We have learned the probable origin of the LATINS; how they settled
in Latium, and founded numerous towns. We shall now examine more
particularly that one of the Latin towns which was destined to outstrip
all her sisters in prosperity and power.
Fourteen miles from the mouth of the Tiber, the monotonous level of
the plain through which the river flows is broken by a cluster of
hills (Footnote: The seven hills of historic Rome were the Aventine,
Capitoline, Coelian, Esquiline (the highest, 218 feet), Palatine,
Quirinal, and Viminal. The Janiculum was on the other side of the Tiber,
and was held by the early Romans as a stronghold against the Etruscans.
It was connected with Rome by a wooden bridge (_Pons Sublicius_).)
rising to a considerable height, around one of which, the PALATINE,
first settled a tribe of Latins called RAMNES,--a name gradually changed
to ROMANS.
When this settlement was formed is not known. Tradition says in 753. It
may have been much earlier. These first settlers of Rome were possibly
a colony from Alba. In the early stages of their history they united
themselves with a Sabine colony that had settled north of them on the
QUIRINAL HILL. The name of TITIES was given to this new tribe. A third
tribe, named LUCERES, composed, possibly, of conquered Latins,
was afterwards added and settled upon the COELIAN HILL. All early
communities, to which the Romans were no exception, were composed of
several groups of FAMILIES. The Romans called these groups GENTES, and
a single group was called a GENS. All the members of a _gens_ were
descended from a common ancestor, after whom the _gens_ received its
name.
The head of each family was called PATER-FAMILIAS, and he had absolute
authority (Footnote: Called _patria potestas_.) over his household, even
in the matter of life and death.
The Roman government at first was conducted by these Fathers of the
families, with a KING, elected from their own number, and holding
office for life. His duties were to command the army, to perform certain
sacrifices (as high priest), and to preside over the assembly of the
Fathers of the families, which was called the SENATE, i. e. an assembly
of old men (_Senex_).
This body was probably originally composed of all the Fathers of the
families, but in historical times it was limited to THREE HUNDRED
members, holding life office, and appointed during the regal period by
the king. Later the appointment was made by the Consuls, still later by
the Censors, and for nearly one hundred years before Christ all persons
who had held certain offices were thereby vested with the right of seats
in the Senate. Hence, during this later period, the number of Senators
was greatly in excess of three hundred. The Senators, when addressed,
were called PATRES, or "Fathers," for they were Fathers of the families.
The Romans, as we saw above, were divided at first into three tribes,
_Ramnes_, _Tities_, and _Luceres_ Each tribe was subdivided into ten
districts called CURIAE, and each curia into ten clans called GENTES
(3 tribes, 30 curiae, and 300 gentes). Every Roman citizen,
therefore, belonged to a particular family, at the head of which was a
_pater-familias_; every family belonged to a particular _gens_, named
after a common ancestor; every gens belonged to a particular _curia_;
and every curia to a particular _tribe_.
We have learned that in the early government of Rome there was a king,
and a senate that advised the king. Besides this, there was an assembly
composed of all Roman citizens who could bear arms. (Footnote: We must
remember that at this time no one was a Roman citizen who did not
belong to some family. All other residents were either slaves or had no
political rights, i.e. had no voice in the government.) This assembly of
Roman citizens met, from time to time, in an enclosed space called the
COMITIUM, which means a place of gathering or coming together. This was
between the Palatine and Quirinal hills near the FORUM, or market-place.
This assembly itself was called the COMITIA CURIATA, i.e. an assembly
composed of the 30 curiae. This body alone had the power of changing the
existing laws; of declaring war or peace; and of confirming the election
of kings made by the senate. The voting in this assembly was taken by
each curia, and the majority of the curiae decided any question.