The Battle of Fidenae was fought in 437 BC between the Roman Republic, led by the dictator Mamercus Aemilius Mamercinus, and the combined forces of Fidenae and Veii, led by Lars Tolumnius.

Background

In 438 BC, the Roman colony of Fidenae revolted against the Roman Republic and allied itself instead with Veii. In response, the Senate sent four envoys to Fidenae (

Tullus Cloelius Tullus Cloelius or Cluilius, called Cloelius Tullus in some sources, was a Roman envoy to Fidenae. He and his fellow envoys Gaius Fulcinius, Spurius Antius, and Lucius Roscius were dispatched in the year 438 B.C., tasked with investigating the re ...

Gaius Fulcinius Gaius Fulcinius (died 437 BC) was a Roman emissary dispatched to the colony of Fidenae. His murder led to the resumption of war against Veii, and the eventual capture of Fidenae. Biography By the second half of the 5th century BC, the former Roman ...

, Spurius Antius, and

Lucius Roscius Lucius Roscius was one of four Roman envoys sent to Fidenae in 438 BC after it revolted against Roman rule and allied itself with the Etruscan city state of Veii. He, and the three other Roman emissaries, were murdered on the orders of the King of V ...

) in order to inquire into the Fidenate's motives. However, all four of these envoys were put to death on Tolumnius' orders. It is said that the Fidenates mistook a lucky dice roll by Tolumnius as an order to kill the envoys, but the historian Livy doubts the legitimacy of this story, suggesting that it was the intention of Tolumnius to have the Fidenates kill the Romans themselves in order to sow division between the two cities. Livy, ''Ab Urbe Condita'' 4.17

Battle of the Anio River

Consequently, the consul Lucius Sergius Fidenas was first sent to Fidenae. He intercepted the combined forces of Fidenae and Veii on the southern shores of the

Anio River The Aniene (; la, Aniō), formerly known as the Teverone, is a river in Lazio, Italy. It originates in the Apennines at Trevi nel Lazio and flows westward past Subiaco, Vicovaro, and Tivoli to join the Tiber in northern Rome. It formed the pri ...

. The ensuing battle was both bloody and indecisive, but it ultimately resulted in a Roman victory. This victory, however, was overshadowed by the great loss of life required to obtain it.

Battle of Fidenae

After the initial engagement by the consul, Mamercus Aemilius Mamercinus was appointed as dictator, and Lucius Quinctius L. f. L. n. Cincinnatus as his ''

magister equitum The , in English Master of the Horse or Master of the Cavalry, was a Roman magistrate appointed as lieutenant to a dictator. His nominal function was to serve as commander of the Roman cavalry in time of war, but just as a dictator could be nomi ...

''. The dictator appointed Titus Quinctius Capitolinus Barbatus and Marcus Fabius Vibulanus as his lieutenant-generals. Following the appointment of a dictator, the enemy moved back to the northern shores of the Anio River and into the hills between Fidenae and the river. It was not until the Faliscians came to their aid that they moved back to Fidenae, encamping outside its walls. The dictator crossed the Anio and began in the direction of Fidenae. Meanwhile, the Faliscians began to dispute with the Fidenates and Veientes, who insisted that the battle be prolonged. However, Tolumnius succumbed, not wishing to lose the support of the Faliscians. The three armies lined up and waited for the Romans to engage first. The cavalry, led by Quinctius, was the first to advance, followed by the infantry. The enemy cavalry, led by Tolumnius himself, was the most resistant among the enemy, but once Tolumnius was unhorsed and killed by Aulus Cornelius Cossus, the enemy began to lose morale. The cavalry was routed, and the Romans advanced into the enemy camp. Prior to the battle, Tolumnius had sent a detachment around the nearby hills in order to sabotage the Roman camp behind their lines. The camp was successfully defended by the lieutenant-general Marcus Fabius Vibulanus.

Aftermath

Mamercinus returned to Rome in triumph, during which Cossus was also honored for having slain the Etruscan king. The spoils were offered at the Temple of Jupiter Feretrius, near those of

Romulus Romulus () was the legendary foundation of Rome, founder and King of Rome, first king of Ancient Rome, Rome. Various traditions attribute the establishment of many of Rome's oldest legal, political, religious, and social institutions to Romulus ...

.Livy, ''Ab Urbe Condita'' 4.20 Fidenae was captured by the dictator

Quintus Servilius Priscus Structus Fidenas Quintus Servilius Priscus Fidenas (prior to 463 BC390 BC) was a political figure and military leader in the Roman Republic who served as dictator in 435 BC and in 418 BC. Family Servilius belonged to the large and influential Servilia gens and ...

two years later.

References

{{Etruscans 437 BC Fidenae Fidenae 5th century BC in the Roman Republic 430s BC conflicts