Wars of the Early Roman Republic: 509 to 264 BC Quiz

Answer: The Latins

The Latins were members of the Latin League. The Latin League was a group of around 30 cities and tribes occupying the rich coastal plain-- Latium-- which stretched southeast from Rome, which itself was situated on southern bank of the lower Tiber. The reasons for the war are somewhat sketchy-- most history from this time frame is-- but Livy seems to indicate Rome was reacting to multiple threats from the Sabines to the east and the Latin League to the south, including the possibility the latter was trying to re-establish the Tarquin monarchy in Republican Rome.

The Romans prevailed over the Latins at the Battle of Lake Regilus in 497 BC, but the war lasted another 4 years. The Treaty of Cassius would end the war.

Answer: It augmented Roman military strength

The Latin League agreed to provide troops to Rome in time of war. It was agreed also to equally divide any war booty between the Latins and Romans (this would be a problem down the line). It appears that command of raised forces was to go to Roman generals, though this fact is sometimes disputed.

It was in effect an alliance between the two sides that set a precedent for relation between Rome and and other peoples. But both sides, at first, benefited from the agreement.

Answer: Gaius Marcius Coriolanus

Corolianus was considered historical by the historian Plutarch. Many now consider him more legendary. But the ancient story was that in 493 the patrician Gaius Marcius led a desperate attack that captured the Volscian city of Corolii and gained for himself the cognomen "Corolianus." His political career should have been made at that point.

But a grain shortage at Rome forced him to flee his city when he argued that a shipment of grain from Sicily should not be distributed unless certain liberal reforms were reversed.

He went over to the Volscians and led an attack on Rome, which was stopped only by the pleadings of his mother and wife. What exactly was his fate is disputed. Some historians now consider the story indicative only of Rome's trouble with the Volscian people to the south of Latium.

Answer: Giving up absolute power once his task was accomplished

In 458 or 457 BC, the Romans elected Cincinnatus (the "Curley Haired One") dictator for six months to lead a rescue army to relieve a Roman army trapped by the Aequian army. Supposedly he was found ploughing his field and given the job by a delegation of senators; he ordered his wife to get his toga and left with the senators for Rome. Once there, he ordered every available man into the army and marched them to relieve the other Roman army.

It took 15 days. Once the task was accomplished, he went back to his fields, giving up absolute power and providing a model for how a Roman patriot should act.

Answer: Veii

These were not easy times for Rome. The tribunes had actually rejected war with Veii because of Rome's other ongoing wars. But a sudden victory over the Volscians and the prospect of pay for the army meant war with Veii. This city had rivaled Rome in every way for a long time-- for trade and influence along the Tiber.

It sat in an extremely strong geographic position and was naturally well provisioned with water. According to Livy, the Roman siege of Veii lasted 10 years. But more war with the Aequians and Volcians broke out and new wars with the Latins as well. Rome prevailed in all of them and in 396 BC captured Veii at last. Rome was now the dominant power in Latium and central Italy west of the Apennines.

It would not last long. Republican Rome's power would soon be shaken to its foundation.

Answer: The Gauls

The Gauls-- or more appropriately the Celts-- were spread across central Europe. Sometime at the end of the fifth or early fourth century they began a southward migration. Some settled in the Po River area but others continued south, frightening the Eutruscans, who appealed to Rome.

The Romans moved north to confront the Gallic Senones under their king, Brennus, but were defeated at the Battle of Allia around 389. The way south was now wide opened and Rome was sacked. The Romans retreated to the Capitoline Hill and endured a 7 month siege.

The Senones were eventually bought off with a thousand pounds of gold and retreated to the northeast, where they would remain lodged for a century. The Gallic sack of Rome was said to have had a devastating impact on the Roman psyche.

It also set back Roman power and influence over the Latins, Volscians, Aequians and Hernici; all became restive.

Answer: Tarentine Greeks

After 390, the Romans were at war with the troublesome Aequii, defeating them at Bola (388 BC); at war with the Latins, Volscii and Hernicii (386); at war with Tusculum (381 BC); at war with the Volscii at Satricum(377); at war with Praeneste, the near permanent 50 year thorn in their eastern flank(388-338); at war with the Hernicii city of Ferentinum(around 361); at war with Tibur, who allied themselves with the Gauls (361-354 BC); at war with Hernicii and Gauls again as well the Eustruscan cities north of the Tiber river of Faleri, Tarquinii and Caere (353 BC); and at war with the Volscian cities of Antium and Satricum again (346 BC). There is something of pattern as Rome pushed its influence north and east, possibly to provide a buffer against the Gauls and the south to protect themselves from its perpetual enemy the Volscii, or the restive Latins, who might ally themselves with the Gauls. Mike Duncan has made the point that, after 390, Rome became much more aggressive towards its neighbors.

Answer: Samnites

The Samnites may have been the toughest enemy Rome ever faced. They inhabited the Apennines in south central Italy. The Treaty of 354 BC set the border for Roman and Samnite influence at the River Liris. The Samnites had been moving west into the rich coastal area of Campania, towards the large wealthy city of Capua, for years.

The Campanians eventually appealed to the growing power to the north, Rome. Rome won a hard-fought but decisive victory at the Battle of Mons Gaurus in 343 BC. It won several more battles after that, but concluded a hasty peace treaty with the Samnites in 342/341 BC. Rome's fight with Samnium was just the beginning, and, as Livy said, it was the first of the big wars that would lead to Roman dominance of Italy.

Answer: It set up a model for foreign relations that would endure for centuries

The Latins of the Latin League were Roman allies, but they were tired of being treated as second class. They got little to no war booty as the years went by, despite providing troops to the Romans for a century. They had no political rights either. In 342 BC a Roman garrison rebelled in Campania and the Latins thought the Romans were vulnerable. Though the Latins used identical tactics, weapons and training as the Romans, the war was over quickly over with a decisive Roman victory.

But Rome made some of the Latins full citizens (usually those closer cities to Rome), gave some citizenship without the right to vote with the prospect that down the line they would be full citizens and kept others in allied status.

The Latins were also basically given complete control over their own local affairs. Rome began to plant colonies of Roman soldiers throughout Latium, some of which were joint colonies with Latins.

The downside for the Latins was that the Latin League was dissolved and the various Latin cities had to each enter into separate treaties with Rome and give up all power over their own foreign relations. So with this treaty you get an outline of how the later polygot Roman Empire would be run.

The historian Tenney Frank thought the treaties of 338 BC of great importance to the future of Rome.

Answer: Etruscan meddling in Campania

The very pro-Roman account of Livy does not mention Etruscan meddling. But reading other accounts it is hard not to see that Rome was trying to pick a fight with the Samnites. The latter had been tied up with a war in the south when Rome established a colony at Fregellae, which was in an area controlled by the Samnites.

The Romans then accused the Samnites of stirring up anti-Roman sentiment at Neopolis and mobilizing for war, both of which were denied. The Romans and Samnites both sent troops to Campania after diplomacy failed and the war was on.

Answer: Battle of Caudine Forks

Caudine Forks was a disaster for Rome. It was almost as bad as the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC, with one exception: Almost no one died on either side. The Roman army managed to get itself surrounded and was forced to surrender without a fight. While Livy perpetuated a myth about Roman defiance in the face of adversity, many modern historians believe that Rome was forced into a humiliating 5 year treaty in which it was forced to give up the colonies it had established at Fregellae and Cale. But in 316 BC war broke out again between Rome and Samnium. Rome would be more prepared this time.

Answer: Maniple system

Samnite hill country and, probably, the Roman defeat at Lautulae in 315 were the driving factors that pushed the Romans towards the basic unit of the maniple. The maniple was composed of three lines of 40 men and its maneuverability and flexibility gave the Romans a tactical military advantage.

It was said to be a phalanx "with joints." It would prove its worth until the end of the second century BC.

Answer: The Etruscans

An interesting fact about Etruria, despite its cultural preeminence, was that it was, in the main, a geographical description, not really a strong political one. The peoples of its various and many cities consistently refused to band together as needed to confront Rome.

In turn, Rome picked them off one city at a time, beginning with cities like Veii in 406 BC. The Etruscans saw an opportunity and got their act together long enough to form an alliance with the Samnites.

Answer: Appian Way

In 312 BC, the Romans completed the first section of the Appian Way, a hard surfaced road, to Capua in Campania where much of the fighting occurred and which was adjacent to the Samnite hills; it vastly improved Rome's internal communications and ability to deal with the two-front war.

The Appian Way and Aqueducts were the brainchild of the Appius Claudius Caecus, a controversial and crusty 'uber' patrician who had at times just refused to give up power, shocking all of Rome. But in the end it was to Rome's benefit as Roman manpower was gradually able to grind down its enemies for a complete victory in 304 BC. Some have said it is impossible to overstate the importance of Rome's victory in the Great Samnite War.

It was a 23 year slugfest that saw Rome deliver a near fatal knockout blow to the only people who could begin to challenge Rome's complete control of Italy.

It would help open up all of southern Italy to Roman expansion.

Answer: Battle of Sentinum

By 298 BC Samnium was hemmed in by 13 Roman colonies and Etruria was chafing at a Roman presence well into its territory. Both must have understood that the Roman yoke was not going to get lighter with time and, together with new allies-- the Umbrians and Gallic mercenaries-- the time to strike was now.

Some 40,000 troops on each side were matched at Sentinum in Etruria, and Rome won a decisive victory. Rome put a final nail in the coffin of independence in both south central and north central Italy with its victory over the Samnites at the Battle of Aquilonia in 293 BC. Roman dominance in central Italy was now complete.

It had the strategic choice of going north or south. Rome turned north.

Answer: The Gauls and the Etruscans

The Gallic Senones had now been in northeastern Italy along the Adriatic coast for over 100 years. The Umbrians of north central Italy had probably been something of a buffer between the Romans and the Senones. But with the Umbrian defeat in the Third Samnite War, that buffer was now Roman controlled territory. Without knowing for sure, historians can certainly surmise that the Senones appreciated the bad intentions of the Rome. So around 285 BC the Senones formed an alliance with the Etruscans, but the Romans beat them at the Battle of Arretium (284 BC). Rome also is believed to have beaten the Gallic Boi in the Battle of Lake Vadimo (283 BC). Rome's power now extended northward nearly to the Po River. Rome then turned south.

Answer: The Greeks

By 282 BC, the Greeks of Magna Graecia, or Greater Greece, had founded cities in southern Italy for some 400 years. Two of these cities, Thurii and Tarentum, drew the Romans into the fractious intercity politics of southern Italy. Thurii asked for Roman help against Tarentum and the Romans obliged. Fearing Rome, Tarentum asked for help from abroad.

Answer: Pyrrhus

Pyrrhus is one of the more interesting characters of ancient history. He was the son of a King of Epirus, forced into exile, returned to be king of Epirus, became King of Macedonia for a few years and generally earned his considerable military skills at the tail end of the high stakes Successor Wars that followed the death of Alexander the Great (who was his second cousin) and raged throughout the eastern Mediterranean, off and on, for nearly 50 years.

Answer: A Pyrrhic victory

Pyrrhus handed the Romans two defeats, but the latter always inflicted a heavy cost on the former's army and always retreated in good order. Hence the phrase "Pyrrhic victory" came about. After he had established a base in southern Italy, and apparently trying to avoid other such "victories," Pyrrhus attempted to negotiate a treaty with Rome, but the old patrician Appius Claudius Caecus convinced the Senate to refuse all negotiations. Faced with Roman obstinance, Pyrrhus moved on to Sicily where he handed its Carthaginian masters defeat after defeat.

But again he was unable to bring about a political settlement. In 275 Pyrrhus returned his army to southern Italy, where Rome was threatening his rear base.

Answer: Beneventum

Pyrrhus' army was by now down to around 20,000 and was he unable to raise any troops among Lucanians, Brutti, Samnites and Tarentines because he had deserted them in 278 when he went to Sicily and left them to the tender mercies of the Romans.
At Beneventum, the Romans were under the command of the consul Manius Curius Dentatus and, while the Romans did not win there tactically, the battle was again so costly Pyrrhus was forced to leaved Italy and go back to Greece. Thus it was a strategic win.
The Romans were now masters of Italy from the Po River in the north to the heel of the Italian boot, as the southern peoples, the Lucanians, Brutti, Samnites and Tarentine Greeks, were all forced to submit to Roman influence.
This in turn would would set up Rome's clash with Carthage in 264 BC, with the First Punic War, over who should control Sicily.