TULLUS HOSTILIUS (672 - 640 BC.)
The Third Legendary King Of Rome.

Family of Tullus: During the reign of Romulus, a Sabine and a Roman army marched towards each other on the battle field. Before the two armies could begin battle, a single Roman rushed ahead and engaged with a Sabine warrior who had similar ideas. The Roman was Hostius Hostilius, the paternal grandfather of Tullus Hostilius. Although Hostius Hostilius was held up as a model of bravery, neither he, nor the Romans won.


Tullus is elected as king.
At the death of Romulus successor, Numa Pompilius , Tullus was voted onto the throne. Numa Popmilius was renown for his peaceful nature and his codification of the Roman religious practices. Little is known of Tullus early life other than the fact that various, second hand sources of the ancient world speak of him with the same reverential air as they do of Romulus. Scholars believe that much of Tullus’ early history has been altered to fit into a set Roman Code or pattern. Of all seven kings of Rome only Romulus and Tullus Hostilius can truly be called Roman. Their lives and deaths are shrouded by legends and myths. Numa Pompilus was Sabine in origins and the last four kings of Rome were Etruscans of the Tarquini family. Tullus life parallels that of Romulus in so much as they were both raised by honest shepherds, they both carry on the ongoing wars with Fidenae and Veii, they both double the number of inhabitants in the city of Rome, they both organised the Roman army and their deaths are shrouded in mystery while storms raged above them.


Military Campaigns of Tullus
Perhaps the most important thing about Tullus reign is that for the first time the Romans extended their territory beyond their city walls. The much documented sack of Alba Longa, his other conquests pushed back the boundaries of Rome. Tullus waged several wars during his reign and went to war against Alba Longa, Fidenae and the Veientines. He tried at first to treat the Albans as allies, however after an act of treachery by their leader, Mettius Fufetius, he swiftly marched against them. After storming the city of Alba Longa, Tullus, razed their city and absorbed what was left of the Alban people into Rome, thereby doubling the population of Rome. Mettius Fufetius, was captured and torn apart by horses for his treachery. An important thing to note is the absorption of the Alban nobles to the Senate of Rome. It is unknown if this was done to pacify the surviving Alban citizenry, maintain ties with their ancient mother city or to simply enlarge Rome as Livy states. The distinctive event of this reign is the destruction of Alba, which may be regarded as an historical fact. But when and by whom it was destroyed is uncertain, though probably at a later date, by the Latins, and not by the Romans, who would have regarded as impious the destruction of their traditional mother-country. However the absorption of the Alban noble families into the senate may indicate that Alba Longa was indeed taken by Tullus and that by absorbing them he also wanted to enforce both Roman dominance but retain close ties with Rome’s legendary past. Livy also states that the Curia Hostilia was built by Tullus Hostilius for his new Alban senators to meet. What is certain though is that they new Romano-Alban senators fielded a large body of Cavalry for Tullus Hostilius several years later and this cavalry was instrumental in the defeat of the Sabines at Silvia Malitiosa. Tullus also defeated the people of Fidenae, their allies Etruscan, Veientine, allies at the Anio River.


Publius Horatius
During the Alban campaign one man made a name for himself and his gens. Publius Horatius. During the fighting, one of Tullus' men, named Publius Horatius, challenged three Alban champions against three Roman warriors. Two of Horatius' companions were killed in the fighting. The three Albans were wounded, but Horatius was outnumbered three to one. The three Albans pursued Horatius. Since the three Albans ran at different speed, it gave Horatius to stop and fight one Alban warrior at a time. Each time, Horatius would stop and face, then kill an Alban before running again. Only Horatius survived. When Horatius returned home in triumph, his sister saw her brother holding the clothes of her Alban betrothed. When she mourned for her betrothed's death, Horatius killed her for being unpatriotic. Horatius was acquitted for killing his sister


Death of Tullus
The death of Tullus Hostilius is similar to the death of Romulus. Both are shrouded by mystery and omens. In the final year of Tullus reign a terrible pestilence swept through the city. Romano-Albans regarded it as a divine punishment for Tullus’ impiety and prideful arrogance. Tullus also fell ill to this strange sickness but when he tried to follow the officiating rites at the temple Jupiter Elicius he was struck down by a bolt of lightening. Once again a Roman king’s death was surrounded in mystery. Modern scholars believe that this death was similar to Romulus’ death. Both Tullus and Romulus had made too many enemies and they conspired to have them both killed. Tullus was succeeded on the throne by Ancus Marcius.


Descendants:
Though we have no formal, written records that speak of Tullus Hostilius descendants, it is probable that they did survive in the Republic and the family gens Hostilius attained the consulship, though with little renown several times.





Virgil on Tullus:
He shall found Rome anew -- from mean estate
In lowly Cures led to mightier sway.
But after him arises one whose reign
Shall wake the land from slumber: Tullus then
Shall stir slack chiefs to battle, rallying
His hosts which had forgot what triumphs be.
Him boastful Ancus follows hard upon


Aeneid Book 6
Tacitus on Tullus: "Romulus governed us as he pleased; then Numa united our people by religious ties and a constitution of divine origin, to which some additions were made by Tullus and Ancus. But Servius Tullius was our chief legislator to whose laws even kings were to be subject."
Tacitus Bk 3 Ch. 26


Per L'Italiani:



Tullio Ostilio

(672 a.c. - 640 a.c.)



Dopo il sabino Numa Pompilio, venne eletto il latino Tullo Ostilio, secondo la regola dell’alternanza. Tanto pacifico fu il sabino, tanto guerriero si rilevò il terzo re di Roma e lo dimostrò immediatamente dichiarando guerra alla vicina Alba Longa.


Le due città, pur ai ferri corti, secondo la leggenda, presero una decisione molto particolare per decidere le sorti del conflitto, una decisione che aveva lo scopo di mantenere intatti i propri eserciti di fronte alla sempre presente minaccia etrusca.


La leggenda è quella della sfida tra tre gemelli romani, gli Orazi, e tre gemelli albani, i Curiazi. La supremazia tra le due più importanti città latine sarebbe stata decisa da questo singolare scontro che si tenne in una pianura a sud di Roma, alla presenza dei due popoli trepidanti.


Lo scontro, e quindi la sorte della guerra, si decise a favore dei Romani.


Andando oltre questa nobile leggenda, è certo che Tullo Ostilio fece radere al suolo Alba Longa, uccidendone il re Mezio Fufezio.


Il motivo di tanta rabbia fu l’indecisione dello stesso re albano che, sollecitato ad unirsi a Roma nella guerra contro Fidene e Veio, continuava a temporeggiare. Il re romano fece allora legare i piedi di Mezio a due carri e poi lanciò i cavalli in direzioni opposte. Prima di dare il via ai cavalli pronunciò la frase: “Tu eri diviso tra Roma e Fidene, adesso io divido te”. Tutti gli abitanti di Alba furono deportati a Roma ed ammassati sul monte Celio.


I romani accolsero di buon grado la distruzione della “sorella” Alba Longa anche perché furono convinti dell’ineluttabilità della cosa che avrebbe permesso a Roma di seguire il suo magnifico destino; del resto la distruzione di Troia aveva permesso la nascita di Alba Longa, come la distruzione di quest’ultima avrebbe ora permesso a Roma di diventare una grande potenza.


Gli dei non sembrarono molto contenti dell’operato di Tullo Ostilio e colpirono Roma con una pestilenza, ma il re non si scoraggiò e continuò a guerreggiare, conquistando anche Veio.


Dopo aver governato per trentadue anni, il re guerriero morì, colpito da un fulmine mentre celebrava un rito sacro per ingraziarsi Giove.