Editing Osci (section)

===Latin War===
[[File:DSC00197 - Elmo magno-greco, sec. IV a.C. - Foto di G. Dall'Orto.jpg|thumb|[[Magna Graecia]] helmet in bronze, with inscription in [[Oscan language]], [[Antonino Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum]]]]

The Samnites used their army to attack the Sidicini again. In desperation, the latter offered themselves to Rome but were turned down on the grounds that they were too late. The Sidicini allied with a force being raised by the [[Latin league]] against the Samnites. They were joined by the Campanians. A multi-national army began to devastate Samnium. The Samnites now appealed to Rome under the terms of their treaty, asking if in fact, Rome was sovereign over Campania. The Romans disavowed any agreement that would restrain the Campanians and Latins from making war on whomever else they pleased.

Encouraged by Roman refusal to assume leadership, the Latins made plans to turn their army against Rome once the Samnite threat had been neutralized. Word of the plans leaked to the Romans, who reacted by inviting ten Latin chiefs to Rome to receive orders under the terms of the treaty. As the price for submitting to Rome, the Latins demanded a new common government, with one consul and half the Senate to be elected from the Latins. When [[Titus Manlius Torquatus (consul 347 BC)|Titus Manlius Torquatus]], one of the consuls for 340 BC, heard these conditions, he swore by Jupiter's statue that if the Senate accepted them he would kill every Latin in the Senate House with drawn sword. Emotional posturing began around the statue; a Latin envoy, Lucius Annaeus, slipped on the stairs while railing against Jupiter and hit his head, becoming unconscious. At that moment, a thunderstorm burst on the Senate House. Interpreting these events as a sign the Romans declared war on the Latins and their allies and allied themselves with the Samnites.<ref>{{cite book |author=Livy |author-link=Livy |title=City |chapter=8.3–8.7}}</ref> The two years of conflict, 340–338, is known as the [[Latin War]].

In a number of legendary battles, the Romans defeated the [[Latin League]], taking away the sovereignty of its tribal states, who subsequently assimilated to Rome. The consul, Lucius Furius Camillus, asked the Senate: "Do you wish to adopt ruthless measures against a people that have surrendered and been defeated? ... Or do you wish to follow the example of your ancestors and make Rome greater by conferring her citizenship on those whom she has defeated?" The Senate chose to offer different terms to different Latin cities. Colonists were placed throughout Latium.<ref>{{cite book|author=Livy |author-link=Livy |title=City |chapter=8.14}}</ref>