The Social War
The Social War (91-87 BCE) was a revolt by Rome's Italian allies (socii), who had fought in Roman armies for generations but were denied Roman citizenship and its economic and legal benefits. The trigger was the murder of the tribune Marcus Livius Drusus, who had championed citizenship for the allies; when his legislation was annulled, the Italian peoples rose in coordinated revolt, forming their own confederate state called 'Italia' with a capital at Corfinium. The war was bitterly fought across the peninsula; Rome suffered major defeats in its first two years before granting citizenship to Italians who had not revolted or who laid down arms — the political concession that ultimately ended the conflict even as the fighting continued. The Social War transformed Rome by incorporating the entire Italian peninsula into the citizen body, fundamentally changing the character of Roman politics and the composition of the legions.
- Category: Military
