The Battle of Mons Algidus was fought in 458 BC (or 457 BC) between the Roman Republic and Aequi near Mons Algidus, Latium. The Roman dictator Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus turned a Roman defeat into an important victory. Centuries: 4th century BC - 5th century BC - 6th century BC Decades: 500s BC 490s BC 480s BC 470s BC 460s BC - 450s BC - 440s BC 430s BC 420s BC 410s BC 400s BC Years: 463 BC 462 BC 461 BC 460 BC 459 BC - 458 BC - 457 BC 456 BC... City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR (The Senate and the People of Rome) Founded 21 April 753 BC mythical, 1st millennium BC Region Latium Mayor Walter Veltroni (Left-Wing Democrats) Area  - City Proper  1285 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 2,553,873 almost 4,300,000 1. ... See also Roman Republic (18th century) and Roman Republic (19th century). ... The Aequi were an ancient people of Italy, whose name occurs constantly in Livys first decade as hostile to Rome in the first three centuries of the citys existence. ... With one hand he returns the fasces, symbol of power as appointed dictator of Rome. ... 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. ... Centuries: 4th century BC - 5th century BC - 6th century BC Decades: 500s BC 490s BC 480s BC 470s BC 460s BC - 450s BC - 440s BC 430s BC 420s BC 410s BC 400s BC Years: 463 BC 462 BC 461 BC 460 BC 459 BC - 458 BC - 457 BC 456 BC... Centuries: 4th century BC - 5th century BC - 6th century BC Decades: 500s BC 490s BC 480s BC 470s BC 460s BC - 450s BC - 440s BC 430s BC 420s BC 410s BC 400s BC Years: 462 BC 461 BC 460 BC 459 BC 458 BC - 457 BC - 456 BC 455 BC... See also Roman Republic (18th century) and Roman Republic (19th century). ... The Aequi were an ancient people of Italy, whose name occurs constantly in Livys first decade as hostile to Rome in the first three centuries of the citys existence. ... Latium (Lazio in Italian) is a region of central Italy, bordered by Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania and the Tyrrhenian Sea. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Dictatorship. ... With one hand he returns the fasces, symbol of power as appointed dictator of Rome. ...

Background

The government of Rome was already shared between the original Romans, Latin and Sabine peoples. For example, the Quinctia gens who had a great impact on Roman public life during that time was of Latin origin. Hernici were allied to Rome; the Etruscans were not yet involved against the Romans, but Veius, very close to Rome. City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR (The Senate and the People of Rome) Founded 21 April 753 BC mythical, 1st millennium BC Region Latium Mayor Walter Veltroni (Left-Wing Democrats) Area  - City Proper  1285 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 2,553,873 almost 4,300,000 1. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... The tribe of the Sabines (Latin Sabini) was an Italic tribe of ancient Italy. ... Quinctius (plural Quinctii) was the name of a gens of Roman Republic. ... The Hernici were an ancient people of Italy, whose territory was in Latium between the Lago di Fucino and the Sacco River (Trerus), bounded by the Volscian on the south, and by the Aequians and the Marsians on the north. ... The Etruscan civilization existed in Etruria and the Po valley in the northern part of what is now Italy, prior to the formation of the Roman Republic. ... Veii - or Veius - was in ancient times, an important Etrurian city 18 km NNW of Rome, Italy. ...

The greatest enemies of Rome were Volsci and Aequi. The Volsci were from the territory west of Rome. The Aequi latters from east would attack, whether allied or alone, Rome and its surroundings. In particular, the Aequi had moved from the Apennine Mountains towards Tusculum (Frascati), and with their operations they disturbed the commercial communications along the Via Latina and the Roman country. The Volsci were an ancient Italic people, well known in the history of the first century of the Roman Republic. ... The Apenninejnbgnjjbggb Mountains (Greek: Απεννινος; Latin: Appenninus--in both cases used in the singular; Italian: Appennini) is a mountain range stretching 1000 km from the north to the south of Italy along its east coast, traversing the entire peninsula, and forming, as it were, the backbone of the country. ... Tusculum, an ancient city of Latium, situated in a commanding position on the north edge of the outer crater ring of the Alban volcano, 18 km (11 miles) north-east of the modern Frascati. ... Frascati is a town in the province of Rome in the Latium region of central Italy. ... The Via Latina, or the Latin Way, was a Roman road of Italy, running southeast from Rome for about 200 km. ...

Within Rome the situation was troublesome. There were contrasts between patricians and plebians. During this time there was also a revolt by slaves, which had held for long time the Campidoglio, along with the most important temples of Rome. It was during this revolt that consul Valerius Publicola had died. The revolt only ended only with the arrival of an army from Tusculum, lead by Tusculan dicator Lucius Mamilius. Cincinnatus was appointed the new consul to replace Publicola. This is an article about the privileged class in ancient Rome. ... In Ancient Rome, the plebs was the general body of Roman citizens, distinct from the privileged class of the patricians. ... The Capitoline Hill (Capitolinus Mons), between the Forum and the Campus Martius, is one of the famous seven hills of Rome, the site of a temple for the Capitoline Triad: the gods Jupiter, his wife Juno and their daughter Minerva. ... Consul (abbrev. ...

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, attacked Tusculum for several months. In the end, the Tusculans freed their city, and Vibulanus killed many Aequi near Mons Algidus. Centuries: 4th century BC - 5th century BC - 6th century BC Decades: 500s BC 490s BC 480s BC 470s BC 460s BC - 450s BC - 440s BC 430s BC 420s BC 410s BC 400s BC Years: 464 BC 463 BC 462 BC 461 BC 460 BC - 459 BC - 458 BC 457 BC... Quintus Fabius Vibulanus, son of Marcus Fabius Vibulanus, was consul of the Roman Republic three times: 467 BC, with Tiberius Aemilius L.f. ... For the Boston area punk band see Siege (band). ... Anzio (2003 pop. ...

In 458 BC, the Aequi broke the truce. They attacked Tusculum again, and camped near Mons Algidus; at the same time, a Sabinian army moved against Rome. Two 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 Mons Algidus (Livy, Ab Urbe condita, III, 25). Centuries: 4th century BC - 5th century BC - 6th century BC Decades: 500s BC 490s BC 480s BC 470s BC 460s BC - 450s BC - 440s BC 430s BC 420s BC 410s BC 400s BC Years: 463 BC 462 BC 461 BC 460 BC 459 BC - 458 BC - 457 BC 456 BC... C. Nautius Sp. ... 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. ... A portrait of Titus Livius made long after his death. ... Ab Urbe Condita is a monumental history of Rome, from its founding (Ab urbe condita, dated to 753 BC by Varro and most modern scholars). ...

Minucius did not attack the Aequi, who by nightfall had started to build a fortification all around the Roman camp (ibid, III, 26). Since even Nautius did not know how to handle the situation, Cincinnatus was elected dictator (ibid, III, 26).

The battle

Cincinnatus choose his magister equitum, and levied in Campus Martius each available Roman, requiring them to bring food for five days and twelve valli. The vallus was the pole brought by each Roman soldier, and used to build a wall all around the camp to protect it; a requirement of twelve valli instead of one was unusual. The Master of the Horse was (and in some cases, is) a historical position of varying importance in several European nations. ... The Campus Martius, or Field of Mars, was a publicly owned area of ancient Rome about 2 km² (600 acres) in extent. ... Sudes used as a simple picket fence. ...

The Roman army arrived at Mons Algidus by night. Cincinnatus signalled to the besieged Romans that he had arrived, then ordered his men to built 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 them go (ibid, III, 28),

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 fighting under Minucius were scolded and Minucius himself deposed. To meet Wikipedias quality standards and make it easier to understand, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Cincinnatus received a Roman triumph, while the Tusculan consul Lucius Mamilius received the Roman citizenship. Having been elected dictator for six months, Cincinnatus resigned after only sixteen days (ibid, III, 29). A Roman triumph was a civil ceremony and religious rite of ancient Rome, held to publicly honour the military commander (dux) of a notably successful foreign war or campaign and to display the glories of Roman victory. ...