Editing Samnite Wars (section)

====Livy's account====
According to Livy, the First Samnite War started not because of any enmity between Rome and the Samnites, but due to outside events.<ref>Livy, vii.29.3</ref>  The spark came when the Samnites without provocation attacked the [[Sidicini]],<ref name="auto4">Livy, vii.29.4</ref> a tribe living north of [[Campania]] with their chief settlement at [[Teano|Teanum Sidicinum]].{{Sfn | Oakley | 1998 | p = 289}}  Unable to stand against the Samnites, the Sidicini sought help from the [[Campanians]].<ref name="auto4"/>  However, Livy continues, the Samnites defeated the Campanians in a battle in Sidicine territory and then turned their attention toward Campania.  First they seized the [[Tifata]] hills overlooking Capua (the main Campanian city) and, having left a strong force to hold them, marched into the plain between the hills and Capua.<ref>Livy, vii.29.5–6</ref> There they defeated the Campanians in a second battle and drove them within their walls. This compelled the Campanians to ask Rome for help.<ref>Livy, vii.29.5–7</ref>

In Rome, the Campanian ambassadors were admitted to an audience with the Senate. In a speech, they proposed an alliance between Rome and the Campanians, noting how the Campanians with their famous wealth could be of aid to the Romans, and that they could help to subdue the [[Volsci]], who were enemies of Rome. They pointed out that nothing in Rome's treaty with the Samnites prevented them from also making a treaty with the Campanians, and warning that if they did not, the Samnites would conquer Campania and its strength would be added to the Samnites' instead of the Romans'.<ref>Livy, vii.30.1–23</ref>  After discussing this proposal, the Senate concluded that while there was much to be gained from a treaty with the Campanians, and that this fertile area could become Rome's granary, Rome could not ally with them and still be considered loyal to their existing treaty with the Samnites: for this reason they had to refuse the proposal.<ref>Livy, vii.31.1–2</ref> After being informed of Rome's refusal, the Campanian embassy, in accordance with their instructions, surrendered the people of Campania and the city of Capua unconditionally into the power of Rome.<ref>Livy, vii.31.3–5</ref> Moved by this surrender, the Senators resolved that Rome's honour now required that the Campanians and Capua, who by their surrender had become the possession of Rome, be protected from Samnite attacks.<ref>Livy, vii.31.6–7</ref>

Envoys were sent to the Samnites with the instructions to request that they, in view of their mutual friendship with Rome, spare territory which had become the possession of Rome and to warn them to keep their hands off the city of Capua and the territory of Campania.<ref>Livy, vii.31.8–10</ref>  The envoys delivered their message as instructed to the Samnites' national assembly. However, they were met with a defiant response, "not only did the Samnites declare their intention of waging war against Capua, but their magistrates left the council chamber, and in tones loud enough for the envoys to hear, ordered [their armies] to march out at once into Campanian territory and ravage it."<ref>Livy, vii.31.11–12</ref> When this news reached Rome, the [[fetial]]s were sent to demand redress, and when this was refused Rome declared war against the Samnites.<ref>Livy, vii.32.1–2</ref>