In 753 BC, Rome needed women – more specifically, wives. Since none were forthcoming, they had to take matters into their own hands. And the wives they kidnapped were pretty amazing. They managed to save their own families and help shape the Roman philosophy of absorbing conquered people into their own culture which allowed Rome to grow and flourish for nearly 2,000 years.  

Rome Needs People 

It all started around 753 BC, when Romulus was hard at work trying to make Rome a reality. His plan was to build the greatest city-kingdom the world had ever seen… But the first thing he had to do was get people to live there. 

He had started with a handful of rowdy young men, but he would need more than that. So to attract others, Romulus made Rome a sanctuary city – a safe haven for anyone who wanted to come and make a new start. And those who came were fugitives, exiles, runaway slaves, criminals, foreigners… The population increased, but they weren’t exactly the family types.

Roman Men Need Wives

There weren’t many women among the new Romans, and that was a real problem. If these men didn’t have wives, Rome might become great, but it would only last for one generation.

Romulus went to visit the rulers of the neighboring cities (mainly the Sabines who lived northeast of Rome). He told them how great Rome would be one day, and how everyone would want to be a Roman. They nodded along, and it seemed to be going well.

Then he asked permission for his men to marry their women. “No!” They all flatly refused. Of course, he would pay them, he said. But, “No!” was still the answer. They wouldn’t even consider it.

Wives to be Kidnapped

So Romulus had to come up with another plan if he wanted his city to survive. As luck would have it, an underground altar to the god Consus was soon discovered, and Romulus declared a day of festivities in Rome. There would be games and entertainment, and everyone would be welcome. All the surrounding cities were invited to come and celebrate with the Romans. And they did. 

Just as the games were about to begin and all eyes were on the playing field, Romulus gave the secret signal. He lifted his purple cloak, folded it, and threw it across his shoulder.

Chaos broke out. The Roman men drew their swords, grabbed up to the young, single women they had already selected, and carried them away. The fathers and brothers were warned off by the Roman weapons but allowed (and encouraged) to escape unharmed per Romulus’ instructions. The visiting men slinked away cursing and vowing to return for their womenfolk.

Wives Secured

The abducted women (mostly Sabines) weren’t too happy either. But Romulus personally met with them and explained how he had tried to get permission from their fathers but was refused. 

So, it was really their fathers they should be upset with – not the Romans. He promised the women they would all be properly married and that they would be respected wives and mothers. This seemed to calm the women a bit. And the “husbands” received their instructions too – to treat the women with kindness and patience.

Wives Carried Over the Threshold

The practice of abducting wives in this way dates back to the ancient Greeks, so the kidnapping of the Sabine women was nothing new or too out of the ordinary. In fact, bride abduction may be where we get the tradition, still practiced today, of carrying the bride over the threshold.

War on the Way

Back in Rome, the weddings were duly performed. Things settled down, and the new couples got on with the business of populating the city. 

But the cities that had had their women stolen were still pretty upset about it. The Sabine king had made several diplomatic attempts to get the Sabine women back, but Romulus had refused. The women were the key to his city’s survival. So, about a year later, when all other attempts had failed, the Sabine army came calling to exact revenge and take back their women.

Sabine Women Make Peace

It was a surprise attack, and a battle ensued. The Sabine women were horrified as they watched their fathers, brothers, and uncles fighting against their husbands, fathers-in-law, and brothers-in-law. 

They couldn’t bear it. By this time, the women had grown fond of (or at least used to) their husbands and their new way of life. Some were pregnant and some already had children. But, of course, they still loved their Sabine families too. 

The women ran out into the middle of the fighting, some of them carrying their children, and stood between the two warring sides. The fighting stopped as the women pleaded that they didn’t want to be widows, neither did they want to be orphans. They stressed that they were all related now and begged the men to work things out without bloodshed. Both sides put down their weapons while Romulus and the Sabine king met to discuss a peace agreement. 

Sabine Women Unite Two Kingdoms

The women interceded once again, by way of Romulus’ wife. As she was also a Sabine, they asked her to get Romulus to fully pardon their fathers and kinsmen. After all, shouldn’t they treat each other like family now?

Romulus listened to the women and also saw an opportunity to make his city even larger and stronger. Not only did he forgive the Sabine men, but he also gave them Roman citizenship by merging the two kingdoms. Then he and the Sabine King reigned jointly. This actually doubled the size of Rome and made it much stronger.

Sabine Women are Honored

Romulus honored the Sabine women for bringing peace and unity and increasing Rome’s power. It was an important step in the growth of Rome, and perhaps set the Roman philosophy of expansion by assimilation. From then on, when Rome conquered a people, they merged the two cultures – just like they had done with the Sabines.

When Romulus structured Rome into 30 Curiae (political and military divisions), he honored the Sabine women by naming each Curiae after one of them.

Story for the Ages

This is the story of a group of women who lived at a time when they didn’t control their own destinies, but they were still able to use their influence to bring peace to their little part of the world.

Throughout the ages, this story has been retold in paintings, statues, literature, and film. Most of the art seems to focus on the abduction of the women, but I think the key point is their strength and courage and the fact that Rome honored them for their contribution.

Extra fun facts:

• This story is sometimes referred to as “Rape of the Sabines” because the original Latin word was “raptio,” which meant “abduction.” Modern historians prefer “Abduction of the Sabines.”
• Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is based on this story, but is a lighthearted musical in an American frontier setting.

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