Editing Marsi (section)

==History==

The Marsi were first mentioned as members of a [[Confederation|confederacy]] with the [[Vestini]], [[Paeligni]] and [[Marrucini]].<ref>{{harvnb|Conway|1911}} cites: [[Livy]] viii. 29, cf. viii. 6, and [[Polybius]] ii. 24, 12.</ref> They joined the [[Samnites]] in 308&nbsp;BC,<ref>{{harvnb|Conway|1911}} cites: Liv. ix. 41.</ref> and, on their submission, became allies of [[Ancient Rome|Rome]] in 304&nbsp;BC.<ref>{{harvnb|Conway|1911}} cites: Liv. ix. 45.</ref> After a short-lived revolt two years later, for which they were punished by the loss of territory,<ref>{{harvnb|Conway|1911}} cites: Liv. x. 3.</ref> they were readmitted to the Roman alliance and remained faithful down to the [[Social War (91–87 BC)|Social War]], their contingent<ref>{{harvnb|Conway|1911}} states: e.g. Liv. xliv. 46.</ref> being always regarded as the flower of the Italian forces.<ref>{{harvnb|Conway|1911}} states: e.g. [[Horace]] ''Odes'' ii. 20, 18.</ref>

The Latin colony of [[Alba Fucens]] near the northwest corner of the lake was founded in the adjoining [[Aequi]]an territory in 303 BC so that, from the beginning of the 3rd century, the Marsians were in touch with a Latin-speaking community, to say nothing of the Latin colony of [[Carsioli]] farther west. The earliest pure Latin inscriptions of the district seem to be [[Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum|C.I.L.]] IX 3827 and 3848 from the neighbourhood of Supinum; its character generally is of the [[Gracchi|Gracchan]] period, though it might be somewhat earlier.

In the [[Social War (91–87 BC)]] which, owing to the prominence of the Marsian rebels, is often known as the Marsic War, they fought bravely against odds under their leader [[Quintus Poppaedius Silo|Q. Pompaedius Silo]] and, though they were frequently defeated, the result of the war was the enfranchisement of the allies. All the coins of Pompaedius Silo have the Latin legend "Italia", while the other leaders in all but one case used [[Oscan]].<ref>{{harvnb|Conway|1911}} cites: ''Unteritalische Dialekten'', p. 345.</ref>