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[[File:Scutum 1.jpg|thumb|right|Modern replicas of ''[[scutum (shield)|scuta]]'' (shields), as used by the [[Roman legion|legion]]s of the [[Imperial Roman army]]. Note the ''alae et fulgura'' ("wings-and-thunderbolts") emblem, representing [[Jupiter (mythology)|Jupiter]], the highest Roman god]]
Instead of restoring their previous hegemony, the Romans apparently settled for a military alliance on equal terms with the Latins. According to the sources, the ''[[foedus Cassianum]]'' (Cassian treaty) was a bilateral treaty between the Romans on one side and the other Latin city-states combined.{{sfn|Cornell|1995|p=299}} It provided for a perpetual peace between the two parties; a defensive alliance by which the parties pledged mutual assistance in case of attack; a promise not to aid or allow passage to each other's enemies; the equal division of spoils of war (half to Rome, half to the other Latins) and provisions to regulate trade between the parties. In addition the treaty probably provided for overall command of the allies' joint forces to alternate between a Roman and a commander from one of the other Latin city-states each year. As the nature of the Tarquinian hegemony over the Latins is unknown, it is impossible to tell how the terms of the Cassian treaty differed from those imposed by the Tarquins. But it is likely that Tarquin rule was more onerous, involving the payment of tribute, while the Republican terms simply involved a military alliance. The impetus to form such an alliance was probably provided by the acute insecurity caused by a phase of migration and invasion of the lowland areas by Italic mountain tribes in the period after 500 BC. The Latins faced repeated incursions by the [[Hernici]], [[Aequi]] and [[Volsci]], whose territories surrounded Latium Vetus on its eastern and southern sides.{{sfn|Cornell|1995|p=305}}
The new Romano-Latin military alliance proved strong enough to repel the incursions of the Italic mountain tribes in the period 500–400 BC. During the succeeding century, after Rome had recovered from the catastrophic Gallic invasion of 390 BC, the Romans began a phase of expansionism. In addition to the establishment of a series of [[Latin colonies]] on territories annexed from the mountain tribes, Rome annexed a number of neighbouring Latin city-states in steady succession. The increasing threat posed by Roman encroachment led the more powerful Latin states, such as [[Praeneste]], to attempt to defend their independence and territorial integrity by challenging Rome, often in alliance with their erstwhile enemies, mountain-tribes such as the Volsci. Finally, in 341 BC, all the Latin city-states combined in what proved to be a final effort to regain/preserve their independence. The so-called [[Latin War]] ended in 338 with a decisive Roman victory, following which Rome annexed most of ''Latium Vetus''. A few of the larger Latin states, such as Praeneste and Tibur, were allowed to retain a degree of political autonomy, but only in a subordinate status as Roman ''[[socii]]'' ("allies"), tied to Rome by treaties of military alliance.
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