Battle of Mons Algidus The Battle of Mons Algidus was fought in 458 BC ( or 457 BC ) between the Roman Republic and the Aequi near Algidus Mons , Latium . The Roman " dictator " Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus turned a Roman defeat into an important victory . Background . The government of Rome was already shared between the original Romans , the Latin and Sabine peoples . For example , the Quinctia gens who had a major influence on Roman public life during this time were of Latin origin . The Hernici were allied to Rome ; the Etruscans were not impinging on the Romans , even though the Estruscan town of Veii was close to Rome . The greatest enemies of Rome at this time were the Volsci and the Aequi . The Volsci were based in territory to the southeast of Rome while the Aequi were based to the east . The Aequi kept attacking , whether with allies or alone , Rome and its surroundings . In particular , the Aequi moved from the Apennine Mountains towards " Tusculum " ( Frascati ) . Their attacks disturbed trade and commercial communications along the Via Latina as well as throughout Roman territory . Within Rome the situation at this time was disturbed . There were conflicts between the Roman patricians and plebians . There was also a revolt by Rome ' s slaves . During the revolt , the Campidoglio was held by the slaves for a lengthy period , along with the most important temples of Rome . It was during this revolt that consul Valerius Publicola had died . The revolt ended only with the arrival of an army from Tusculum , led by Tusculan dictator Lucius Mamilius . Meanwhile , Cincinnatus was appointed as consul to replace Publicola . In 459 BC , the Aequi occupied Tusculum . In response to the threat , the Romans decided to send an army to help the allied city , under the command of consul Lucius Cornelius Maluginensis . In addition , the consul Fabius Vibulanus , who was at that point besieging Antium , moved his forces to attack Tusculum . In the end , the Tusculans were able to recapture their city , with Vibulanus killing many Aequi near Algidus Mons . A truce was then arranged with the Aequi . Not long after , in 458 BC , the Aequi broke the truce . They attacked Tusculum again , and camped near Algidus Mons ; at the same time , a Sabinian army moved against Rome . Two Roman armies were formed in haste - consul Gaius Nautius Rutilus planned to move against the Aequi territories , while consul Lucius Minucius Esquilinus Augurinus planned to move against the Aequi camped near Algidus Mons . Minucius did not attack the Aequi , who by nightfall had started to build a fortification all around the Roman camp . Since even Nautius did not know how to handle the situation , Cincinnatus , whose brief term as consul had ended , was elected dictator . The battle . Cincinnatus chose his " magister equitum " , and levied in Campus Martius each available Roman , requiring them to bring food for five days and also bring twelve " valli " . The " vallus " was the pole brought by each Roman soldier . The valli were used to build a protective wall around the camp ; a requirement of twelve " valli " instead of one was unusual . The Roman army arrived at Algidus Mons by night . Cincinnatus signalled to the besieged Romans that he had arrived , then ordered his men to build a wall all around the Aequi . The Aequi attacked Cincinnatus , but they were soon obliged to turn and face the Romans of Minucius , who had left their camp to reach their companions . At dawn , the wall around the Aequi was completed ; Cincinnatus ordered his men , who had marched and worked for a whole day without rest , to attack the Aequi within the wall . The Aequi , unable to sustain a double attack , surrendered . Cincinnatus let all but the leaders of the Aequi go . Aftermath . The Aequi leaders were kept prisoners in Rome . The spoils of the sacking of the Aequi camp was distributed among Cincinnatus ' men , while the Romans who had fought under Minucius were criticised and Minucius himself deposed . Cincinnatus received a Roman triumph , while the Tusculan consul Lucius Mamilius received Roman citizenship . Having been elected dictator for six months , Cincinnatus resigned after only sixteen days .