ch. 521.52 [Note] After the Latins had reassembled in council and had been
commended by Tarquin for having inflicted on Turnus a punishment befitting his
revolutionary and murderous designs, Tarquin addressed them as follows: It was in his
power to exercise a long-established right, since, as all the Latins traced their origin to
Alba, they were included in the treaty made by Tullus under which the whole of the Alban
State with its colonies passed under the suzerainty of Rome. He thought, however, that it
would be more advantageous for all parties if that treaty were renewed, so that the Latins
could enjoy a share in the prosperity of the Roman people, instead of always looking out
for, or actually suffering, the demolition of their towns and the devastation of their fields,
as happened in the reign of Ancus and afterwards whilst his own father was on the throne.
The Latins were persuaded without much difficulty, although by that treaty Rome was the
predominant State, for they saw that the heads of the Latin League were giving their
adhesion to the king, and Turnus afforded a present example of the danger incurred by any
one who opposed the king's wishes. So the treaty was renewed, and orders were issued
for the juniors [Note] amongst the Latins to muster under arms , in accordance with the
treaty, on a given day, at the Grove of Ferentina. In compliance with the order contingents
assembled from all the thirty towns, and with a view to depriving them of their own general
or a separate command, or distinctive standards, he formed one Latin and one Roman
century into a maniple, thereby making one unit out of the two, whilst he doubled the
strength of the maniples, and placed a centurion over each half.
