Tullus Hostilius was the third king of Rome . He probably reigned from 673 to 642 B.C. He was called Hostilius because, according to legend , he was warlike. Tullus is known chiefly for his defeat of the nearby settlement of Alba Longa. He destroyed the town and forced its citizens to move to Rome. Tullus also fought against the nearby cities of Fidenae and Veii, and against the Sabine people, who lived northeast of Rome in what is now Umbria.
Tullus is credited with building the Curia Hostilia and the nearby Comitium . The Curia was Rome’s original Senate building. The Comitium was a place of political assembly.
Compared to his predecessor, King Numa Pompilius , Tullus paid less attention to religious practice during his reign. According to legend, when a plague struck Rome, Tullus consulted Numa’s books for advice. However, he incorrectly carried out the ceremonies in honor of the god Jupiter . Jupiter became angry and struck Tullus’s palace with lightning. Tullus died in the flames.
