BATTLE OF SILVA
ARSIA
election of the first consuls. The deposed king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, whose family
originated from Tarquinii in Etruria, garnered the support of the Etruscan cities of Veii
and Tarquinii, recalling to the former their regular losses of war and of land to the In 509
BC the Roman monarchy was overthrown, and the Roman Republic commenced with the
Roman state, and to the latter his family ties.
The Battle of Silva Arsia was a battle in 509 BC between the republican forces of ancient
Rome on the one hand, and Etruscan forces of Tarquinii and Veii led by the deposed
Roman king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus on the other. The battle took place nearby the
Silva Arsia (the Arsian forest) in Roman territory, and resulted in victory to Rome but the
death of one of her consuls, Lucius Junius Brutus.
The battle was one of a number of attempts by Tarquin to regain the throne, and can also
be seen as part of ongoing conflict between the Etruscan cities and the expanding Roman
state. The battle forms part of Rome's early history, which is probably in part legendary.
BATTLE OF POMETIA!
In 503 BC two Latin towns, Pometia and Cora, said by Livy to be colonies of Rome, revolted against
Rome. They had the assistance of the southern Aurunci tribe.
Livy says that a Roman army led by the consuls Agrippa Menenius Lanatus and Publius Postumius
Tubertus met the enemy on the frontiers and was victorious, after which Livy says the war was
confined to Pometia. Livy says many enemy prisoners were slaughtered by each side.[6] Livy also says
that the consuls celebrated a triumph, however the Fasti Triumphales record that an ovation was
celebrated by Postumius and a triumph by Menenius, both over the Sabines.
In the following year the consuls were Opiter Virginius and Sp. Cassius. Livy says that they attempted
to take Pometia by storm, but then resorted to siege engines. However the Aurunci launched a
successful sally, destroying the siege engines, wounding many, and nearly killing one of the consuls.
The Romans retreated to Rome, recruited additional troops, and returned to Pometia. They rebuilt the
siege engines and when they were about to take the town, the Pometians surrendered. The Aurunci
leaders were beheaded, the Pometians sold into slavery, the town razed and the land sold. Livy says
the consuls celebrated a triumph as a result of the victory.[7] The Fasti Triumphales record only one
triumph, by Cassius (possibly over the Sabines although the inscription is unclear).
The Romans came to Britain nearly 2000 years ago and changed our country. Even today, evidence of the
Romans being here, can be seen in the ruins of Roman buildings, forts, roads, and baths can be found all
over Britain.
The Romans invaded other countries too. The Roman Empire covered much of Europe, North Africa, and
the Middle East.
Weapons
A soldier carried two spears to throw at the enemy. The spears were just over two metres* long and they
were designed to bend and stick in the enemy's shield so he cannot use it to protect himself. They were
difficult to pull out and will bend on impact, so they couldn't be thrown back at the attacking Roman
soldiers.
Roman buildings
Most people living in the Roman Empire lived with their whole family in one room of a sort of apartment
house. These were built, like many cheap apartment houses in the United States today, around two or three
sides of a courtyard, one or two stories high. The other sides of the courtyard had high walls to keep out
burglars. Today we use these courtyards for parking, but Roman people (who didn't have cars) used them
for cooking, and for children to play in. The apartment houses were generally mud-brick, with flat roofs that
you could sleep on in good weather.
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The sword was very important. It was light and short (no more than 50 cm) so soldiers can use it for
stabbing quickly. The legionary wore his sword high on the right side of his body. This enabled it to be
drawn underarm with his right hand without interfering with the shield which he carried in his left.
Pilum- throwing spear
A soldier carried two spears to throw at the enemy. The spears were just over two metres* long and
they were designed to bend and stick in the enemy's shield so he cannot use it to protect himself. They
were difficult to pull out and will bend on impact, so they couldn't be thrown back at the attacking
Roman soldiers.
Pugio - dagger
The pugio was a small dagger used by Roman soldiers as a sidearm. It was worn on left side.
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