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354

Roman success in war against Tibur and Tarquinii induced the Samnites to ask for an alliance with Rome. The envoys were favourably received and a treaty concluded. [1]

First Samnite War

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343

The Samnites attacked the Sidicini. Unable to stand against the Samnites, the Sidicini sought help from the Campanians. [2] But the warlike Samnites defeated the Campanians in a battle on Sidicine territory and then turned their attention toward Campania. First they seized the Tifata hills overlooking Capua, and, having left a strong force to hold them, marched into the plain between the Tifata hills and Capua. [3] There the Samnites defeated the Campanians in a second battle and drove them within their walls. This defeat compelled the Campanians to ask Rome for help. [4] At Rome the Campanian ambassadors admitted to an audience with the senate. In a speech they proposed an alliance between Rome and Capua, noting how the Campanians with their famous wealth could be of aid to the Romans, pointing out that nothing in Rome's treaty with the Samnites prevented them from also making a treaty with the Campanians, and warning that if they did not, the Samnites would conquer Campania and its strength would be added to the Samnites' instead of to the Romans'. [5] After discussing this proposal the senate concluded that while there was much to be gained from a treaty with the Campanians, Rome could not ally with the Campanians and still be considered loyal to their existing treaty with the Samnites, and for this reason they had to refuse the proposal.[6] After being informed of Rome's refusal, the Campanian embassy, in accordance with their instructions, surrendered the people of Campania and the city of Capua unconditionally into the power of Rome.[7] Moved by this surrender, the senators resolved that Rome's honour now required that the Campanians and Capua, who by their surrender had become the possion of Rome, be protected from Samnite attacks. [8] Envoys were therefore sent to the Samnites to bring them the news from Rome and request that they, in view of the mutual friendship between them and Rome, refrain from territory which had become the possession of Rome. But if this request was not heeded they were to formally warn the Samnites in the name of the Senate and People of Rome to keep their hands off the city of Capua and the territory of Campanian. [9] The envoys delivered their message as instructed to the Samnites' national council. They were met with an uncompromising response, not only did the Samnites declare their intention of waging war against Capua, but their magistrates left the council chamber, and loud enough for the Roman envoys to hear, ordered their armies to march out at once and ravage Campanian territory. [10] When news of this reached Rome, they sent fetials to demand redress. When this was refused the people of Rome formally declared war against the Samnites.[11]

Both consuls marched against the Samnites. Valerius into Campania and camped at Mount Glaurus and Cornelius into Samnium and camped at Saticula.[12] The Samnites had moved their army into Campania in force, believing this would be the main theatre of war. Once they found the Roman camp the Samnite warriors demanded to be led into battle. [13] After testing his enemy's strength for a few days with skirmishers, Valerius prepared the Roman army for battle. [14] The Romans marched out to do battle with the Samnites. The battle went on for some time with the two sides evenly matched.[15] Valerius then ordered his cavalry to charge, but failed to leave any impression.[16] When he saw this, Valerius dismounted and led the infantry in person in a charge against the enemy lines, but once again the Samnites did not flinch.[17] The battle had now lasted a long time and daylight was fading. The Romans, weary but fuelled by rage and disappointment, made last mad attack. At last the Samnites fled, and not many would have survived if not for nightfall putting an end to the pursuit.[18] When asked why in the end they had fled, the Samnites answered it was "the eyes of the Romans, which seemed to them to blaze, along with their furious expression and frenzied glare".[19]During the night the Samnites departed left the Romans to take possession of their camp the next day. All the Campani came out to congratulate them.[20]

The consul Cornelius advanced from Saticula and led his army by a mountain pass which descended into a narrow valley.[21] Unnoticed by the consul the Samnites had occupied the surrounding heights and were waiting for the Roman army to descend into the valley. When the Romans finally discovered the enemy it was too late to retreat.[22] P. Decius Mus, a Roman military tribune, observed that the Samnites had failed to occupy a hilltop overlooking the Samnite camp. With the consul's approval he led a detachment made up of the hastati and principes of one legion to seize the hill.[23] The Samnites did not discover Decius until he was nearly at the summit and were then so distracted that they allowed the consul to withdraw the Roman army to more favourable ground.[24] With the escape of the consul the Samnites focused their attention on Decius and his men. They surrounded the hilltop, but had not yet decided whether to risk an assault when night set in.[25] Surprised that he had not been attacked, Decius sneaked down with his centurions to scout out the Samnite positions.[26] Once back in his camp, Decius silently assembled his men and informed them that he intended to break out at night, silently if they could, by force if they were discovered.[27] Moving in the spaces between the Samnite pickets, the Romans were halfway through when they were discovered. But when Decius and his men let out a battle cry the awakening Samnites were flung into chaos and the Romans cut their way through. [28] Next morning the Roman army celebrated the safe return of Decius and his men. [29] At the urgings of Decius, the consul ordered his army to attack the Samnites. The Samnites were taken wholly unprepared for battle and were scattered and their camp taken. The 30 000 Samnites who had fled into the camp were all killed. [30] After the battle the consul summoned an army assembly where he presented Decius with a golden chaplet, a hundred oxen and one white ox with gilded horns. His men each received double rations, one ox and two tunics. The soldiers then gave Decius two grass crowns, the first for saving the whole army and the second for then saving his own men. While thus decorated, Decius sacrificed the white ox to Mars, and gave the one hundred oxen away to the men who had followed him. The army also contributed a pound of meal and a pint of wine to each of them. [31]

Determined to achieve victory the Samnites brought their whole army to Suessula. When news of this reached Valerius from Capua, he detached a strong force to protect his camp and baggage, and proceeded by forced marches to Suessula. There he established camp close to the enemy, since he had not brought any baggage or camp followers, his camp was much smaller than normal.[32] The Samnites formed battle lines and marched towards the Roman camp, believing there would soon be a battle. When the Samnites learnt from their scouts of the small size of the Roman camp, they believed only a small Roman force were opposing them. The Samnite soldiers wanted to assault the Roman camp at once, but were restrained from by their generals.[33] Owing to their large numbers and long stay outside Suessula, the Samnites were now running out of supplies. Believing the Romans to be too weak to venture outside their camp and short on food as well, the Samnites decided to send foragers into the fields.[34] Seeing the Samnites scattered and their camp weakly held, Valerius led his men in an attack on the Samnite camp camp, which was captured in the first assault. Leaving two legions to hold the Samnite camp, Valerius ordered his men forward to round up the Samnite foragers. The scattered Samnites were slaughtered and fled in fear. The Roman spoils included 40 000 shields, a far larger number than the enemy slain, and 170 standards.[35]

Roman successes against the Samnites convinced Falerii to convert her forty year's truce with Rome into a permanent peace treaty, and the Latins to abandon their planned war against Rome and instead campaign against the Paeligni.[36] Carthage sent a congratulatory embassy to Rome with a twenty-five pound crown for the Temple of Jupiter.[37] Both consuls then celebrated triumphs over the Samnites.[38]

341

The consul, Lucius Aemilius Mamercus, entered Samnite territory but found no army to oppose him. He was ravaging their territory when Samnite envoys came to ask for peace.[39] When presenting their case to the Roman senate, the Samnite envoys stressed their former treaty with the Romans, which unlike the Campani they had formed in times of peace, and that the Samnites now intended to go to war against the Sidicini who where no friends of Rome.[40] The Roman praetor, T. Aemilius delivered the reply of the senate. Rome was willing to renew her former treaty with the Samnites. Moreover Rome would not involve herself in the Samnites' decision to make war or peace with the Sidicini.[41] Once peace had been concluded the Roman army withdrew from Samnium.[42]

References

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  1. ^ Livy, vii.19.3-4
  2. ^ Livy, vii.29.4
  3. ^ Livy, vii.29.5-6
  4. ^ Livy, vii.29.7
  5. ^ Livy, vii.30.1-23
  6. ^ Livy, vii.31.1-2
  7. ^ Livy, vii.31.3-5
  8. ^ Livy, vii.31.6-7
  9. ^ Livy, vii.31.8-10
  10. ^ Livy, vii.31.11-12
  11. ^ Livy, vii.32.1-2
  12. ^ Livy, vii.32.2
  13. ^ Livy, vii.32.3-4
  14. ^ Livy, vii.32.5-17
  15. ^ Livy, vii.33.4-8
  16. ^ Livy, vii.32.9
  17. ^ Livy, vii.33.9-12
  18. ^ Livy, vii.33.13-15
  19. ^ Livy, vii.33.16
  20. ^ Livy, vii.33.17-18
  21. ^ Livy, vii.34.1
  22. ^ Livy, vii.34.2-3
  23. ^ Livy, vii.34.3-7
  24. ^ Livy, vii.34.8-9
  25. ^ Livy, vii.34.10-12
  26. ^ Livy, vii.34.12-15
  27. ^ Livy, vii.35.1-12
  28. ^ Livy, vii.36.1-6
  29. ^ Livy, vii.36.7-8
  30. ^ Livy, vii.36.9-13
  31. ^ Livy, vii.37.1-3
  32. ^ Livy, vii.37.4-6
  33. ^ Livy, vii.37.7-8
  34. ^ Livy, vii.37.9-11
  35. ^ Livy, vii.37.12-17
  36. ^ Livy, vii.38.1
  37. ^ Livy, vii.38.2
  38. ^ Livy, vii.38.3
  39. ^ Livy, viii.1.7
  40. ^ Livy, viii.1.8-10
  41. ^ Livy, viii.2.1-3
  42. ^ Livy, viii.2.4
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