* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Daniel Stephens Lifelong Learning Academy
Constitutional reforms of Sulla wikipedia , lookup
Cursus honorum wikipedia , lookup
Roman infantry tactics wikipedia , lookup
Roman army of the mid-Republic wikipedia , lookup
Structural history of the Roman military wikipedia , lookup
Military of ancient Rome wikipedia , lookup
Promagistrate wikipedia , lookup
Roman economy wikipedia , lookup
Food and dining in the Roman Empire wikipedia , lookup
Roman funerary practices wikipedia , lookup
Travel in Classical antiquity wikipedia , lookup
Roman Republican governors of Gaul wikipedia , lookup
Roman Republic wikipedia , lookup
Roman historiography wikipedia , lookup
History of the Roman Constitution wikipedia , lookup
Rome (TV series) wikipedia , lookup
Education in ancient Rome wikipedia , lookup
Roman army of the late Republic wikipedia , lookup
Culture of ancient Rome wikipedia , lookup
Roman agriculture wikipedia , lookup
Daniel Stephens Lifelong Learning Academy } } } } } } Roman Reorganization The First Samnite War The Latins Strike Back The End of the Latin League The Second Samnite War The Third Samnite War } } } } } } } } Conquering Italy The Greeks Alexander of Epirus Fighting on all Fronts King Pyrrhus of Epirus The Battle of Heraclea Pyrrhic Victory Tarentum Falls } } } } In the Aftermath of the Gaulish invasions the Roman’s reorganized their fighting force. No longer would it be primarily made up of farmers and craftsmen. Professional soldiers were made and trained to defend Rome and expand it’s borders. Military service would bring with it political aspirations, citizenship, and possibilities of riches. } } } } } } The normal citizen soldier in the early republic would be called up to service basis of their position in the Comitia Centuriata. Each infantry soldier would now be outfitted according to their social status. Each phalanx of soldiers would consist of: Hastati, Spearmen equip with long spears Bronze helmets, light armor, and the Scuta. Principes, Second line troops wealthier and equip with bronze helmets, Chain Mail armor, Pilum, and Scuta. Triarii, Third line troops made up of the wealthiest infantry they wore Bronze helmets with feathers to denote seniority carried long spears, swords and large round Clipei shields. The Triarii was the last line of attack sent in to break the enemy and win the day. They would be supported by rorarii and accensi, the poorest soldiers who would act as auxiliaries and re-enforcements. } } } } Equites coming from the first rank of the Comitia Centuriata would be picked to serve as cavalry. These higher ranking citizens would supply their own horses and be responsible for their own equipment. Early in the republic the Cavalry would be used as bodyguards for Consuls and Generals, but as Rome expanded their role would include scouting, to break up enemy formations and to counter enemy cavalry and shock troops.. The typical Cavalry soldier would receive one drachma a day while on campaign, triple the rate of an infantry soldier. Cavalry soldiers during the republic would also be recompensated by the Senate if their horse was killed in battle. } } } } } In 343 the Samnite tribe of the Appian highlands of Central Italy moved into Campania and threatened the city of Capua. Capua appealed to Rome for help, but Rome had a treaty with the Samnites. Capua and Campania surrendered to the Romans who were obliged to send aid. Rome’s newly organized armies marched into Campania and engaged the Samnites and won three decisive battles led by the Consuls Marcus Valerius Corvus and Aulus Cornelius Cossus. Corvus fought the Samnites at Mount Gaurus near Cumae were in the fading light of day the Roman routed the Samnites after and entire day of fighting. Cossus marched an army into Samnium and was almost trapped in the mountain passes by the Samnites and managed to escape defeat. } } } } } } } Still determined to defeat Rome the Samnites moved down and besieged the Campanian city of Suessula. Valerius Corvus left his baggage train behind and marched right for the Samnite army. The Samnites underestimating the Romans spread the army out to forage. Corvus was able to move his army in and push the Samnite out of Campania. The Samnites sought for a treaty mostly due to the fact they were being attacked by the Greek colony Tarentum. The war was nearly a disaster for Rome. One of Rome’s garrison armies mutinied and tried to set up their own kingdom in Campania. When discovered the rebel army marched towards Rome. Corvus encountered the army and was able to negotiate a bloodless peace and reforms were passed. } } } While Rome was occupied with the Samnites and a mutiny the Latin League formed an alliance to push for equal footing with Rome. The Latins allied themselves with the Volsci and the Campanians and tried to march on Rome. Rome appealed to the Samnites and due to the treaty Rome and the Samnites defeated the Latin League. } } } } } Rome now used this opportunity to dismantle the league and destroy a threat. Rome offered Campania excellent terms and they left the alliance for good. They dismantled the League by making some Latin cities municipae, who had Roman citizenship and would supply Rome with soldiers. Rome then set up Roman colonies seeded with poor Romans, in strategic places though Latium to guard ports and defend key cities. This divide and rule policy would be used time and again through Rome’s history. } } } } } } } } } } } } } } Their were several ways to become a Roman citizen. You were born a citizen. You gained the right through military service. You were lucky enough to live in a province that Rome granted citizenship to its occupants. You were a slave and your master granted you freedom and citizenship. You won it in successful Gladiatorial combat. Bought it. Your rights guaranteed under citizenship were: Pay Taxes Serve in the military The right of suffragium (vote) Immunity from summary arrest and imprisonment A Man could lose citizenship if he deserted the military, mutilated himself to avoid service, or dodged the census. Women had none of these rights. } } } } } } } } } All was peaceful along the Samnite frontier until 326 when Rome made peace with Greek Tarentum, who was at war with the Samnites. After the Samnites made peace with the Greeks they moved in and took the Greek port of Neapolis. The nearby Capuans pleaded with Rome for aid. Rome sent a Legion and besieged Neapolis and the Samnites surrendered. Over the next few years Samnite and Roman groups fought to a stalemate in the Western planes. Rome trying to force a decision moved into Samnium and was soundly defeated at Caudine Forks. Rome reorganized their army and attacked again but was defeated and Capua changed sides. Again Rome regroups and fights back Capua and quickly established colonies in the area. The Samnites will settle for peace and Rome accepts. } } } } } } } Rome quickly learned that the Hoplite formation had many drawbacks, Particularly when fighting in Mountainous regions like Samnium. The Phalanx holds off frontal attacks very well, but when your enemy is attacking from above, or on the flanks the Phalanx is easily defeated. The use of the Hoplite shield also does not protect Roman soldiers very well against tall attackers with swords. The Maniple will now adapt the Phalanx into a line formation usually three to four deep. The line can now confront the enemy without letting them come around and attack the flanks. The Romans would now adapt to the traditional Roman shield the Scuta. Rome will use the Maniple Legion well into the Republic. } } } } } In 298 The Samnites would again make a push to take the western plains of Italy, but this time they had allied themselves with the Etruscans and the Gauls. Quickly the allied force moved up and defeated Roman legions at Camerinum, and nearly at Sentinum. At Sentinum The Etruscans withdrew their aid after the Samnite leader Egnatius Gellus was killed on the field causing the Samnite army to collapse. The Etruscans and Gauls make peace with Rome leaving the Samnites out to dry. Rome moves in and in 290 the Samnites accept the status of allies of Rome and were absorbed into the Roman identity. } } } } After the defeat of the Samnites Rome now controlled most of Central Italy. Now it turned its eye towards Magna Graecia in the south. The principle Greek city was the port colony of Tarentia with a 15,000 man army and comparable navy. In 334 Tarentium hired Alexander of Epirus, Uncle to Alexander the Great to help deal with the Samnites. } } } } } } During Rome’s war with the Samnites Alexander the Great was conquering half of the known world. Greek Colonies in Magna Graecia were leery of the indigenous Italians moving down and clashing with them. Tarentum made pleas to Sparta and Epirus and Alexander of Epirus answered the call. Alexander moved his army of classical trained hoplites into southern Italy and began fighting Roman and Samnite people . After pacifying the locals Alexander moved to trying to conquer the local Lucanians. Tarentum fearing Roman further Roman expansion into the region and Alexander's ambitions abandoned him and he was killed in battle with the Lucanians. } } } } } } Rome would continue to encroach into Magna Graecia and pacified the Greek cities Thurii, Locri, and Rhegium. Bound by a treaty to Tarentum Rome would not encroach into their territory, but they would move garrisons into the pacified cities and a sizeable fleet into Thurii. Tarentum became paranoid over the Roman garrisons and fleet so close by. They sent envoys to Rome to plead for their removal. When ignored Tarentum sinks the Roman fleet and sends to Greece for help. The new King of Epirus responds to the call. } } } } } After the death of Alexander the Great his massive empire divides into war. Pyrrhus a cousin of Alexander and a friend of Ptolemy I was restored to his throne of Epirus in 298 BC with financial backing by Ptolemy. For a short time Pyrrhus led an army and was able to take and rule Macedon until 284 BC. When Tarentum sent word Pyrrhus was looking to expand Epirian influence to Italy and possibly move and invade Sicily. 280 BC Pyrrhus would enter Italy with 3,000 cavalry, 2,000 archers, 500 slingers, 20,000 infantry and 20 war elephants. } } } } } } } } The Romans did not shy away from Pyrrhus. Eight Roman Legions divided into four armies were dispatched to deal with Pyrrhus. One army was sent north to pacify the Etruscans, One army was sent west to pacify the Samnites, One army stayed behind to guard Rome and the army led by Consul Publius Valerius Laevinus was sent to Tarentum and to plunder Lucania along the way. Pyrrhus sat and waited for the Roman army to arrive, as well as his allies. When his allies did not arrive Pyrrhus moves across the banks of the Siri River and prepares for battle on the plains of Heraclea. He uses the river a natural barrier and sends envoys to discuss a possible peace with the Romans. Publius Valerius Laevinus rejects the plea and the next morning Roman cavalry and legions begin to move across the river. Pyrrhus, learning of the crossing counters with his cavalry and sends the Greek Phalanx forward. What follows is the first time the Greek Phalanx would meet the Roman Maniple Legion. } } } } } } } } } The Phalanx Hoplites could not break the legion, but the legion could not push through he Greeks. The battle pushed back and forth seven times in stalemate. To break the lock Publius Valerius Laevinus would send in Cavalry and push back the Greeks. It almost succeeds until Pyrrhus dispatches his 20 war elephants. The Roman horses had never experienced elephants and the horses broke and ran. With the introduction of the elephants the Roman army retreated from the field and Pyrrhus would take the Roman camp. Roman losses were upwards of 17,000 men to Pyrrhus’s 13,000. Pyrrhus had won a great victory but a quarter of his army was now gone. The term Pyrrhic Victory would come to mean a win at such a high cost. } } } } } } } } After the defeat of Publius Valerius Laevinus, the Roman army under Publius Decius Mus moved out of Samnia and attacked Pyrrhus the next spring at Asculum were again Pyrrhus’s war elephants won the day but again the losses were staggering 6,000 Roman to 3,300 Greek. Pyrrhus would remark "If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined". Pyrrhus would next invade Sicily at their request and he would make preparations to leave for Greece. After a while he returned to Italy and had found a vastly larger Roman army waiting for him. He would again fight the Romans to a draw at Benventum in 275BC. He would then leave for Greece to try again to win the Macedonian throne. In 272Bc while fighting in Sparta Pyrrhus is killed in battle. Upon hearing of his death Tarentum Sues for peace and takes the status allies of Rome and was colonized. } } } } } With the fall of the Magna Graecia Rome would now become masters of central and southern Italy. Over 500 years they had subdued the Voscii, Etruscans, Samnites, The Latin League, the Lucanians, and the Greeks. They had Roman colonies all over Italy and the Roman system was becoming the dominant way of life. The Romans had now arrived. Carthage an ancient empire in North Africa now made peace treaties with Rome, and Ptolemy II of Egypt made peace and trade agreements with the new kids. But peace would not last. } } } } } } In 268BC Italian and Sicilian mercenaries were employed by the Tyrant of Syracuse to take the rich city of Messana. After the death of the tyrant the mercenaries set up their own kingdom of Mamertine. Rome upset over the whole situation sided with Syracuse and attacked the Mamertines. Their reasoning was that if Carthage came and did it then Carthage would control all of Sicily. Over the campaign Rome shifted its focus and now moved to take all of Sicily to create a buffer between them and Carthage. The only problem was that Carthage would not just give Rome Western Sicily and a war would erupt. } } } } The series of three wars called the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage would take Rome from the provincial stage to International status. Rome would during these wars perfect its military, create a navy and start to become the masters of the Mediterranean. To do so they would have to take down a formidable kingdom and face off against one of histories most noted general Hannibal Barca. In the end will Carthage be destroyed?