The Roman conquest of the Hernici, an ancient Italic people, took place during the 4th century BC. For most of the 5th century BC the Roman Republic had been allied with the other Latin states and the Hernici to successfully fend off the Aequi and the Volsci. In the early 4th century BC this alliance fell apart. A war fought between Rome and the Hernici in the years 366 - 358 BC ended in Roman victory and the submission of the Hernici. Rome also defeated a rebellion by some Hernician cities in 307 - 306 BC. The rebellious Hernici were incorporated directly into the Roman Republic while those who had stayed loyal retained their autonomy and nominal independence. In the course of the following century the Hernici became indistinguishable from their Latin and Roman neighbours and disappeared as a separate people.
The foedus Cassianum - 5th century BC edit
The ancient sources tell that in 486 BC the Hernici joined the foedus Cassianum, a mutual military alliance between the Latin cities with Rome as the leading partner. While the precise workings of the Latin League remains uncertain, its overall purpose seems clear. During the 5th century the Latins were threatened by invasion from the Aequi and the Volsci, as part of a larger pattern of Sabellian-speaking peoples migrating out of the Apennines and into the plains. Fighting is recorded against either the Aequi, the Volsci, or both, almost every year during the first half 5th century. This annual warfare would have been dominated by raids and counter-raids rather than the pitched battles described by the ancient sources. During the second half the 5th century the Latin-Hernician alliance appears to have stemmed the tide. The sources records the founding of several Roman colonies during this era, while mention of wars against the Aequi and Volsci become less frequent. At the same time this would lessened the need to maintain the alliance. This was especially true for Rome which after her conquest of Veii in 396 was clearly the most powerful state in Latium.
Defection of the Hernici - 380s BC edit
Livy writes that in 389, after a hundred years of loyal friendship, the Latins and Hernici defected from Rome in 389, after Rome had been sacked by the Gauls.[1] Then in 386 and 385 Latin and Hernician men were found fighting for the Volsci. [2] Rome protested, and refused to hand back their Hernician prisoners, but did not declare war. [3]
Livy viewed the sack of Rome by the Gauls as a grave disaster that encouraged Rome's neighbours to rise against her. Modern historians however believe the ancient historical tradition exaggerate the impact of the sack. Likewise they disagree with Livy's views that the Hernici defected from Rome; as Livy notes, no open warfare between Rome and the Hernici is recorded for this time period. Rather the military alliance between Rome and the Hernici appear to have been allowed to wither. This might have been a willed policy by Rome, which freed from her treaty obligations would have gained wider freedom of action. [4]
The Hernician War 362 - 358 edit
The war waged by the Romans against the Hernici from 362 to 358 is part of a pattern of unprecedented successful Roman warfare in the late 360s and the 350s. [5]
Outbreak of the war edit
According to Livy in 386 it was reported in Rome that the Hernici had rebelled, but nothing was done to prevent any action from being taken by the plebeian consul. [6] In 383 to ward off pestilence the Romans nominated L. Manlius Imperiosus dictator to perform the ancient ritual of "driving in the nail" at the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus. Manlius however attempted to use his appointment to secure command in the war against the Hernici, but faced with public resentment and resistance from the tribunes of the plebs he was forced to lay down his office. [7] After fetials had been sent to the Hernici to demand satisfaction without result, the Roman Assembly in 362 voted for war against the Hernici. L. Genucius Aventinensis became the first plebeian consul to command in war, but the Hernici caught Genucius in an ambush; the consul was killed and the Roman legions routed. [8]
Dictatorship of Appius Claudius Crassus edit
The surviving patrician consul, Q. Servilius Ahala, then nominated Appius Claudius Crassus as dictator. [9] Pending the arrival of the dictator, C. Sulpicius assumed command of the Roman army. The Hernici had surrounded the Roman camp, but led by Sulpicius the Romans sortied and forced them to retreat. With the arrival of the dictator with fresh forces from Rome, the strength of the Roman army was doubled. On their side the Hernici called up all their men, and formed a special privileged unit of 3 200 picked men. The Romans and Hernici had camped on each side of a two miles broad plain, and the battle took place in the middle. When the Roman cavalry found they could not break the enemy lines by normal means, they dismounted and charged as infantry. They were countered by the special picked men of the Hernici. [10] After a hard struggle the Roman knight got the best of this contest and the Hernici were routed. The next day the Romans were delayed in attacking the Hernician camp by difficulty in obtaining favourable omens and consequently failed to take the camp before darkness broke off fighting. During the night the Hernici abandoned their camp and withdrew. Seeing the retreating Hernici pass by their walls the people of Signia sallied out and scattered them in flight. Roman causalities had been heavy, a quarter of their whole force, and a considerable number of their cavalry had fallen. [11]
Rome triumphant edit
Livy only provide brief narratives for the remaining years of the Hernician war, being more interested in the Gallic wars Rome was fighting at the same time. In 361 the Roman consuls invaded Hernician territory. Finding no enemy in the field, they attacked and took Ferentinum. [12] In 360 consul M. Fabius Ambustus received command of the war against the Hernici. [13] Fabius defeated the Hernici first in unimportant battles and then in a great one where the Hernici attacked in full strength. For his victories Fabius entered the City of Rome in Ovation. [14] In 358 the Romans assigned command of the Hernician war to consul C. Plautius Proculus. [15] The consul defeated the Hernici and reduced them to submission. [16] The Pomptina and Publilia tribes were also formed that year. [17]
In 358 Latium was threatened by invasion from the Gauls, and this might have influenced the Hernici to accept a new treaty with Rome, probably on less favourably terms than their old alliance. [18] Of the two Roman tribes created in 358, the Pomptina was evidently established on territory Rome had taken from the Volsci in the Pomptine region. The location of the Publilia is less certain, modern historians have conjectured that this tribe was located on territory the Romans had taken from the Hernici, but it is possible that the Publilia was also located on former Volscian land. [19][20]
Final rebellion of the Hernici 307-306 edit
Towards the end of the Second Samnite War, in 307 BC, the Romans found a number of Hernician men among prisoners taken in battle against the Samnites. These were placed under guard in various Latin towns while the Romans investigated whether they had fought for the Samnites voluntarily or had been conscripted. In response part of the Hernici, under the leadership of the city of Anagnia, in 306 rose in rebellion, but were easily defeated by the Romans that same year. As punishment Anagnia and the other towns that had rebelled were annexed into the Roman Republic, their people becoming civitas sine suffragio. Aletrium, Ferentinum and Verulae were allowed to retain their autonomy and enjoy similar political rights as the Latins.
References edit
- ^ Livy, vi.2.3-4
- ^ Livy, vi.7.1, 8.4-10, 11.9-10, 12.7-11, & 13.1-8
- ^ Livy, vi.6.2-3, 10.6-9, 14.1, 17.7-8
- ^ 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. 322. ISBN 978-0-415-01596-7.
- ^ Cornell, p. 324
- ^ Livy, vii.1.3-4
- ^ Livy, vii.3.4-9
- ^ Livy, vii.6.1-7
- ^ Livy, vii.6.11-12
- ^ Livy, vii.7.1-9
- ^ Livy, vii.8.1-7
- ^ Livy, vii.9.1
- ^ Livy, vii.11.2
- ^ Livy, vii.11.8-9
- ^ Livy, vii.12.7
- ^ Livy, vii.14.10
- ^ Livy, vii.15.12
- ^ Cornell, p. 324
- ^ Cornell, p. 324
- ^ Forsythe, Gary (2005). A Critical History of Early Rome. Berkley: University of California Press. p. 277. ISBN 0-520-24991-7.