Battle of the Colline Gate

Battle of the Colline Gate
Part of Sulla's second civil war
Date November 82 BC
Location Rome, Italy
Result Decisive Optimate victory
Belligerents
Optimates Populares
Commanders and leaders
Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Marcus Licinius Crassus Pontius

The battle of the Colline Gate, fought in November of 82 BC, was the final battle by which Sulla secured control of Rome following the civil war against his rivals. The Samnites led by Pontius Telesinus attacked Sulla's army at the Colline Gate (Porta Collina) on the northeastern wall, and fought all night before being routed. As well as closing out the civil war the battle signaled the end of the ambitions of the socii, so ending the Social War. In this battle Marcus Licinius Crassus won considerable note by defeating the enemy on his wing and ultimately won Sulla the battle. The battle was swiftly followed by the execution of the Samnite prisoners within earshot of the senate house before Sulla addressed the senate (this was the last serious action ever fought by Samnite forces). The Samnites were slaughtered in the Villa Publica, which housed the five year census, and their bodies were tossed into the Tiber River. But they had many doubts in winning when Lucius was almost killed during his charge at the [Parthian civil army].