Editing Osci (section)

==Oscans of the early republic==
[[File:Ingresso33.jpg|thumb|Remains of the ancient Osco-Samnite settlement of Croccia-Cognato, located near Mount Croccia, in [[Basilicata]] region]]

A people called the Aurunci by [[Livy]] appear the earliest in history. In 503 BC, the Latin colonies of [[Cora (Ancient Latin Town)|Cora]] and [[Suessa Pometia|Pometia]] rebelled against Roman authority, obtaining the assistance of the Aurunci, seat unknown. Two consular armies sent against them won after a hard-fought battle in which "many more were killed than were taken prisoners; the prisoners were everywhere butchered, even the hostages ... fell a victim to the enemy's bloodthirsty rage".<ref>{{cite book |author=Livy |author-link=Livy |title=City |chapter=2.16}}</ref> The enemy fell back on Pometia, which was besieged by the Romans. The Aurunci sallied out, burned the siege towers, massacred the troops and grievously wounded one of the consuls. The Romans withdrew but returned later in greater force. Taking the town, they beheaded the Aurunci officers, sold the Pometians into slavery, levelled the buildings and put the land up for sale.

The Aurunci appear one more time in the early republic in a failed attempt to support the [[Volsci]] in their struggle against Rome. In 495 BC, putting an army on the march for Rome, they sent envoys ahead to demand the withdrawal of the Romans from Volscian territory. The consul Publius Servilus Priscus Structus met them on the march at [[Arricia]] and "in one battle finished the war".<ref>{{cite book |author=Livy |author-link=Livy |title=City |chapter=2.26}}</ref> No more is heard of the Oscans for almost a century.