:For the other uses, see Latin (disambiguation).

The Latins were an ancient Italic people of Latium Vetus (Old Latium), who migrated to the area in the 8th or 9th centuries B.C. from the north . Although they lived in independent city-states, the Latins had a common language (Latin), common religious beliefs and a close sense of kinship, expressed in the myth that they were all descendants of Latinus, the father-in-law of Aeneas. Latinus was worshipped as Jupiter Latiaris on Mons Albanus (Monte Cavo) during an annual festival that was attended by all Latins, including the Romans. The Latin cities extended common right to residence and trade to one another. Rome's territorial ambitions united the rest of the Latins against it in 341 BC, but the final victory was on Rome's side in 338 BC. Consequently some of the Latin states were incorporated within the Roman state, and their inhabitants were given full Roman citizenship. Others became Roman allies and enjoyed certain privileges.
Gradually, with the spread of Roman power throughout Italy, 'Latin' ceased to be an ethnic term and became a legal category.

External links

* Distinguishing the terms:Latins and Romans
Category:Ancient Italic peoples
Category:Indo-European peoples