Cataclysm 90 BC: The Forgotten War that Almost Destroyed Rome

by Philip Matyszak

same reasons as the Italians needed to take them out of the war. This meant making sure that the colonies were strong enough in materiel and morale to withstand assault. An important aspect of morale for colonies that might come under siege was the probability of relief, so for the Romans preventing the fall of those places already under siege was a priority. As well as defending their colonies, the Romans had to consolidate the areas they currently held. This involved keeping a close eye on those Etrurians and Umbrians who were sympathetic to the rebel cause, and taking direct action against those areas such as Asculum which were already in revolt. Above all, Rome had to keep a grip on Campania. This area was horribly exposed to the rebels, with the Marsi to the northeast, the Samnites to the east and rebel Pompeii right on the doorstep. Yet without Campania Rome had few resources in Italy with which to fight the war. As Cicero later remarked, ‘don’t forget the powerful armies we maintained on the Campanian harvests when all other sources of revenue had been lost’.6 With the heartlands secured, it would thereafter be a war in which the Romans attempted to grind down the Italians in much the same way as the Romans had ground