Battle of Mount Gaurus

Battle of Mont Gaurus
Part of The First Samnite War
Date c. 342 BC
Location Monte Barbaro, near Cumae, Italy
Result Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Republic Samnium
Commanders and leaders
Valerius Corvus

Contents

Battle of Mount Gaurus

The Battle of Mount Gaurus, 343 B.C., was the first battle of the First Samnite Wars. It was fought between the ancient Romans and the Samnites.[1] The battle was very interesting at the time, because Valerius Corvus achieved victory, and it was considered one of the most noteworthy battles of its time.[2]

Preceding the Battle

Before the Samnite War started, the Samnites attacked Sidicini. The northern Campanian league then led an attack against the Samnites but lost two battles: one in Sidicini and one in Capua. Rome decided to aid the Campanians and they eventually led two armies against the Samnites.[3]

The Battle

Valerius Corvus led an army into Campania and from there he led the army to Mount Gaurus. A full-scale battled ensued between the Roman army and the Samnites after a couple days of skirmishes.

At first the battle looked bleak for the Roman army. Both infantries clashed, but neither side proved the upper hand. Valerius then ordered a cavalry charge in attempt to break the Samnite lines. The charge failed and the Roman cavalry then had to retreat from the Samnite lines.

After the Roman cavalry retreated, Valerius then decided to lead an infantry assualt into the Samnite lines which, once again, failed to break the lines. Eventually the Samnites fell back when the evening approached. The night after the battle, the Samnites left their camps and the area completely.[4]

After the Battle

After the battle, the Romans occupied the former Samnite camps. The casualties are unknown for this battle, but it was believed to be low since the Samnites formed a new army in Campania in the same year.[5] Also after the victory, the Carthaginians congratulated Rome by sending a golden crown for the shrine of Jupiter in the capitol.[6] A treaty of friendship was renewed between the Romans and Carthaginians five years before the First Samnite Wars, but Rome would wage war with the Carthaginians shortly after the Samnite Wars.[7]

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ Rickard, J. "Battle of Mount Gaurus". http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_mount_gaurus.html. Retrieved 2011-11-15. 
  2. ^ Gilman, Arthur. "The Story of Rome from the Earliest Times to the End of the Republic". http://www.nalanda.nitc.ac.in/resources/english/etext-project/history/roman/chapter10.html. Retrieved 2011-11-15. 
  3. ^ Rickard, J. "Battle of Mount Gaurus". http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_mount_gaurus.html. Retrieved 2011-11-16. 
  4. ^ Rickard, J. "Battle of Mount Gaurus". http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_mount_gaurus.html. 
  5. ^ Rickard, J.. "Battle of Mount Gaurus". http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_mount_gaurus.html. Retrieved 2011-11-15. 
  6. ^ Gilman, Arthur. "The Story of Rome from the Earliest Times to the End of the Republic". http://www.nalanda.nitc.ac.in/resources/english/etext-project/history/roman/chapter10.html. Retrieved 2011-11-15. 
  7. ^ Gilman, Arthur. "The Story of Rome from the Earliest Times to the End of the Republic". http://www.nalanda.nitc.ac.in/resources/english/etext-project/history/roman/chapter10.html. Retrieved 2011-11-15.