Lavinium&Latin League

[jwei...@pearl.tufts.edu]

Hi. Would anyone happen to know if, during the fifth century B.C., Lavinium
was a member of the Latin League? Rome defeated Lavinium @ Lake Regillus
(ca.496), but I'm not sure whether the Latin League had been founded yet.
Thanx--I've got a test this Friday.

Jesse

[andrew m. riggsby]

In article <1994Feb23...@pearl.tufts.edu> ,

jwei...@pearl.tufts.edu writes:
> Hi. Would anyone happen to know if, during the fifth century B.C.,
Lavinium
> was a member of the Latin League? Rome defeated Lavinium @ Lake
Regillus
> (ca.496), but I'm not sure whether the Latin League had been founded
yet.

I had, and Lavinium was part of it. In fact, it was the Latins as a
whole that the Romans defeated (though apparently not decisively) at Lake
Regillus (Livy 2.19-20).

[Paul F. Marty]

jwei...@pearl.tufts.edu writes:

>Jesse

First of all, to answer your question: Yes, Lavinium was a member (a very
important member) of the Latin League. However, the question of Rome's
relations with the Latins is extremely complicated. Please note the
following points:

1) Contrary to popular belief, ROME was a member of the latin league. Please
remember that during the sixth century (and fifth) Rome was one of many
tiny communities in Latium - no more important than any other.

2) The Battle of Lake Regillus is unimportant and probably fictitious. What is
important is that at this time, Rome and the rest of the Latins formed a
treaty (foedus Cassianum) in which Rome and the other Latins are equal.

3) No matter what Livy might say, Rome exerted no hegemonial control over the
rest of the Latin League until the Latin Revolt of 341-338. What she did
do, however, was to slowly pervert the equal nature of the treaty, probably
starting from the conquest of Veii, which caused the Latins to try to gain
their freedom several times during the fourth century.

Now, this is a very cursory explanation - but it should help you on your test.

Many modern scholars have written on this. See, in particular, :
* Alfoldi. Early Rome and the Latins
* Ogilvie. Early Rome and the Etruscans
* Salmon. "Rome and the Latins" (Phoenix 1953)
* Toynbee. Hannibal's Legacy.
And follow their references.

Good Luck,
Paul.

[Paul F. Marty]

Just a followup to the list of refs in my previous article.

When dealing with Lavinium, don't forget Galinsky's book: Aeneas, Sicily, and
Rome.

Paul.

[Absalom on Drugs]

jwei...@pearl.tufts.edu writes:

>Hi. Would anyone happen to know if, during the fifth century B.C., Lavinium
>was a member of the Latin League? Rome defeated Lavinium @ Lake Regillus
>(ca.496), but I'm not sure whether the Latin League had been founded yet.

What was the score? ;)

Absalom on Drugs