Although founded around the sixth or fifth century BC – and despite its relative proximity to Rome – the town of Pompeii didn't actually come under Roman rule until 89 BC, when it was attacked by the general Sulla. Within a decade it had become an official colony, its assimilation into Roman ways undoubtedly accelerated by Sulla placing thousands of his war veterans, plus their families, in the town. Latin soon became the main language, while political institutions were remodelled along Roman lines.
Pompeii became an important port, with goods landing there before travellingnotable persons from Rome who chose to holiday in the agreeable surroundings of the Campania region. Those who sought to settle in, or frequently visit, Pompeii were also attracted by the town being a strong cultural centre, with its numerous other open–air theatres hosting drama and its amphitheatre offering more visceral, bloodthirsty fare.