Cremera
Cremera refers to a historic river in Italy, specifically located near the ancient Etruscan city of Veii, which is situated in Lazio, west-central Italy. The Cremera is notable for its role in the Battle of the Cremera, a significant conflict during the early history of the Roman Republic. This battle occurred around the years 477-475 BC and involved the clan of the Fabii, who were influential in Roman politics at the time, conducting raids in the region. The battle is steeped in legend, with accounts suggesting that the Veientines achieved a decisive victory, reportedly killing around three hundred members of the Fabian clan, leaving only one survivor. The struggle for control of the area, particularly the point where the Cremera flows into the Tiber River, was emblematic of the broader conflicts between the Romans and the Etruscans. Romans would not gain control of the nearby site of Fidenae until approximately 435 BC, highlighting the ongoing tensions in this pivotal region of ancient Italy. This context illustrates the importance of the Cremera both geographically and historically during the formation of early Roman identity and territorial expansion.
Cremera
(Valchetta or Fossa di Formello in Lazio, west-central Italy)
A stream flowing in a deep gully past the Etruscan city of Veii, of which a dependency, Fidenae (Castel Giubileo), controlled the point where the Cremera flowed into the Tiber, close to Rome. Fidenae still seems to have belonged to the Veientines c 477–475, when the clan of the Fabii, who dominated the Roman Republic at this time, and conducted frontier cattle raids, set up a fort near the offending outpost, cutting its communications with Veii. In the Battle of the Cremera that followed—an event much embroidered by legend—the Veientines won a total victory, reputedly killing three hundred members of the Fabian clan and leaving only one youth alive. The Romans did not secure control of Fidenae until 435 BC.