Samnite Wars

The First, Second, and Third Samnite Wars (343–341 BC, 326–304 BC, and 298–290 BC) were fought between the Roman Republic and the Samnites, who lived on a stretch of the Apennine Mountains south of Rome and north of the Lucanian tribe.

  • The first of these wars was the result of Rome's intervention to rescue the Campanian city of Capua from a Samnite attack.
  • The second one was the result of Rome's intervention in the politics of the city of Naples and developed into a contest over the control of central and southern Italy.
  • Similarly the third war also involved a struggle for control of this part of Italy.
Samnite Wars

Roman expansion in Italy from 500 BC to 218 BC through the Latin War (light red), Samnite Wars (pink/orange), Pyrrhic War (beige), and First and Second Punic War (yellow and green). Cisalpine Gaul (238-146 BC) and Alpine valleys (16-7 BC) were later added. The Roman Republic in 500 BC is marked with dark red
Date
  • 1st: 343–341 BC
  • 2nd: 327–304 BC
  • 3rd: 298–290 BC
Location
Central Italy and parts of southern Italy
Result Roman control over much of central Italy and part of southern Italy (the modern regions of Lazio, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania and Basilicata and Northern Apulia)
Belligerents
Roman Republic
Latin allies
Campanians		 Samnites
Aequi
some Hernici
Etruscans
Umbrians
Senone Gauls
some northern Apulian towns
Commanders and leaders
Quintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus
Quintus Aulius Cerretanus		 Gellius Egnatius †

The wars extended over half a century, and also drew in the peoples to the east, north, and west of Samnium (land of the Samnites) as well as those of central Italy north of Rome (the Etruscans, Umbri, and Picentes) and the Senone Gauls, but at different times and levels of involvement.

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