Alba Fucens

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Alba Fucens was an ancient Italic town located at 1,000 m (3,300 ft) elevation at the base of Monte Velino, approximately 6.5 km (4.0 mi) north of Avezzano, Abruzzo, central Italy. Its ruins can be found in the comune of Massa d'Albe. The city is largely visible after excavation and is probably the most important ancient site in Abruzzo.

It was originally a town of the Aequi, though on the frontier of the Marsi, but was occupied by a Latin colony in the late fourth century BC. Following the defeat of the Aequi in the closing phase of the Second Samnite Wars.With the intention of securing control of the Apennine corridor and facilitating Roman access toward the Adriatic while tightening their grip on Samnium, the Romans initially offered the Aequi civitas sine suffragio, a form of citizenship without voting rights. Following the Aequian rejection of this settlement, Rome conquered the Aequi and subsequently established two Latin colonies (Alba Fucens in 303 BC and Carsioli shortly thereafter between 302 and 298 BC). The initial colonial body, consisting of approximately 6,000 settlers, built a wall in the years immediately following their settlement. The colonial foundation...