1.14
Some years subsequently
the kinsmen of King Tatius ill-treated the
ambassadors of the Laurentines. They came to seek
redress from him in accordance with international
law, but the influence and importunities of his
friends had more weight with Tatius than the
remonstrances of the Laurentines. The consequence
was that he brought upon himself the punishment due
to them, for when he had gone to the annual
sacrifice at Lavinium, a tumult arose in which he
was killed. Romulus is reported to have been less
distressed at this incident than his position
demanded, either because of the insincerity inherent
in all joint sovereignty, or because he thought he
had deserved his fate. He refused, therefore, to go
to war, but that the wrong done to the ambassadors
and the murder of the king might be expiated, the
treaty between Rome and Lavinium was renewed. Whilst
in this direction an unhoped-for peace was secured,
war broke out in a much nearer quarter, in fact
almost at the very gates of Rome. The people of
Fidenae considered that a power was growing up too
close to them, so to prevent the anticipations of
its future greatness from being realised, they took
the initiative in making war. Armed bands invaded
and devastated the country lying between the City
and Fidenae. Thence they turned to the left -the
Tiber barred their advance on the right -and
plundered and destroyed, to the great alarm of the
country people. A sudden rush from the fields into
the City was the first intimation of what was
happening. A war so close to their gates admitted of
no delay, and Romulus hurriedly led out his army and
encamped about a mile from Fidenae. Leaving a small
detachment to guard the camp, he went forward with
his whole force, and whilst one part were ordered to
lie in ambush in a place overgrown with dense
brushwood, he advanced with the larger part and the
whole of the cavalry towards the city, and by riding
up to the very gates in a disorderly and provocative
manner he succeeded in drawing the enemy. The
cavalry continued these tactics and so made the
flight which they were to feign seem less
suspicious, and when their apparent hesitation
whether to fight or to flee was followed by the
retirement of the infantry, the enemy suddenly
poured out of the crowded gates, broke the Roman
line and pressed on in eager pursuit till they were
brought to where the ambush was set. Then the Romans
suddenly rose and attacked the enemy in flank; their
panic was increased by the troops in the camp
bearing down upon them. Terrified by the threatened
attacks from all sides, the Fidenates turned and
fled almost before Romulus and his men could wheel
round from their simulated flight. They made for
their town much more quickly than they had just
before pursued those who pretended to flee, for
their flight was a genuine one. They could not,
however, shake off the pursuit; the Romans were on
their heels, and before the gates could be closed
against them, burst through pell-mell with the
enemy.