Rome (Spithridates' Axe)

The Romans were the inhabitants of the Latin city of Rome.

Founding of Rome and the monarchy
According to local legends Rome was founded in 754 BCE by Romulus, who became Rome's first king. Immediately after its founding the city had to fight many wars against surrounding Latin cities and tribes like Alba Longa and the Sabinians. Rome was ruled by kings, the last four of them being Etruscans, until the Romans revolted against the last king Tarquinius Superbus in 510 BCE.

The Republic
After deposing the last Etruscan king Brutus, the leader of the revolt, installed a republic governed by two consuls who were in power for only one year each. A senate formed by the fathers of significant families had to judge the legislation proposed by the consuls. In the meanwhile Rome still had to fight neighbouring tribes and the Etruscans. Rome was sacked in 400 BC by Brennus, king of the Boii Celts, but survived it. Rome came to rule most of Latium and a number of areas throughout Italy while many area's not directly under their rule were loyal to the Romans.

Samnite Wars and fall of Rome
Rome was becoming one of the most powerful states in Italy and had a reasonable chance of uniting all of the Italian peninsula under its rule. The Samnite tribes in the south of Italy, north of Megale Hellas, united to fight the Romans. Both the Romans and the Samnites were expanding their territory and thus came into conflict with eachother. At first Rome seemed to be on the winning hand until Roman armies attempted to take the Greek colony of Neapolis in 326 BCE. This turned out to be a big mistake for it caused the recently restored Delian League to come to Neapolis' aid. When the Samnites saw a large Greek force coming to fight the same enemy, general Gaius Pontius proposed to the Greek troops to join forces to drive the Romans back. What followed was a succesful campaign of combined Greek and Samnite troops winning battle after battle, eventually sacking and occupying Rome in 321 BCE.

Rome after the fall
After being sacked by Pontius, Rome remained a significant city in the new Samnite Empire. Rome kept the right to rule itself in local affairs but had to answer to the Pontian dynasty. Rome became an important trade port in Italy but never again became an indepedent state with military ambitions.