Titi Livi liber I

But

nities formed a league or confederation under the presidency of Alba Longa, where stood the temple of the league-god, Jupiter Latiaris. At some time, possibly in the eighth century B.C., three such cantons in the neighbourhood of the Palatine hill formed a union (in Greek synoecismus), each canton becoming now a tribus, or third part, of the new commonwealth. Of these three tribes, two the Ramnes and Luceres were Latin, the Tities possibly of Sabellian origin. This amalgamation was probably gradual, a considerable amount of intercourse having taken place between the three cantons before they became one state. when it was completed, the new state would seem to have risen rapidly into importance. This was due mainly to its position, commanding the traffic of the Tiber and the port of Ostia. To this circumstance, as well as to the fact that the unwholesome atmosphere of the lower ground induced the inhabitants, whenever they could, to congregate on the higher ground, is due also the early appearance of the urban and commercial elements, which formed such marked characteristics of the Romans in after times. original city on the Palatine (Roma quadrata) presently extended itself over the Caelian, Esquiline, Capitoline, and Aventine hills, and later absorbed another community, possibly of Sabine origin, on the Quirinal, from which event probably dates the division of the three tribes into priores and posteriores, and the distinction between the gentes majores and minores.

The

This growing community was doubtless engaged in continual wars with its neighbours, but of those wars

we have absolutely no records beyond the fact of the destruction of some Latin towns, and in particular of Alba Longa. This was followed by the acknowledgement of Rome as the head of the Latin league, and it is probable that she exercised this supremacy from the earliest times of it, as something more than prima inter pares.

The last dynasty of kings, there seems little doubt, was of Etruscan origin. Under them the city seems to have made more rapid progress than before. They not only increased the Roman power and territory, but improved and strengthened the city by public buildings, fortifications (the Servian wall), and magnificent drainage works (Cloaca maxima).

The constitution of this early Roman state was based on that of the family. The king was the father of the state, the civil, military, and religious head of the community. But to this headship he was elected by the citizens; and public opinion, which it was dangerous altogether to disregard, held him morally, if not legally, bound to respect the interests of the community, and to consult their wishes. For this reason there existed a council of elders, or senate, whom the king was expected to consult on all matters of public interest, before he took action. The senate then was practically the body that represented the people in regard to the ordinary course of government. But the whole people had its assembly of wardships (comitia curiata), the ordinary functions of which were confined to sanctioning laws and appointments, and the decision of family questions, such as adoptions. But on extraordinary occasions such as an alteration

in the constitution, or the declaration of offensive war, its dormant sovereignty, which, as a rule, it surrendered to the king, reappeared, and the ultimate decision of these matters depended on its answer to the rogation of the king, which in this case was not a foregone conclusion.

As religious head of the state, the king exercised a general superintendence over religious matters, was the representative of the people in consulting the will of the gods by augury, and performed certain sacrifices. He was assisted by three guilds of skilled theologians-the Pontiffs, Augurs, and Fetials-who executed the details of the complicated ceremonies connected with sacrifice, auspice-taking, and the observances preliminary to the making of war or peace. Besides these, each temple had its special priest (flamen).

In the earliest times the only citizens of the state were the members of the gentes forming the three tribes, the descendants of the original patres or heads of families who formed the original state. All outside of these were slaves, clients, and resident aliens. On the citizens devolved not only the privileges of the state, but the burdens as well, the principal of which was furnishing the army. This consisted mainly of cavalry chosen in equal numbers from each of the tribes. But as the outside population increased very largely, and the military exigencies of the state became extended, a new army was formed including all free inhabitants possessed of a certain minimum of (landed) property. In this army each man was ranked according to his property, and required to

provide himself with suitable arms. But clearly, those rights which had belonged to the old citizens as an army, that is, authorising wills and giving their consent to offensive war, must have been now extended to the new citizens. Hence there must now have been two grades of citizens, (1) the full citizens assembling in their curies, and (2) the semi-citizens of the new army assembled in centuries (comitia centuriata). The development of the comitia centuriata into the sovereign assembly of the people and the consequent decay of the comitia curiata belong to the next period.

For a full account of that of which the foregoing is merely an abstract, the reader is referred to Professor Seeley's "Historical Introduction to Livy, Book I," and Dr. Mommsen's "History of Rome, Book I."

CONTENTS OF THE BOOK.

Preface, setting forth (1) the difficulty of writing the early
history of Rome, and the probable indifference of the
Roman world to such a work on the one hand, on the
other, the comfort to the author of writing of past times
rather than present; (2) the object of the work which is
didactic rather than critical, to let the Romans know
what they have been and what they have become.

Chapter 1. Aeneas in Italy-Founding of Lavinium-Wars of

Latins with Rutulians and Etruscans. 3. Founding and

early history of Alba Longa.
4. Birth and bringing up

of Romulus and Remus, 5. Recognition of the twins

and overthrow of Amulius. 6 § 3. Founding of Rome

and death of Remus. 7 § 3. Organisation of religion-

Story of Hercules, Cacus and Evander. 8. Political

institutions. 9. Rape of the Sabine women-
-Wars with

the Sabines ending in amalgamation of the two peoples-

Temples of Jupiter Feretrius, and Stator-Story of

Mettius Curtius. 14. Death of the Sabine king Tatius

-War with Fidenates. 15. War with Veii-The body.