Horatius Cocles defending the Bridge against the Etruscans

Both Livy and Plutarch give an account of Horatius Cocles whose courageous defence of a wooden bridge across the Tiber saved Rome from an invading Etruscan army under Lars Porsena. Keeping Porsena's men at bay he commanded his fellow Romans to dismantle the bridge behind him, then praying for Father Tiber's blessing, he hurled himself into the water and swam to safety.