Although Rome was saved, it was still very weakened as a result of the Gallic invasion. Some neighboring peoples wanted to take advantage of this, and the Latins decided to act first. Gathering a large army led by Livy Postumus, they marched on Rome. However, the Latins were close relatives of the Romans, and it was inconvenient for them to attack the weakened Romans without any reason. Then they found an excuse: supposedly, in order to create an even closer rapprochement with the Romans, they should send free-born girls and women to the Latins. The Latins hoped that if the Romans refused to comply with their demand, then they would legally be able to attack Rome, and if they agreed, then the Roman citizens in their hands would actually become hostages and provide the Latins with power over Rome. The Romans understood this and did not know what to do. Then one slave named Tutula (also called Philotis) advised dressing the slaves in the clothes of free women and girls and sending them to the enemy camp. And then, Tutula promised, she would give a sign to the Romans with a torch, they would suddenly attack the Latins and return their slaves. Since there was nothing else to do, the Romans had to agree with this advice.
And so the slaves in rich clothes and gold jewelry were transferred to the Latin camp. At night, Tutula climbed a tall fig tree and raised a lit torch, blocking it from behind with an outstretched cloak. When the Roman commanders saw the signal given, they immediately took their soldiers into the field and struck the sleeping and unsuspecting Latins. According to some stories, the slaves even managed to steal their swords from the Latins. As a result, they could not offer the slightest resistance. They were defeated and fled. And the slaves returned to Rome in triumph.
In memory of this event and in gratitude to the brave slaves, the Romans established a holiday during which the slaves, freed on this day from their usual work and dressed in magnificent clothes, walk in front of the city gates and then dine in the shade of the fig trees.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru