Ancus Marcius comes to the throne- maybe after murdering his predecessor- and finds himself fighting endless wars with the Sabines, Latins, and whoever else wants to have a go. But Ancus isn't the pacifist Numa reborn; there's plenty of fighting to be getting on with. He does have some other achievements in more domestic setting- but those will have to wait until next time...

Time period: 640- 625 BCE

Relevant individuals:

• Ancus Marcius, 4th King of Rome
• Lucius Tarquinius, Roman cavalry commander

Sources for this episode:

• Appian (1972), Appian's Roman History in Four Volumes (Volume I). London and Cambridge, Massachusetts: William Heinemann Ltd. and Harvard University Press.
• Cassius Dio (1961), Dio's Roman History (Volume I). Translated by E. Cary. London and Cambridge, Massachusetts: William Heinemann Ltd. and Harvard University Press.
• Dionysus of Halicarnassus (1960), The Roman Antiquities of Dionysus of Halicarnassus. Translated by E. Cary. Cambridge, Massachusetts and London: Harvard University Press and William Heinemann Ltd.
• Eutropius (1760), Eutropius: Epitome of the Roman History. London: Printed for W. Johnston et al.
• Livy (1971), The Early History of Rome. Translated by A. de Selincourt. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.
• Matyszak, P. (2008), Chronicle of the Roman Republic: The Rulers of Ancient Rome from Romulus to Augustus. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd.
• Orosius (1936), History Against the Pagans. Translated by I. W. Raymond. Available at Attalus.
• Robinson's History of the Roman Republic (TBA).
• Sextus Aurelius Victor (1825), Galerie Romaine, ou les Hommes Illustres de Rome et les Cesars. Translate by A. Caillot. Paris.
• Author unknown, Etymology Online (date unknown), Papyrus (online) (Accessed 26/07/2026).