Battle of Mons Algidus
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The Battle of Mons Algidus was fought in 458 BC (or 457 BC) between the Roman Republic and Aequi near Mons Algidus, Latium. The Roman dictator Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus turned a Roman defeat into an important victory.
Background
The government of Rome was already shared between the original Romans, Latin and Sabine peoples. For example, the Quinctia gens who had a great impact on Roman public life during that time was of Latin origin. Hernici were allied to Rome; the Etruscans were not yet involved against the Romans, but Veius, very close to Rome.The greatest enemies of Rome were Volsci and Aequi. The Volsci were from the territory west of Rome. The Aequi latters from east would attack, whether allied or alone, Rome and its surroundings. In particular, the Aequi had moved from the Apennine Mountains towards Tusculum (Frascati), and with their operations they disturbed the commercial communications along the Via Latina and the Roman country.
Within Rome the situation was troublesome. There were contrasts between patricians and plebians. During this time there was also a revolt by slaves, which had held for long time the Campidoglio, along with the most important temples of Rome. It was during this revolt that consul Valerius Publicola had died. The revolt only ended only with the arrival of an army from Tusculum, lead by Tusculan dicator Lucius Mamilius. Cincinnatus was appointed the new consul to replace Publicola.
In 459 BC, the Aequi occupied Tusculum. In response to the threat, the Romans decided to send an army to help the allied city, under the command of consul Lucius Cornelius Maluginensis. In addition, the consul Fabius Vibulanus, who was at that point besieging Antium, attacked Tusculum for several months. In the end, the Tusculans freed their city, and Vibulanus killed many Aequi near Mons Algidus.
In 458 BC, the Aequi broke the truce. They attacked Tusculum again, and camped near Mons Algidus; at the same time, a Sabinian army moved against Rome. Two armies were formed in haste - consul Gaius Nautius Rutilus planned to move against the Aequi territories, while consul Lucius Minucius Esquilinus Augurinus planned to move against the Aequi camped near Mons Algidus (Livy, Ab Urbe condita, III, 25).
Minucius did not attack the Aequi, who by nightfall had started to build a fortification all around the Roman camp (ibid, III, 26). Since even Nautius did not know how to handle the situation, Cincinnatus was elected dictator (ibid, III, 26).
The battle
Cincinnatus choose his magister equitum, and levied in Campus Martius each available Roman, requiring them to bring food for five days and twelve valli. The vallus was the pole brought by each Roman soldier, and used to build a wall all around the camp to protect it; a requirement of twelve valli instead of one was unusual.
The Roman army arrived at Mons Algidus by night. Cincinnatus signalled to the besieged Romans that he had arrived, then ordered his men to built a wall all around the Aequi. The Aequi attacked Cincinnatus, but they were soon obliged to turn and face the Romans of Minucius, who had left their camp to reach their companions. At dawn, the wall around the Aequi was completed; Cincinnatus ordered his men, who had marched and worked for a whole day without rest, to attack the Aequi within the wall. The Aequi, unable to sustain a double attack, surrendered. Cincinnatus let them go (ibid, III, 28),
Aftermath
The Aequi leaders were kept prisoners in Rome. The spoils of the sacking of the Aequi camp was distributed among Cincinnatus' men, while the Romans fighting under Minucius were scolded and Minucius himself deposed.Cincinnatus received a Roman triumph, while the Tusculan consul Lucius Mamilius received the Roman citizenship. Having been elected dictator for six months, Cincinnatus resigned after only sixteen days (ibid, III, 29).
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