6.4
Camillus
returned in triumphal procession to the City, after having been victorious in
three simultaneous wars. By far the greatest number of the prisoners who
were led before his chariot belonged to the Etruscans. They were publicly
sold, and so much was realised that after the matrons had been repaid for
their gold, three golden bowls were made from what was left. These were
inscribed with the name of Camillus, and it is generally believed that previous
to the fire in the Capitol they were deposited in the chapel of Jupiter before
the feet of Juno. During the year, those of the inhabitants of Veii, Capenae,
and Fidenae who had gone over to the Romans whilst these wars were going
on, were admitted into full citizenship and received an allotment of land. The
senate passed a resolution recalling those who had repaired to Veii and taken
possession of the empty houses there to avoid the labour of rebuilding. At
first they protested and took no notice of the order; then a day was fixed,
and those who had not returned by that date were threatened with outlawry.
This step made each man fear for himself, and from being united in defiance
they now showed individual obedience. Rome was growing in population,
and buildings were rising up in every part of it. The State gave financial
assistance; the aediles urged on the work as though it were a State
undertaking; the individual citizens were in a hurry to complete their task
through need of accommodation. Within the year the new City was built.
At the close of the year elections of consular tribunes were held.
Those elected were T. Quinctius Cincinnatus, Q. Servilius Fidenas (for the
fifth time), L. Julius Julus, L. Aquilius Corvus, L. Lucretius Tricipitinus, and
Ser. Sulpicius Rufus. One army was led against the Aequi -not to war, for
they acknowledged that they were conquered, but -to ravage their territories
so that no strength might be left them for future aggression. The other
advanced into the district of Tarquinii. There, Cortuosa and Contenebra,
towns belonging to the Etruscans, were taken by assault. At Cortuosa there
was no fighting, the garrison were surprised and the place was carried at the
very first assault. Contenebra stood a siege for a few days, but the incessant
toil without any remission day or night proved too much for them. The
Roman army was formed into six divisions, each of which took its part in the
fighting in turn every six hours. The small number of the defenders
necessitated the same men continually coming into action against a fresh
enemy; at last they gave up, and an opening was afforded the Romans for
entering the city. The tribunes decided that the booty should be sold on
behalf of the State, but they were slower in announcing their decision than in
forming it; whilst they were hesitating, the soldiery had already appropriated
it, and it could not be taken from them without creating bitter resentment.
The growth of the City was not confined to private buildings. A substructure
of squared stones was built beneath the Capitol during this year, which, even
amidst the present magnificence of the City, is a conspicuous object.