Romulus

Numitor asked Romulus and Remus to build another city near Alba Longa after he regained his throne. Alba Longa had prospered and expanded under his rule, and the new city would ease its overcrowding. The twins chose the northern edge of the Latium plain, where a cluster of low hills stood. They then argued over which brother would rule the city and give it his name.

Neither twin could claim seniority, so they agreed to let the gods decide. Each brother took his place on a hill and waited for a sign from the gods of the countryside. Remus received the first sign. Six vultures appeared to him, and his followers announced what they had seen. Soon afterwards, twice that number appeared to Romulus. His followers declared that the greater sign had favoured him.

The brothers and their followers disputed the meaning of the signs. Romulus claimed the right to govern and chose the Palatine Hill for the city. He ordered an earthen wall to be built around it, and the builders raised the wall as the first boundary of the settlement. Remus treated the wall as no threat and jumped over it to show his contempt for his brother's work. Romulus became enraged and killed him. He then warned Remus's followers that anyone else who jumped over the wall would suffer the same fate.

Romulus was proclaimed king soon afterwards. A city was built on the Palatine Hill, where the gods had favoured the beginning of the city. It was named Rome in honour of Romulus.

The battle raged on the ground between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, and many men on both sides fell. Then the Sabine women who had earlier been seized ran into the fighting. They moved among the armies and the dead, crying out to the Romans and the Sabines. They called upon their husbands on one side and their fathers and brothers on the other.

Hersilia, Romulus's new wife, joined the women and went between the soldiers. The women declared that they could not watch their fathers, brothers, and husbands destroy one another. They reminded the fighters that the war had divided their own families. Their cries brought sorrow and pity to both sides. The Roman and Sabine fighters stopped attacking and fell back, leaving space for the women between the armies.

The women demanded that the two sides negotiate a treaty. They asked the Romans and Sabines to end the quarrel that had caused the battle. Romulus and the Sabines accepted this demand, and the fighting ended. The Romans and Sabines then patched up their differences and made peace. Titus Tatius, one of the Sabine kings, ruled Rome jointly with Romulus. The two peoples became united under their shared rule, and the women remained connected to both sides of the new settlement.

Romulus staged the Consualia and announced a great festival in Rome. He promised athletic games and theatrical performances. He sent word to the people of several neighbouring towns, including the Sabines, and invited them to attend with their families. The visitors came to see the celebrations and gathered among the Romans.

Romulus had founded a new city, but most of its first settlers were men. He had already opened Rome as a place of asylum for fugitives and outcasts from neighbouring peoples. Some were free and some were slaves, and all sought a fresh start. Their arrival increased the city's strength, but Rome could not grow unless its men found wives and began families. Romulus therefore waited for a chance to obtain women for the settlement.

When the festival reached its height, Romulus gave the signal. The Roman men rose and seized the unmarried Sabine women. Each man carried off the woman he had chosen. The women cried out, while their fathers, brothers, and husbands resisted the Romans. The seizure brought anger to the neighbouring peoples and led to conflict between Rome and the Sabines.

The fighting began after the women had been taken. Their families demanded their return, and the Romans defended the seizure. The women later stood between the two sides. They said that they could not watch their fathers, brothers, and husbands destroy one another. They demanded a treaty between the Romans and the Sabines. Both sides accepted the demand and ended the fighting. The Romans and Sabines joined together, and Titus Tatius, one of the Sabine kings, ruled Rome jointly with Romulus.