Today's bit of ancient wisdom:
For not only if someone comes forward with a well-considered plan, could you hear and accept it, but also I count it part of your good fortune that more than one speaker may be inspired with suitable suggestions on the spur of the moment, so that out of the multitude of proposals the choice of the best should not be difficult. Demosthenes. Olynthiac 1. Section 1.
Image: Samnite soldiers from a tomb frieze in Nola 4th century BCE.
The Samnites formed a confederation, consisting of four tribes: the Hirpini, Caudini, Caraceni, and Pentri. They allied with Rome against the Gauls in 354 BCE, but later became enemies of the Romans and were soon involved in a series of three wars (343–341 BCE, 327–304 BCE, and 298–290 BCE) against the Romans. Despite an overwhelming victory over the Romans at the Battle of the Caudine Forks (321 BCE), the Samnites were eventually subjugated. They also fought from 90 BCE in the Social War and later in the civil war (82 BCE) as allies of Gnaeus Papirius Carbo against Lucius Cornelius Sulla, who defeated them and their leader Pontius Telesinus at the Battle of the Colline Gate (82 BCE). Sadly, Sulla conducted an ethnic cleansing campaign against this most stubborn and persistent of Rome's adversaries and forced the remnant to disperse. So great was the destruction brought upon them that it was recorded that "some of their cities have now dwindled into villages, some indeed being entirely deserted." Although the Samnites made many plans during their contentious relationship with Rome, they eventually lost their unique identity. They did, at least, gain citizenship.
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