Humanities History & Culture Ancus Martius King of Rome Share Flipboard Email Print Ancus Martius [Published by Guillaume Rouille (1518?-1589); From "Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum"] > Early Kings. PD Courtesy of Wikipedia History & Culture Ancient History & Culture Major Figures & Events Basics Ancient Languages Greece & Sparta Egypt Asia Rome Literature Mythology & Religion American History African American History African History Asian History European History Family History & Genealogy Inventions Latin American History Medieval & Renaissance History Military History The 20th Century Women's History View More by N.S. Gill N.S. Gill is a freelance classics and ancient history writer. She has a master's degree in linguistics and is a former Latin teacher. Updated March 08, 2017 King Ancus Martius (or Ancus Marcius) is thought to have ruled Rome from 640-617. Ancus Martius, the fourth king of Rome, was the grandson of the second Roman king, Numa Pompilius. Legend credits him with building a bridge on wooden piles across the Tiber River, the Pons Sublicius, the first bridge across the Tiber. It is often claimed that Ancus Martius founded the port of Ostia at the mouth of the Tiber River. Cary and Scullard say this is unlikely, but he probably extended Roman territory and gained control of the salt-pans on the south side of the river by Ostia. Cary and Scullard also doubt the legend that Ancus Martius incorporated the Janiculum Hill into Rome, but do not doubt that he established a bridgehead upon it. Ancus Martius is also thought to have waged war on other Latin cities. Alternate Spellings: Ancus Marcius Examples: T.J. Cornell says Ennius and Lucretius called Ancus Martius Ancus the Good. Sources: Cary and Scullard: A History of Rome T.J. Cornell: The Beginnings of Rome. Ancient Rome Glossary Go to Other Ancient / Classical History Glossary pages beginning with the letter a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v wxyz Continue Reading