Social War—Italian allies agitating for equal rights rebel against Rome.

The Social War (91-to-88 BC)

The Social War was actually a civil war between Rome and those of her allies (Socii) who were repeatedly denied the rights of full Roman citizenship. In the years leading up to the Social War, the Italian allies were obligated to provide provisions and man power for the legions during times of war. Yet they did not have representation in the Roman Senate or Assemblies. They had no vote. This second-class citizenship had economic consequences as well. In the division of spoils of war, allied legionaries received a smaller share. Furthermore, as Roman legionaries retired, they were allocated plots on public lands, ager publicus; lands often taken in war from the very allies who were denied their share of it now. With the Gracchan land redistribution schemes, even the local allied aristocrats who had encroached upon these lands along with their wealthy Roman counterparts, found themselves losers. And allied poor received nothing.

Recently, Marcus Livius Drusus the Younger had represented Socii interests regarding the franchise, but he was assassinated by the conservative opposition and his reforms were repealed. Frustrated by the intransigence of the Optimates, the allies rebelled. Their political goal was independence for the 12 tribes/nations that constituted the Italia confederation: Samnites, Lucani, Apuli, Marsi, Marrucini, Paeligni, Picentes, Frentani, Hirpini, Pompeiani, Venusini, and Vestini. The ultimate goal for Italia was an independent confederation. The Roman goal was the status quo ante; second class citizenship of these various allies; local autonomy but no say in imperial foreign or domestic policy.

The Italia Confederation was able to field 100,000 men trained and equipped to fight like the Roman legions. The Romans could field 100,000 infantry as well, but had the advantage of being able to draw upon specialized forces throughout the Empire; among them Gallic and Spanish heavy and Numidian light cavalry.

The Roman strategic objective was the military defeat of the allied confederation. Their operational strategy was to divide the Italian peninsula into two theaters, the north and the south, and to attack both at the same time.

The Italia strategic objective was the defeat of Roman forces in the field and the separation of her Latin allies from Rome before she could bring full imperial resources to bear.

The year 91 BC was spent in preparation for war by both sides.

The conflict was bloody and ruthless. Although Marius participated in the beginning of the war and made good some of the reverses suffered in the field by his colleagues, it was Sulla who excelled. At Nola, he was awarded the rarely given Corona Graminea (Crown of Grasses) by acclamation of the legion he had saved.

In 90 BC, the Roman legions were commanded by the consuls Sextus Julius Caesar in the south (supported by Lentulus, a brother of Caesar himself, as well as Titus Didius, Licinius Crassus, Cornelius Sulla, and Marcellus) and Publius Rutilius Lupus in the north (supported by Gnaeus Pompeius, Quintus Caepio, Gaius Perpenna, Gaius Marius and Valerius Messala).

Many of these generals lost their lives. By the following year, 89 BC,

Strabo, and Quintus Servilius Caepio, who all lost their lives in battle. Marius succeeded them as commander of the north and was able to rectify their losses.

In the south

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