In ancient Rome, the Social War was a widespread revolt of the Italian cities against the Roman Senate from 91 to 88 BC. These cities had been allied to Rome in major conflicts, such as the Punic Wars and the Jugurthine War. Therefore, they demanded what had been promised to them in exchange for their military service: Roman citizenship and equality of rights. This armed conflict was also known as the Marsic War.
When the tribune Marcus Livius Drusus, who supported their demands, was assassinated in 91, the rebel cities conformed a confederacy and created their own capital at Corfinium, which they renamed Italia. Then they proceeded to form a senate and appointed magistrates, similar to those in Rome. The rebels also minted a silver coin, with the figure of a bull trampling a Roman she-wolf.
Summary
In order to fight against the Roman legions, each city tribe created an army. Thus, the rebel coalition force totaled 200,000 men, approximately. Meanwhile, the Senate appointed Lucius Cornelius Sulla commander of the Roman Army, which was composed of 130,000 men, to quell the rebellion. In order to stem the spread of the insurrection and prevent them from beefing up their already strong army, in 90 BC the Senate gave in and granted Roman citizenship to all those tribes who stopped taking part in the rebellion. The Etruscans and Umbrians accepted the offer. However, the Samnites, Marci, and Picenes kept on fighting.
Since the rebels had been trained to fight like the Romans by Consul Gaius Marius and used the same weapons, the Roman legions suffered heavy casualties. Thus, the Senate was forced to make another concession: the granting of Roman citizenship to Cisalpine Gaul (northern Italy) tribes and the rest of the Italians if they lay down their weapons within sixty days. Most rebels accepted the new offer, which sharply reduced the size and strength of the rebel army. This is how, the remainder of the insurrectionery forces were defeated by the Romans at Campania in 88 BC, putting an end to the Social War.
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