Bellum Sociale in the Context of the Roman Policy of Integration of the Italic Peoples

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Pages: 9-26
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/BBQV8350

Abstract:

The Social War started the military phase of the internal conflict in Roman society. It resolved to some extent the question of the status of the Italic allies, but continued in another form until the conquest of Rome by Lucius Cornelius Sulla at the end of 82 BC. The Roman elite in the last decades before the war closed down and refused to incorporate new members of the Italic municipal aristocracy. In response, the latter initiated a war. It, of course, could not do so without the support of the mass of Italics, who as a result of the war were obtaining Roman citizenship. They did not immediately become an integral part of Roman society. The process took several decades due to the resistance of the ancient Roman citizens, but once started, it was impossible to stop. The Romans won the Social War largely because of the hesitant and inconsistent position of the Italic municipal aristocracy. Despite initial success, Italic allied leaders did not dare to attack Rome directly, and when the Romans, oppressed by circumstances, passed laws enabling everyone who ceased the resistance and sided with the Romans to obtain Roman citizenship, many of the Italic aristocrats took advantage of this opportunity, ceasing their resistance, thus significantly weakening the military capabilities of the insurgents. These processes escalated, especially when the situation changed and the Romans began to win. At the same time, it should be noted that many Italic aristocrats remained loyal to Rome in principle, which also had a significant impact on the final outcome of the war.

Keywords:

Social War, Roman citizenship, Romans, Italic aristocrats, municipal aristocracy.

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