ABSTRACT
The third king of Rome-whether mythical, or a historical personage round whom myths accumulated, is not certain. His grandfather, Hostus Hostilius, was believed to have won a battle against the Sabines. Tullus was elected king after the death of Numa Pompilius, and proved a contrast to his predecessor, being active and belligerent as opposed to Numa’s peace and piety. After a battle of champions fought between the Horatii and Curiatii, he conquered Alba Longa. When the Alban king Mettius Fufetius, now his tributary, deserted his side during a battle against the cities of Veii and Fidenae, Tullus had him bound to two chariots facing in opposite directions; and he was torn apart by the horses. He then forced the people of Alba to come and live in Rome, and razed their former city to the ground. The population of Rome was thus doubled, and Tullus felt himself strong enough to declare war on the Sabines, over whom he won a notable victory. A shower of stones then fell on the Alban Mount, and a festival was inaugurated to expiate the abandonment of Alba’s shrines.
