(1) Sex. Iūliō Caesare et L. Mārciō Philippō cōnsulibus sexcentēsimō quīnquāgēsimō nōnō annō ab urbe conditā, cum prope alia omnia bella cessārent, in Ītaliā gravissimum bellum Pīcentēs, Marsī Pelīgnīque mōvērunt. Quī, cum annīs numerōsīs iam populō Rōmānō obedīrent, tum lībertātem sibi aequam adserere coepērunt. Perniciōsum admodum hoc bellum fuit.

(2) P. Rutilius cōnsul in eō occīsus est, Caepiō nōbilis iuvenis, Porcius Catō, alius cōnsul. Ducēs autem adversus Rōmānōs Pīcentibus et Marsīs fuērunt T. Vettius, Hierius Asinius, T. Hērennius, A. Cluentius.

(3) Ā Rōmānīs bene contrā eōs pūgnātum est ā C. Mariō, quī sexiēs cōnsul fuerat, et ā Cn. Pompēiō, māximē tamen ā L. Cornēliō Sullā, quī inter alia ēgregia ita Cluentium hostium ducem cum māgnīs cōpiīs fūdit, ut ex suīs ūnum āmitteret.

(4) Quadrienniō cum gravī tamen calamitāte hoc bellum trāctum est. Quīntō dēmum annō fīnem accēpit per L. Cornēlium Sullam cōnsulem, cum anteā in eōdem bellō ipse multa strēnuē, sed praetor, ēgisset.

Social War, 90–88 BCE 

Livy, Epitome 71–76; Diodorus Siculus 37.10.1–3, 11.1 ff., 13.1 ff.; Appian, Civil Wars 1.5.42 ff.

(1) Sex. Iūliō Caesare et L. Mārciō Philippō cōnsulibus: ablative absolute with form of esse understood (AG 419a). Sextus Julius Caesar (uncle of famous dictator Julius Caesar) and Lucius Marcius Philippus were consuls in 91 BCE.

Pīcentēs, Marsī Pelīgnīque: In 91 BCE the tribune M. Livius Drusus proposed to extend the franchise to the Italian allies. He lost the support of the senate, the equites and the populace of Rome and was assassinated. A coalition of Picentes, Marsi, Paeligni, Marrucini, Vestini, Frentani, Hirpini and Samnites, denied Roman citizenship, decided to fight for independence and the Italian or Social War broke out (Bird).

Quī: Pīcentēs, Marsī Pelīgnīque

(2) P. Rutilius cōnsul: see Publius Rutilius Lupus

Caepiō: see Quintus Servilius Caepio the Younger

Porcius Catō: see Lucius Porcius Cato

alius: alter

Ducēs autem adversus Rōmānōs: see T. Vettius, Hierius Asinius, T. Hērennius, A. Cluentius

(3) Ā Rōmānīs: "on the side of the Romans" (Hazzard)

pūgnātum est: main verb is used impersonally (AG 207)

ā C. Mariō: for more information about the career of Gaius Marius, see Brev. 5.1–2

ā Cn. Pompēiō: Pompeius Strabo, the father of future illustrious general Pompey the Great

ā L. Cornēliō Sullā: generally known as Sulla. Sulla’s career will be discussed in Brev. 5.4 ff.

Cluentium: see Lucius Cluentius

inter alia ēgregia: substantive adjectives (AG 288)

ut ex suīs ūnum āmitteret: result clause with ita (AG 537)

(4) cum anteā in eōdem bellō ipse multa strēnuē, sed praetor, ēgisset: cum here is concessive (AG 549). Since he was a praetor and not a consul, he was ineligible for a triumph. 

Core Vocabulary | Numbers | Dates

 

Iūlius, i, m.

the name of a Roman gens

Caesar, aris, m.

a family name in the Julian gens. (1) C. Iūlius Caesar, the famous dictator; (2) Sex. Iūlius Caesar, uncle of the dictator. Consul 91 B.C.; (3) C. Octāviānus, the emperor Augustus

Philippus, ī, m.

(1) Philip V., king of Macedonia 220—178 B.C.; (2) (M. Iūlius) Philippus I., Roman emperor 244–249 A.D.; (3) (M. Iūlius) Philippus II., son of (2); (4) L. Mārcius Philippus, consul 91 B.C.; (5) Q. Mārcius Philippus, consul 186 B.C.

cessō, āre, āvī, ātus [freq. of cēdō]

to be inactive, loiter, delay; come to an end, cease

Pīcentēs, ium, pl. m.

the inhabitants of Picenum

Marsī, ōrum, pl. m.

a brave and warlike Sabellian people, who dwelt in the mountains of central Italy

Paelīgnī, ōrum, pl. m.

a Sabine people dwelling in central Italy

numerōsus, a, um [numerus], adj.

in full numbers, numerous, manifold

oboediō, īre, īvī, ītus

to give ear to, hearken, listen; to yield

adserō, ere, uī, tus

to claim, lay claim to

perniciōsus, a, um [perniciēs], adj.

dangerous, destructive

admodum [ad + modus], adv.

up to the full limit, very, exceedingly

P.

abbreviation of the praenomen or nomen Publius

Rutilius, ī, m.

P. Rutilius, consul 90 B.C.

Caepiō, ōnis, m.

the name of a Roman family, Cn. Servīlius Caepiō, consul 253 B.C., Q. (Cn.) Servīlius Caepiō, consul 140 B.C., Q. (Servilius) Caepiō, consul 106 B.C.

Porcius, ī, m.

the name of a Roman gens.

Catō, ōnis, m.

a family name in the Porcian gens. (1) (M.) Porcius Catō, consul 89 B.C.; (2) C. (Porcius) Catō, consul 114 B.C.; (3) M. Porcius Catō, consul 118 B.C.; (4) M. Porcius Catō Uticēnsis

T.

abbreviation of the praenomen Titus

Vettius, ī, m.

T. Vettius, a leader of the Marsi in the Marsic war

Hierius, ī, m.

Hierius Asinius, leader of the Samnites in the Marsic war

Asinius, ī, m.

Hierius Asinius, leader of the Marsi in the Marsic war, 90 B.C.

Hērennius, ī, m.

T. Hērennius (Pontius), leader of the Samnites in the Marsic war

A.

abbreviation of the praenomen Aulus

Cluentius, ī, m.

a leader of the Marsi in the Marsic war

C.

abbreviation of the praenomen Gaius

Marius, ī, m.

the name of a family at Rome; (1) C. Marius, seven times consul, leader of the democratic party in the Civil war between him and Sulla. (2) C. Marius, son of (1). Consul 82 B.C.; (3) M. Aurēlius Marius, one of the Thirty Tyrants

Cn.

abbreviation of the praenomen Gnaeus

Pompēius, ī, m.

(1) Cn. Pompēius, consul 89 B.C.; (2) Cn. Pompēius, surnamed Magnus, the triumvir, consul 70 B.C.; (3) Cn. Pompēius, son of the triumvir; (4) Q. Pompēius, consul 141 B.C.; (5) Sex. Pompēius, younger son of the triumvir

Cornēlius, ī, m.

the name of a large and important gens at Rome. See Asina, Cinna, Dolābella, Faustus, Fuscus, Galbus, Lentulus, Rūfinus, Scīpiō, Sulla.

Sulla, ae, m.

L. Cornēlius Sulla, surnamed Felix, consul 88 B.C.

calamitās, ātis, f.

a calamity, defeat

dēmum, adv.

at last, finally; tum dēmum, then at last, not till then

anteā [ante], adv.

before, formerly

strēnuē [strēnuus], adv., sup. strēnuissimē

vigorously

 

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