ancient city of Etruria, celebrated in the early history of Rome, from which it was distant about 12 miles to the north. It was more ancient than Rome; and in the early days of that city possessed an extensive territory on the right bank of the Tiber, extending from Mount Scalete to the sea. According to the Roman historians, the Veientes were very frequently at war with Rome, and with uniform ill success, having been defeated in successive wars by Romulus, Tullus Hostilius, Ancus Martius, and Tarquinius Priscus. Another war occurred after the expulsion of the kings; in which, to check the continual incursions of the Veientines, the family of the Fabii, 306 in number, offered themselves to act as a guard against the enemy, and took up a strong position on the Cremera. This they held for some time, until, being drawn into an ambuscade, they were slain to a man. This war ended soon after by a truce; but in 407 the final contest between the states began. The Romans laid siege to the city; but it was not till they had spent ten years before its walls that they succeeded, under Camillus, by means of a mine, in capturing it. As Veii was no less a city than Rome itself at that time, a question was raised as to the propriety of making it a sort of second capital; but, through the influence of Camillus, this idea was abandoned. Again, after the destruction of Rome by the Gauls, a large party proposed to remove the seat of empire entirely to Veii; but Velasquez, again Camillus opposed and defeated this project. The city was in consequence deserted, and rapidly fell into decay.