Latins
Encyclopedia : L : LA : LAT : Latins
- For the other uses, see Latin (disambiguation).
The
Latins were an
ancient Italic people of
Latium Vetus (Old Latium), who migrated to the area in the 8th or 9th centuries B.C. from the north. Although they lived in independent
city-states, the Latins had a common language (
Latin), common religious beliefs and a close sense of kinship, expressed in the myth that they were all descendants of
Latinus, the father-in-law of
Aeneas. Latinus was worshipped as
Jupiter Latiaris on Mons Albanus (Monte Cavo) during an annual festival that was attended by all Latins, including the
Romans. The Latin cities extended common right to residence and trade to one another. Rome's territorial ambitions united the rest of the Latins against it in
341 BC, but the final victory was on Rome's side in
338 BC. Consequently some of the Latin states were incorporated within the Roman state, and their inhabitants were given full
Roman citizenship. Others became Roman allies and enjoyed certain privileges.
Gradually, with the spread of Roman power throughout
Italy, 'Latin' ceased to be an ethnic term and became a legal category.
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