Chapter II – Expansion to northern Italy (304-303 BC)
Italy in 305 BC
After the successful Samnite Wars, Rome was now the dominant power in central Italy and her eyes turned to north. Picenti, who's independence had been guaranteed by Rome, offered a buffer zone between Rome and the uncivilized tribes to the north. To the west of Picentium, lay Umbria, inhabited by a celtic tribe known as Senones. West of Umbria, Rome's old enemy the Etruscans, whom had been in control of Rome two centuries ago.
When the Senone-Picenti War erupted in mid 305 BC, the Roman senate voted to not help the Picentis, explaining that the Roman army was in no condition to fight so soon after the Samnite War. However, some modern historians, after carefully studying contemporary sources, put forward a theory that Rome's unwillingness to help the Picenti, was due to hopes that the Senones would win and take control of the Picenum region. This would allow Rome to wage war on the Senones and conquer both Umbria and Picenum, without breaking the independence treaty. Furthermore, there is evidence that indicates the Roman army grew from 6,000 to about 10,000 strong immediately after the Samnite War with the raising of Legio II ”Ferrata”.
The Senone-Picenti War ended in draw in early spring of 304 BC. Now weakened, the Senones were an easy target for the Romans. War was declared in summer of 304 BC and the Legio I marched under Marcus Valerius Corvus on Sena Gallica, the capital of the Senones.
The Senones suffered a costly defeat against the Roman army with approximately 2,000 out of 3,000 men killed during the battle, but the remnants of the Senone army took flight towards Roma. The newly raised Legio II under Consul and veteran of the Samnite War, Quintus Rullianus was waiting them.
Rullianus couldn't achieve a decisive victory against the Senones and had to pursue them to Samnium, where, in fall of 304 BC, the Senone army was completely annihilated. The Senone capital surrendered after 7 months of sieging in December of 304 BC. While considered ”uncivilized”, the Senones were given the status of ”Latii”, a status somewhere between full citizens and non-citizens.
Marcus Valerius Corvus returned to Rome to receive a triumph for his actions in taking the Senone capital. During this triumph, the Senone tribal chief, Arvirargus, was strangled to death publicly.
In the summer of 303 BC, Rome went to war against the Etruscans. There doesn't seem to be any other reason for this than simply conquering Etruria and taking control of their iron deposits, sorely needed by Rome to further grow their army.
Legio II, commanded by the Consul Marcus Aemilius Paullus invaded Etruria from Umbria. The Etruscan army tried to flee to the north, towards the wilderness of Apuani, but the Legio II caught up with it and defeated them. Approximately 2,000 Etruscians were killed or captured. Volaterrae, the capital of Etruria would fall after 4 months.
Italy in 303 BC