Ancus Marcius

The Latins raided Roman territory, so Ancus Marcius revived the fetial law that Numa had established. He ordered the Romans to seek redress before they took up arms. A fetial priest covered his head with a woollen veil and carried sacred herbs. He went to the Latin boundary with a spear and three or more adult men as witnesses.

At the boundary, the priest called Jupiter and the boundary gods to hear him. He declared that he came as the public messenger of the Roman people, with a just and lawful claim. He stated the Roman demands and asked the Latins to return what they had taken. He called Jupiter to witness that he sought nothing unjustly or impiously. He asked that he never return to his fatherland if his claim had been wrong.

He repeated the demand at the boundary, to the first man who met him, at the city gate, and in the market-place. When the Latins did not meet the demand, thirty-three customary days passed. At the end of that time, he called Jupiter, Janus Quirinus, and all the heavenly, earthly, and underworld gods to hear him. He declared that the Latin people were unjust and had failed to provide rightful reparation. He then said that the Roman elders would decide how Rome would secure its due.

The Roman people and their senate approved the war against the Ancient Latins. The priest named the Latin people and declared that Rome made war upon them. He then hurled the spear across the Latin boundary. Ancus declared war through the law of Numa, and the Romans followed this procedure thereafter.