Battle of the Caudine Forks

Spurius Postumius Albinus

In the battle of the Kaudinischen passports in the year 321 BC the Romans suffered a humiliating defeat against the Samnites in the Second Samnitenkrieg. Referring thereto, referred to the phrase kaudinisches yoke a shameful humiliation.

Historical Background

In the three Samnite wars was about control and domination in Campania by the young Roman Republic over the Samnites, the local tribes in Samnium.

Trigger and course of the battle

The battle was the result of a Samnite stratagem. The Samnite Gaius Pontius learned that the armies of the two consuls in Calatia were at Capua. He let Samnite soldiers dress up as shepherds and capture by the Romans. This then spread the rumor that the Samnites besiege the alliance with Rome Luceria in Puglia.

In fact, the Romans responded when they learned of this news, as expected. They sensed the chance to defeat the Samnites in battle and rushed towards Luceria, being carelessly chose the fastest way, namely that of the no longer exactly localizable Kaudinischen passes ( Furculae Caudinae, actually: Kaudinische forks since forked the way here ) near the Samnite city Caudium, which was controlled by the Samnites.

The pass was surrounded left and right by high mountains. When the Romans reached him, they found the exit blocked by fallen trees and boulders. Now, the Romans wanted to turn back, but the Samnites also blocked the rear entrance of the pass, so that the Romans were trapped.

Decision on the trapped Roman army

According to the report of Gaius Livius Pontius now sent a letter to his father Herennius with the question of how he should now proceed. At first he was told that he should be deduct the Romans. This came in out of the question, so he sent a letter, whereupon Herennius replied that he should make the Romans down to the last man again. Gaius Pontius was then asked if there was no middle ground, whereupon he was told that a middle ground is in this case a big mistake. However, he opted for such a middle ground. He suggested the two Roman consuls, who led the trapped army, before that they could deduct if they asked in return hostages to safety and declared themselves ready to submit their army the humiliating procedure, to let pass under the " yoke ". Since the Romans were near starvation after several days, they agreed after a speech at the prestigious L. Cornelius Lentulus and Legionslegaten could be " subjugate ".

Consequences of the decision

The ancient historian consistently report that the Senate of the Romans imposed by the Samnites contract ( foedus ) rejected. As the desire for revenge was very large, the consul Publilius Philo already 320 BC moved back against Caudium and Papirius cursor against the city Luceria, where the Roman hostages should have been found. After the Romans had achieved at Caudium a success, fled the Samnites after Luceria, which is besieged by the cursor. Finally, the Samnite garrison revealed delivered up the hostages and enslaved the Romans.

Historicity

In modern research one is also widespread agreement that the rejection of the contract and retaliatory actions of the Romans are unhistorical. Similarly, the Samnite List to be an invention of historians to downplay the substantial defeat of the Romans.