Battle of Saticula

Battle of Saticula
Part of The First Samnite War
Battle of Saticula
Date 343/339 BC[note 1] Location In the mountains near Saticula, Italy 41°4′59.999″N 14°30′0.000″E / 41.08333306°N 14.50000000°E / 41.08333306; 14.50000000 Result Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Republic	Samnium
Commanders and leaders
Aulus Cornelius Cossus Arvina	unknown
Strength
unknown	unknown
Casualties and losses
unknown	unknown
class=notpageimage| Location within Italy

The Battle of Saticula, 343 BC,^{[note 1]} was the second of three battles described by the Roman historian Livy (59 BC – AD 17), in Book Seven of his history of Rome, Ab Urbe Condita, as taking place in the first year of the First Samnite War. According to Livy's extensive description, the Roman commander, the consul Aulus Cornelius Cossus was marching from Saticula (in southern Italy) when he was almost trapped by a Samnite army in a mountain pass. His army was only saved because one of his military tribunes, Publius Decius Mus, led a small group of men to seize a hilltop, distracting the Samnites and allowing the consul to escape. During the night Decius and his men were themselves able to escape. The next day the reunited Romans attacked the Samnites and completely routed them. Several other ancient authors also mention Decius' heroic acts. Modern historians are however sceptical of the historical accuracy of Livy's account, and have in particular noted the similarities with how a military tribune is said to have saved Roman army in 258 BC during the First Punic War.
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