Latin wars

The Latin Guerres (-340 with -338) opposed the Roman République to its neighbors, the Latin people of the Italian peninsula. They ended in the Roman victory, the dissolution of the Latin Ligue, and the incorporation of its territories in the Roman sphere of influence. On this occasion Latin obtained rights partial and various levels of citizenship.

An attempt on behalf of the Latin people to acquire their independence of Rome was the leading cause of the war. In -340, an embassy was sent to the Roman Sénat to require the formation of only one republic, including/understanding at the same time Rome and the Latium, on the same level. As Rome was, since a few years, the leader of the Latin League, it refused to level the Latin people his and to accommodate Latin with the Senate. The refusal of Rome caused the war. The Romans had fought near the Latin people and of Campanie against the samnites (Guerres samnites). Latin and the campaniens continued to fight side by side, while Rome was combined with the samnites to attack Latin.

Latin entered the Samnium. The army romano-samnite moved towards the Lac of Fucino, then, avoiding Latium, entered in Campania and attacked Latin and the campaniens close to the mount Vesuvius. With the battle of Vesuvius, the Romans, under the orders of the consuls Publius Decius Driven and Titus Manlius Torquatus, beat Latin. According to the Roman sources, Manlius re-established the discipline of the army by carrying out his/her own son for disobedience, whereas Decius sacrificed its own life to the gods so that Rome has the victory.

One year later, Manlius beat Latin with the Bataille of Trifanum. Latin, obliged to leave the Campania, turned over to Latium, where they continued a long battle. However, resistance against the Roman forces was useless. The overcome Latin people had to recognize the primacy of Rome, certain Latin cities were romanisées, others became partially Roman and adopted the Roman magistratures, whereas others still became Roman colonies.

See too

List of the wars of the Roman Republic

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