Italian HegemonyItalian Hegemony

Ivory plaque from Palestrinaprobably dates to the first half

of the third century BCE

Evidence for appearance ofRoman soldiers in this period

from T. Cornell and J. Matthews,Atlas of the Roman World, pg. 37

Romans, Latins, and Common Romans, Latins, and Common EnemiesEnemies

Aftermath of Expulsion of Etruscan Aftermath of Expulsion of Etruscan MonarchyMonarchy Battle at Lake Regillus: 496 Battle at Lake Regillus: 496 BCEBCE

Cassian Treaty (Cassian Treaty (foedus Cassianumfoedus Cassianum): ): mutual defensive alliance between mutual defensive alliance between Rome and all Latins based on equality: Rome and all Latins based on equality: 493 493 BCEBCE

Etruscans to the NorthEtruscans to the North Siege of Veii: 406-396 Siege of Veii: 406-396 BCEBCE (10 years; (10 years;

Trojan War as model?)Trojan War as model?) ““Hill Peoples”: Aequi (northeast); Volsci Hill Peoples”: Aequi (northeast); Volsci

(southeast); Sabines (northeast): 500-350 (southeast); Sabines (northeast): 500-350 BCEBCE

Livy on the Ransom of RomeLivy on the Ransom of Rome

““Thereupon the Senate met, and instructed the Thereupon the Senate met, and instructed the tribunes of the soldiers to arrange the terms. tribunes of the soldiers to arrange the terms. Then, at a conference between Lucius Sulpicius Then, at a conference between Lucius Sulpicius the tribune and the Gallic chieftain Brennus, the the tribune and the Gallic chieftain Brennus, the affair was settled, and a thousand pounds of gold affair was settled, and a thousand pounds of gold was agreed on as the price of a people that was was agreed on as the price of a people that was destined presently to rule the nations. The destined presently to rule the nations. The transaction was a foul disgrace in itself, but an transaction was a foul disgrace in itself, but an insult was added: the weights brought by the insult was added: the weights brought by the Gauls were dishonest, and on the tribune’s Gauls were dishonest, and on the tribune’s objecting, the insolent Gaul added his sword to objecting, the insolent Gaul added his sword to the weight, and a saying intolerable to Roman the weight, and a saying intolerable to Roman ears was heard--Woe to the conquered!”ears was heard--Woe to the conquered!”

Livy, 5.48.8-9Livy, 5.48.8-9

Gallic Catastrophe: 390-386 Gallic Catastrophe: 390-386 BCEBCE

Battle at the Allia: Battle at the Allia: 10,000-15,000 Roman casualties10,000-15,000 Roman casualties

Vae victisVae victis! Rome ransomed! Rome ransomed Recovery: The “Servian” wall Recovery: The “Servian” wall

encloses some 1,000 acresencloses some 1,000 acres

Local and Distant TroublesLocal and Distant Troubles

Latin towns assert independence Latin towns assert independence (Tusculum, Praeneste, Tibur)(Tusculum, Praeneste, Tibur)

Rome reasserts authorityRome reasserts authority Compels Latin towns to rejoin Compels Latin towns to rejoin

Confederacy by 358 Confederacy by 358 BCEBCE

The Samnite Wars: Apennine “Hill The Samnite Wars: Apennine “Hill People” move into Campania People” move into Campania (Capua, Cumae)(Capua, Cumae)

Latin Wars of the Fourth Latin Wars of the Fourth

CenturyCentury BCEBCE

Latin Rebellion in 343 Latin Rebellion in 343 BCEBCE (note that (note that this rebellion occurred at a time this rebellion occurred at a time when Rome was preoccupied with when Rome was preoccupied with events in the south = Samnite raids events in the south = Samnite raids of the lowlands in Campania)of the lowlands in Campania)

Rebellion crushed and Latin League Rebellion crushed and Latin League dissolved in 338 dissolved in 338 BCE (with the aid of the BCE (with the aid of the Samnites, temporarily at peace with Rome)Samnites, temporarily at peace with Rome)

Policy of Incorporation: Policy of Incorporation: municipiummunicipium and and civitas sine suffragiocivitas sine suffragio

SamniumSamnium

““In the years immediately preceding 354 [the year of a Romano-In the years immediately preceding 354 [the year of a Romano-Samnite non-aggression pact] both Romans and Samnites had Samnite non-aggression pact] both Romans and Samnites had been extending the radius of their influence. In the fifth century been extending the radius of their influence. In the fifth century the Romans, with the cooperation of their allies, the Latins and the Romans, with the cooperation of their allies, the Latins and Hernici, had repelled the various assailants of Latium: Etruscans, Hernici, had repelled the various assailants of Latium: Etruscans, Sabines, Aequi, Volsci [cf. Polybius, 1.6]. In the fourth century Sabines, Aequi, Volsci [cf. Polybius, 1.6]. In the fourth century they were busy rolling back the last-named, the most persistent they were busy rolling back the last-named, the most persistent and stubborn of all the non-Latin speaking intruders. The and stubborn of all the non-Latin speaking intruders. The Samnites, for their part, had been using the device of the Sacred Samnites, for their part, had been using the device of the Sacred Spring from time immemorial to relieve the pressure of Spring from time immemorial to relieve the pressure of population on their own poor land by pouring into the lands of population on their own poor land by pouring into the lands of their neighbours. Thus, they had spilled out into Picenum, the their neighbours. Thus, they had spilled out into Picenum, the Fretani country, Northern Apulia, Lucania, and Campania. In the Fretani country, Northern Apulia, Lucania, and Campania. In the fourth century their target was the area to the west of Samnium, fourth century their target was the area to the west of Samnium, where the valley of the River Liris beckoned.”where the valley of the River Liris beckoned.”

“By the mid-fourth century…the valley of the Middle Liris was “By the mid-fourth century…the valley of the Middle Liris was rapidly becoming the mecca towards which two powerful peoples rapidly becoming the mecca towards which two powerful peoples were inflexibly headed.”were inflexibly headed.”

E.T. Salmon, E.T. Salmon, Samnium and the SamnitesSamnium and the Samnites (Cambridge, 1967) pp. 189 and 191(Cambridge, 1967) pp. 189 and 191

SouthwesternGate at Saepinumfrom Salmon,Samnium and theSamnites

Roman Roads:link Roman andLatin sites. Movementinto Liris valley a provocation to theSamnites?

Samnite WarsSamnite Wars

Capua appeals to Rome for assistance Capua appeals to Rome for assistance in 343 in 343 BCEBCE. . DIVIDE AND CONQUERDIVIDE AND CONQUER

First Samnite War: 343-341 First Samnite War: 343-341 BCEBCE

Second Samnite War: 327-304 Second Samnite War: 327-304 BCEBCE Provoked by Latin colonies in central Provoked by Latin colonies in central

Italy?Italy? Rome builds the Rome builds the via Valeriavia Valeria across the across the

peninsula and the peninsula and the via Appiavia Appia to Capua (132 to Capua (132 miles)miles)

Third Samnite War: 298-290 Third Samnite War: 298-290 BCEBCE--Last --Last gasp Samnite effortgasp Samnite effort

““Conflict arose between them over Conflict arose between them over an area on which they had not an area on which they had not reached prior agreement. reached prior agreement. Northern Campania became the Northern Campania became the bone of contention: it was a fertile bone of contention: it was a fertile and populous region, and neither and populous region, and neither side could afford to let the other side could afford to let the other get control of it.”get control of it.”

E.T. Salmon, E.T. Salmon, Samnium and the Samnium and the SamnitesSamnites (Cambridge, 1967) pg. (Cambridge, 1967) pg. 194194

Blue = Latini; Red = Samnite; Caudine Forks marked (ca. 350 BCE)

Disaster at the Caudine Forks: 321 Disaster at the Caudine Forks: 321 BCEBCE

““First the consuls, little better than half-First the consuls, little better than half-naked, were sent under the yoke, then naked, were sent under the yoke, then their subordinates were humbled, each in their subordinates were humbled, each in the order of his rank; and then, one after the order of his rank; and then, one after another, the several legions. The enemy another, the several legions. The enemy under arms stood on either side, reviling under arms stood on either side, reviling them and mocking them; many they them and mocking them; many they actually threatened with the sword, and actually threatened with the sword, and some, whose resentment of the outrage some, whose resentment of the outrage showing too plainly in their faces gave showing too plainly in their faces gave their conquerors offence, they wounded or their conquerors offence, they wounded or slew outright” slew outright”

Livy, 9.6.1-2 Livy, 9.6.1-2

Battle at Sentinum in 295 Battle at Sentinum in 295 BCEBCE

““This ‘battle of the nations’, as it This ‘battle of the nations’, as it has been called, settled the destiny has been called, settled the destiny of peninsular Italy. Years of hard of peninsular Italy. Years of hard fighting still lay ahead for Rome, fighting still lay ahead for Rome, but henceforth she could deal with but henceforth she could deal with her enemies one by one and she her enemies one by one and she was more than a match for them was more than a match for them singly.”singly.”

Samnium and the SamnitesSamnium and the Samnites, pg. , pg. 268268

Bronze statuette of a Samnite

warriorfrom Salmon,

Samnium and the Samnites

A Patchwork ConfederationA Patchwork ConfederationPolitical Statuses of Italian StatesPolitical Statuses of Italian States

Latin Peoples all provide troopsLatin Peoples all provide troops civitas optimo iurecivitas optimo iure: full Roman citizenship : full Roman citizenship

(Tusculum)(Tusculum) Independent allies with equal treaties (Independent allies with equal treaties (foedera foedera

aequaaequa); mutual defense pacts (Tibur, Praeneste)); mutual defense pacts (Tibur, Praeneste) Half-way status (Half-way status (civitas sine suffragiocivitas sine suffragio) = Roman ) = Roman

rights of legal contract (rights of legal contract (commerciumcommercium) and ) and intermarriage (intermarriage (conubiumconubium), but no vote. ), but no vote.

Non-Latins = allies (Non-Latins = allies (sociisocii); also provide troops (but ); also provide troops (but some non-Latin peoples given municipal status)some non-Latin peoples given municipal status)

All treaties bilateral--no state allowed to make an All treaties bilateral--no state allowed to make an alliance with any state but Romealliance with any state but Rome

Roman policy: support local aristocraciesRoman policy: support local aristocracies

Black = Roman/Latin territoryHorizontals = Roman gains, 298-263 BCE

Verticals = Roman alliesin 298 BCE

Dots = Roman allies,298-263 BCE

Cross-hatch = Annexation,241-218 BCE

from M. Grant, History of Rome, pg. 64

Extension of Roman PowerExtension of Roman Power Roman Colonies: Strategic places Roman Colonies: Strategic places

along the Italian western coastalong the Italian western coast Strategic Latin Colonies in Central Strategic Latin Colonies in Central

Italy (e.g. Fregellae, Interamna, Sora, Italy (e.g. Fregellae, Interamna, Sora, Cales, Suesse Aurunca)Cales, Suesse Aurunca)

Some 50,000 square miles after 300 Some 50,000 square miles after 300 BCEBCE

Key to following map: dark red = Key to following map: dark red = civitas optimo iurecivitas optimo iure; red = ; red = civitas sine civitas sine suffragiosuffragio; lavender = Latin colonies; ; lavender = Latin colonies; bright purple = old Latins and Hernici bright purple = old Latins and Hernici assimilated to Latins; yellow = assimilated to Latins; yellow = sociisocii