Roman–Aequian wars: Difference between revisions
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The Aequi were not finally subdued until the end of the second [[Samnite Wars#Second (or Great) Samnite War (326 to 304 BC)|Samnite war]],<ref>Livy, ix. 45, fx. i; Diod. xx. 101</ref> when they seem to have received a limited form of franchise.<ref>Cicero, Off. i. n, 35</ref> |
The Aequi were not finally subdued until the end of the second [[Samnite Wars#Second (or Great) Samnite War (326 to 304 BC)|Samnite war]],<ref>Livy, ix. 45, fx. i; Diod. xx. 101</ref> when they seem to have received a limited form of franchise.<ref>Cicero, Off. i. n, 35</ref> |
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==Aequi incursions in 494 BC== |
==Aequi incursions in 494 BC== |
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Revision as of 22:42, 29 July 2013
The Roman-Aequian wars were a series of wars during the early expansion of ancient Rome in central Italy against their eastern neighbours, the Aequi.
Livy mentions that the last king of Rome, Tarquinius Superbus, made peace with the Aequi.[1]
They fought several battles against the Romans, among which was the battle of Mons Algidus (458 BC). Their chief center is said to have been taken by the Romans about 484 BC[2] and again about ninety years later.[3]
Records of fighting between Romans and Aequi become much sparser in the second half of the 5th century BC. Likely the Aequi had gradually become a more settled people and their raiding petered out as a result.[4]
The Aequi were not finally subdued until the end of the second Samnite war,[5] when they seem to have received a limited form of franchise.[6]
Aequi incursions in 494 BC
During the period of popular discontent in Rome which led to the First secessio plebis in 494 BC, each of the Volsci, Sabines and the Aequi took up arms at the same time. To meet the threat, a Roman dictator was appointed, Manius Valerius Maximus. Ten legions were raised, a greater number than had been raised previously at any one time, three of which were assigned to the consul Veturius to deal with the Aequi.
The Aequi had invaded Latium, and Veturius marched there to meet the enemy at the request of the Latin allies of Rome, rather than allowing the Latins to arm themselves. Upon the arrival of the Roman army, the Aequians retreated from Latium to the safety of the mountains to the east.[7]
Aequi uprising in 388 BC
In 390 BC a Gaulish war band defeated the Roman army at the Battle of Allia and then sacked Rome. The ancient writers report that in 389 BC the Etruscans, the Volsci, and the Aequi all raised armies in hope of exploiting this blow to Roman power. According to Livy and Plutarch, the Aequi gathered their army at Bolae. However, the Roman dictator, Marcus Furius Camillus, had just inflicted a severe defeat on the Volsci. He surprised the Aequian army and captured both their camp and the town.[8] According to Diodorus Siculus, the Aequi were actually besieging Bolae when they were attacked by Camillus.[9] According to Livy, a Roman army ravaged Aequian territory again in 388, this time meeting no resistance.[10] Oakley (1997) considers these notices of Roman victories against the Aequi in 389 and 388 to be historical, confirmed by the disappearance of the Aequi from the sources until 304. Owing to the dispute in the sources, however, the precise nature of the fighting around Bolae cannot be determined. Bolae was a Latin town, but it was also the scene of much fighting between Romans and Aequi, and it changed hands several times. Either an (unreported) Aequian capture followed by Roman recapture, or a failed Aequan siege, are therefore possible.[11]
References
- ^ Livy, Ab urbe condita, 1:55
- ^ D.S. xi.140
- ^ D.S. xiv.106
- ^ Cornell, T. J. (1995). The Beginnings of Rome- Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars (c. 1000-264 BC). New York: Routledge. p. 309. ISBN 978-0-415-01596-7.
- ^ Livy, ix. 45, fx. i; Diod. xx. 101
- ^ Cicero, Off. i. n, 35
- ^ Livy, Ab urbe condita, 2:30
- ^ Livy, vi.2.14; Plutarch, Camillus 33.1, 35.1
- ^ D.S., xiv.117.4
- ^ Livy, vi.4.8
- ^ Oakley, S. P. (1997). A Commentary on Livy Books VI-X, Volume 1 Introduction and Book VI. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 352–353. ISBN 0-19-815277-9.