Ankh Marcius - according to legend, the 4th king of Ancient Rome. Ruled 640-616 BC. e. Grandson of Numa Pompilius on his mother's side.
The name Anca Marcia means “servant of Mars,” which largely determined his fate. The king was similar in wisdom and peaceful disposition to his grandfather. He patronized agriculture, crafts and trade. However, Rome's neighbors, accustomed to seeing the Romans as brave conquerors, perceived his peacefulness as weakness. Tribes of Latins and Sabines, Etruscans and Volscians rose against Rome. Ancus Marcius successfully started the war, took the cities of Politorium, Tellen and Ficani, and defeated the enemy army at Medullia. The Latin population of all these cities was resettled on the Aventine Hill, becoming the ancestor of the plebeian class. Thus, Rome's possessions were expanded to the very mouth of the Tiber. Then Ancus Marcius moved towards the Volscians, who were marching on Rome in several detachments. He defeated them and with a strong army besieged their capital, Velitra. The Volscians were forced to enter into an offensive and defensive alliance with Rome. Ancus Marcius captured the Etruscan cities of Veii and Fidena.
Under Anca Marcius, the future king of Rome, Tarquinius Priscus, arrived in Rome and received an honorable reception. For his abilities, he received the position of chief of cavalry and participated in the war against the Sabines.
Ancus Marcius is considered the founder of the harbor and salt mines of Ostia, located at the mouth of the Tiber. To protect Rome from Etruscan attacks, he fortified the Janiculum fortress on the other side of the Tiber, and built the first wooden bridge across the Tiber. He also built a prison at the foot of the Capitol.
According to some historians, Ancus Marcius and Numa Pompilius are one and the same person. This is indicated by the second name of Anca Marcius - Numa Marcius. This dichotomy was made to emphasize Numa's role as a bridge builder.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru