Research Paper On Romulus And Remus

The legend of Romulus and Remus has been passed down for generations. It is a story Roman mothers would tell their children as they lie down for bed. It is a story of blood and betrayal, and the loss of several lives. It is the story of two brothers, as they fought to reclaim their right to the throne of Alba Longa. The story of Rome began with Amulius, Romulus and Remus’ great uncle. Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, faced many hardships in their youth. Raised by wolves, Romulus and Remus had several characteristics that could be attributed to their feral youth. Despite their feral upbringing, Romulus and Remus’ childhood led them to establish the city of Rome and lay the foundation of an empire.

The childhood of Romulus and Remus

was filled with deceit and betrayal. Betraying his brother, Amulius, great-uncle to Romulus and Remus, overthrew his brother Numitor. Amulius forced Numitor’s daughter Rhea to become a vestal virgin, ensuring that an heir would never be born.

Despite his wishes, Rhea was impregnated by Mars, the god of war. Giving birth to twins, Rhea named them Romulus and Remus. In order to assure his place on the throne, Amulius attempted to have the young twins assassinated. Hired assassins were under orders to throw the twins into the Tiber river. Filled with pity, the mercenaries put the boys in baskets and placed them in the Tiber river. “The boys floated downstream, coming ashore near a sacred fig tree. A she-wolf and a woodpecker—creatures sacred to Mars—fed the twins and kept them alive until a shepherd found them (Wickersham).” After the twins were taken in by the shepherd, they were given an education and taught manners. Even with the manners that were taught by the shepherd and his wife, wolfish behaviors could still be seen in their mannerisms. The twins soon began entwining themselves into local conflicts. Leading a

group of young men on a cattle raid, Romulus and Remus’ true identity was soon discovered. Captured, the twins were brought in for questioning by Numitor. “While questioning the young man, Numitor realized that Remus was his grandson (Wickersham).” After learning their true identity, the twins set out to kill Amulius, and restore their grandfather to the throne. “Two groups of men, one led by Romulus, the other by Remus, attacked and killed King Amulius, after which Numitor called a meeting of the local people (Romulus and the Founding of Rome).” As they spoke with the people, Romulus and Remus elucidated the matter of who the rightful king was. Unanimously, the citizens placed Numitor on the throne once again.
Rome was built on the a manifold of lives. Fighting over who would be the sole ruler of Rome, Romulus and Remus determined that the gods would choose. “An omen determined that Romulus should be the founder of the new city (Wickersham).” Remus received the first sign of six vultures, but Romulus soon saw double the amount of birds, reigning Romulus the king. Filled with anger, Remus’s feral instinct took over and a battle ensued, leaving Romulus the victor and king. “Romulus killed Remus and became king of the new city, which was named “Rome” after him.” (Chandler, Fiona, Jane Bingham, and Sam Taplin 11)
Rome became the city of outcasts and refugees; the city of wandering souls.” “Here fled for refuge all the [outcasts] from the neighboring peoples, some free, some slaves, and all of them wanting nothing more than a fresh start (Qtd. Romulus and the Founding of Rome).” Rome lacked one thing, women. Despite the flow of people arriving in Rome, women were a scarcity. In order to populate his city with women, Romulus invited the Sabine people to a festival. “While the Sabine men were enjoying themselves, the Romans seized the Sabine maidens, drove the men from the city, and married their women (Romulus and Remus).” The Sabine people quickly took up arms against Rome. As war ensued, the Sabine women gathered together to put a stop to the war. “They pleaded with the warring men to stop, for they could not bear to see their fathers and husbands killing one another (Romulus and Remus). As the war came to a close, the Roman and Sabine people formulated a treaty. Two kingdoms became one, ruled by both Tatius, the Sabine king, and Romulus.
Romulus developed a system of hierarchy in Rome. Rome was divided into three tribes: Latins, Sabines, and Luceres (Wickersham). Each tribe elected a tribune. The tribunes were leaders of the tribes during war, and performed sacrifices to the gods (Wickersham). Each tribe divided into ten curiae to from the Comitia Curiata, and each curiae was divided into ten gentes, which provided the basis for the nomen in the Roman naming convention (Wickersham).
Romulus then divided his fighting men into regiments of 3000 infantry and 300 cavalry, which he called “legions” (Romulus and Remus). With the development of the cavalry and legion, Rome had its first army. “From the rest of the populace he selected one hundred of the most noble and wealthy fathers to serve as his council. He called these men Patricians: they were fathers of Rome, not only because they cared for their own legitimate citizen-sons but because they had a fatherly care for Rome and all its people (Romulus and Remus).” With the development of the hierarchal system, Rome soon became a complex city, soon to develop into an empire.
Tatius and Romulus ruled unitedly for five years.

On the fifth year, Tatius betrayed Romulus and the city of Rome. “Tatius sheltered some allies who had illegally plundered the Lavinians, and murdered ambassadors sent to seek justice (Romulus and Remus).” By order of Romulus and the Senate, Tatius was ordered to go to Lavinium and repent to the gods. As Tatius was repenting to the gods, he was assassinated. Some believe it was perhaps perpetrated by Romulus (Rome Founded). The death of Romulus is clouded in mystery. As the legend is told, a man named Proculus saw Romulus at he ascended into the heavens, “Caught up into heaven in his arms and vestments, and heard him, as he ascended cry out that they should hereafter style him by the name of Quirinus (Romulus and Remus).” Some believe that he disappeared into a storm or whirl wind (Romulus and Remus). Another rumor stated that Romulus was killed in order for the senate to have supreme control of the government (Romulus and

Remus).
Despite their struggles in their youth, Romulus and Remus’ childhood led them to establish the city of Rome and lay the foundation of an empire. Romulus and Remus faced several challengers in their life. Their great-uncle usurped the throne, and attempted to have them assassinated. Through the death of Remus, Romulus became the sole king of Rome. The war of the Sabine people helped shape the founding families of Rome, which would help expand the Roman Empire. The story of Romulus and Remus and their journey to establish the Roman Empire is a legend that was told for generations in Roman families.