There was a shortage of available women for all of these men, so Romulus and the Romans organized a festival where surrounding peoples and their families were invited. While the male’s were inebriated, the daughters and single women were kidnapped and they all retreated behind Rome’s defenses.
When the Romans refused to return the women, the cities of Caenina, Antemnae, and Crustumerium all successively went to war and were defeated. The Sabine King led a more successful campaign, but during the climactic battle, the women intervened and begged for peace and unity. There was a truce and many of the Sabines and the Romans united while Romulus and the Sabine King, Titus Tatius, ruled jointly.
In 752 BC, Romulus celebrates the first ever Roman triumph after his victory over the city of Caenina, following the Rape of the Sabine Women. After Romulus completed the construction and development of his city and government, Rome began to attract many new settlers. Most of these were criminals, fugitives, escaped slaves, exiles, and refugees.