The wars against the Etruscans

The Etruscans succeeded in maintaining the power for some time and subdued Rome and the surrounding area.But the expulsion of Tarquinius the Proud marked the end of their reign.
The legend says that the exiled king asked Porsenne, king of the Etruscan town of Chiusi, to attack Rome. Porcenna accepted, and with his soldiers advanced towards the town. Once arrived near Rome, he besieged the town but the deeds of the Romans Orazio Coclite, Muzio Scevola and Clelia led him to decide that was more useful to give up his friend and the war. The hostilities with the Etruscans lasted many years, especially for the conquest of the town Veio, whose besiege lasted three years. For the first time Roman soldiers received a wage because they stayed away from their fields with the consequent loss of crops.