Ancus Marcius was the fourth king of Rome, reigning from 638 when he succeeded Tullus Hostilius until his death in 614 BC. He conquered many Latin towns and transplanted their inhabitants to Rome. He is reputed to be the founder of Ostia and to have built the wooden bridge across the Tiber known as the Sublician, and built the first Roman prison. Research Ancus Marcius
Urban II was Pope from 1088 until his death in 1099. A native of Champagne, of noble family. Otto or Ode studied at Reims under Bruno, founder of the Carthusians, and later entered the abbey of Cluny, where he became prior. As one of Pope Hildebrand's most trusted helpers, he was made cardinal and bishop of Ostia, and in 1088 was elected pope at a council held at Terracina. Rome was then in the hands of the anti-pope Clement III, who, with the support of the emperor. Henry IV, alternated with Urban II in the actual occupation of St Peter's. The greater part of Urban II's pontificate was passed in exile, but he strove to maintain the policy of his great predecessor, Hildebrand. The chief act of Urban's pontificate took place in 1095, when he crossed the Alps, re-entered his native country, and projected the first crusade, which he preached at the council of Clermont, 1095. Research Urban II
Bast was an ancient Egyptian goddess. She was represented as a woman with the head of a lion or cat, and the cat was sacred to her. She is depicted carrying a sistrum in her right hand, a breastplate in her left hand and a small bag over her left arm. The cult of Bast was popular around Bubastis and later at Memphis. The Romans also took the cult back to Rome, Ostia, Nemi and Pompeii. Research Bast
In the Second World War, the Caesar Line was the last German line of defence in Italy before Rome, extending from the west coast near Ostia, over the Alban Hills south of Rome, via Valmontone to Avezzano - about half-way across the country. When it was breached by the US 5th Army on the 30th of May 1944 the road to Rome was finally opened. Research Caesar Line
The Ostia was an Italian minelayer of 615 tons displacement launched in 1925. The Ostia was powered by coal-burning boilers providing a top speed of 15 knots. She carried 80 mines and was armed with two four inch guns; one 3 inch anti-aircraft gun and two machine-guns. Research Ostia
Abbreviations
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