example of former kings, who had increased the Roman state by taking enemies into the number of the citizens, he transplanted all the people to Rome.

[2] And since the Sabines occupied the Capitol and citadel, and the Albans the Cœlian mount around the Palatium, the residence of the old Romans, the Aventine was assigned to the new people; not long after, on Telleni and Ficana being taken, new citizens were added in the same quarter.

[3] After this Politorium was taken a second time by force of arms, because the ancient Latins had taken possession of it when vacated. This was the cause of the Romans demolishing that city, that it might not ever after serve as a receptacle to the enemy.

[4] At last, the whole war with the Latins being concentrated in Medullia, they fought there with various fortune, sometimes the one and sometimes the other gaining the victory; for the town was both well fortified by works, and strengthened by a strong garrison, and the Latins, having pitched their camp in the open fields, had several times fought the Romans in close engagement.

[5] At last Ancus, making an effort with all his forces, obtained a complete victory over them in a pitched battle, and having got a considerable booty, returned thence to Rome; many thousands of the Latins being then also admitted into the city, to whom, in order that the Aventine might be joined to the Palatium, a settlement was assigned near the temple of Murcia.

[6] The Janiculum was likewise added, not for want of room, but lest at any time it should become a lodgment for the enemy. It was determined to join it to the city, not only by a wall, but likewise, for the sake of the convenience of passage, by a wooden bridge, then for the first time built across the Tiber.

[7] The Fossa Quiritium, no inconsiderable defence against the easy access to the city from the low grounds, is the work of king Ancus.

[8] The state being augmented by such great accessions, seeing that, amid such a multitude of persons, the distinction of right and wrong being as yet confounded, clandestine crimes were committed, a prison is built in the heart of the city, overlooking the forum, to intimidate the growing licentiousness.

[9] And not only was the city increased under this king, but the territory also and the boundaries. The Maesian forest was taken from the Veientes, the Roman dominion was extended as far as the sea, and the city of Ostia built at the mouth of the Tiber; salt-pits were formed around it, and, in consequence of the distinguished success achieved in war, the temple of Jupiter Feretrius was enlarged.

Notes on the current edition

History of Rome, books 1-10, 21-45

1. Pons Sublicius —“ The Bridge of Piles.” down to comparatively late times, no material but wood was allowed in its construction, probably to allow of its being cut down in case of an enemy attempting to force a passage. We see this in the story of Horatius Cocles (Book II. chap. x.).

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 1.33

Rev. Canon Roberts (Translator)

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