Anco Marcio

Anco Marcio, in Latin Ancus Martius (reigned c. 641 BC–c. 617 BC) was the last king of Sabine origin, grandson of the second king, Numa Pompilius, on his maternal side.

Later, he decided to appoint Tarquinio Prisco as tutor or instructor of his children. Anco Marcio would be remembered as one of the great kings of Rome. His mother was Pompilia and his father was Numa Marcio. He presents some characteristic elements of Romulo and others of Numa; of the first, his policy of conquest, which meant the extension of Rome's rule over a wide territory and the demographic growth of the city.; of the second, a great respect and dedication towards the religious institutions, considering him as the regulator of the pontifical right. According to Livio, he continued the conquest of Latium, and installed a certain number of Latinos in Rome, on the Aventine hill, which was the nucleus of the plebeian class, without the right of representation in the Senate. He legalized warrior rites.

In public works, he carried out numerous projects. He fortified the Janiculum by joining it to the city by including it within its walls, he built a wooden bridge over the Tiber River, the Sublician Bridge (Pons Sublicius); founded the port of Ostia, to protect the Tiber estuary; he built some salt mines; he erected the first prison in Rome, to lock up the accused until he decided what to do with them (until then, the usual punishment was banishment).

He was preceded by Tulio Hostilio, and succeeded by Lucio Tarquinio Priscus.