During the regal period the Volsci lived in the upper Liris Valley, west of the endorheic Lake Fucine (drained in AD 1875). Pressure from other tribes in Central Italy forced them westwards and the collapse of Etruscan power drew them towards the coastal plain where they took Cora and Pometia by 495 BC, with Antium and Velitrae falling shortly afterwards.
Livy’s and Dionysius’ accounts of the many campaigns by the Volscians and Aequians are mostly pure invention, but the main thrusts of the attacks can be perceived. The Aequians attacked the northern side of the Alban Hills and gained a footing on Mount Algidus, from where they made repeated attacks on the Latins. The Volscians from their secure position on the southern side of the hills, sometimes in concert with the Aequians, attacked the Latin cities up to Rome itself.
Traditional stories of this period deserve mention. Typical is that of Gaius 01Marcius Coriolanus, who earned his name for his heroism during an attack on the Volscian town of Corioli in 493 BC. Later, he opposed the distribution of grain to the common people and was exiled on a charge of wanting to become a tyrant. He went to the Volsci and became their leader in the war against Rome. After some successful campaigns he led his forces to the gates of Rome. The Senate sent envoys to sue for peace, but Coriolanus sent them back empty-handed. His mother, wife and two small sons came out to meet him and Coriolanus was shamed into retreat. Livy says that he lived a long life pining for his home city; Plutarch (c.46-120) says that he was executed by the Volsci.
01Quinctius Capitolinus (fl.471-439 BC) was a statesman who may have held a series of consulships between 471 and 439 BC, won a triumph in 468 BC for capturing Antium, and with the help of Latin troops rescued 01Furius Medullinus Fusus (cos.464 BC) when he was trapped by the Aequi.
In 461 BC Capitolinus found himself having to use his influence to defend Caeso Quinctius (2), the son of his friend Lucius 03Quinctius Cincinnatus (89; 460-430 BC). Caeso was a wild and lawless character who led a group of aristocrats in acts of violence and intimidation against the common people. When Caeso was eventually brought to trial, only the pleas of Capitolinus allowed Caeso to escape into exile.
Cincinnatus himself was twice called from the plough to be appointed dictator. In 458 BC a Roman army under the consul Lucius 01Minucius Esquilinus Augurinus was besieged by the Aequi in the valley below Mount Algidus. Within fifteen days Cincinnatus assembled an army, defeated the Aequi in the same valley and celebrated a triumph in Rome. In 439 BC he was recalled to deal with the dangerous rebellion by Spurius Maelius. On both occasions, after his work was done, he resigned his office immediately and returned to his farm.
In 446 BC Capitolinus and legate (deputy) Spurius 02Postumius Albus Regillensis (cos.466 BC) won a victory over the Aequi and Volsci in the Battle of Corbione. Following the Romans’ defeat of the Aequi at Mount Algidus (458 BC), this battle confirmed the Roman dominion of this tribe.
For many years Rome only just held its own, but in the second half of the fifth century BC the tide began to slowly turn. In 444 BC a treaty was made with Ardea, where in 442 BC a Latin colony was sent as a barrier against the Volsci. The decisive battle was fought 431 BC when Aulus 03Postumius Tubertus defeated the Aequi on Mount Algidus (although this is similar to that of Cincinnatus, it is mostly accepted).
In 418 BC Labici, which commanded a pass in the Algidus, received a Roman garrison. In 413 BC the Volscians were driven from the Hernican town of Ferentinum and had to surrender some conquests in Latium, such as Velitrae (404 BC) and Satricum, while the Roman armies pushed on as far south as Anxur (406 BC) and Circeii (393 BC).
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