Ab urbe condita

After[*](Suppression of Movements in Ausonia, Campania, and Apulia.) leaving Sora the consuls extended the war to the cities and fields of Ausonia, for the whole country had become restless owing to the presence of the Samnites after the battle of Lautulae.

Plots were being hatched everywhere throughout Campania, even Capua was not free from disaffection, and it was found upon investigation that the movement had actually reached some of the principal men in Rome.

It was, however, as in the case of Sora, through the betrayal of her cities that Ausonia fell under the power of Rome.

There were three cities —Ausona, Menturnae, and Vescia — which some twelve young men belonging to the principal families there had mutually agreed to betray to the Romans.

They came to the consuls and informed them that their people had long been looking forward to the arrival of the Samnites, and after they had heard of the battle of Lautulae, they looked upon the Romans as vanquished and many of the younger men had volunteered to serve with the Samnites After the Samnites,

however, had been driven out of their country they were wavering between peace and war, afraid to close their gates to the Romans lest they should provoke a war and yet determined to close them if a Roman army approached their city. In this state of indecision they would fall an easy prey.

Acting on their advice, the Romans moved their camp into the neighbourhood of these cities, and at the same time soldiers were despatched, some fully armed, to occupy concealed positions near the walls, others in ordinary dress, with swords hidden under their togas, were to enter the cities through the open gates at the approach of daylight.

As soon as the latter began to attack the guards the signal was given for the others to rush from their ambush. Thus the gates were secured, and the three towns were captured at the same time and by the same stratagem.

As the generals were not there to direct the attack, there was no check upon the carnage which ensued, and the nation of the Ausonians was exterminated, just as if they had been engaged in an internecine war, though there was no certain proof of their having revolted.

During this year the Roman garrison at Luceria was treacherously betrayed, and the Samnites became masters of the place.

The traitors did not go long unpunished. A Roman army was not far away, and the city, which lay in a plain, was taken at the first assault.

The Lucerines and Samnites were put to death, no quarter being given, and such deep indignation was felt at Rome that when the question of sending fresh colonists to Luceria was under discussion in the senate many voted for the complete destruction of the city.

Not only the bitter feeling towards a people who had been twice subdued but also the distance from Rome made them shrink from banishing their countrymen so far from home.

However, the proposal to despatch colonists was adopted; 2500 were sent. Whilst[*](Prosecutions for Treason.) disloyalty was thus manifesting itself everywhere, Capua also became the centre of intrigues amongst some of her principal men.

When the matter came up in the senate, there was a general feeling that it ought to he dealt with at once.

A decree was passed authorising the immediate opening of a court of inquiry, and C. Maenius was nominated Dictator to conduct the proceedings. M. Foslius was appointed Master of the Horse. The greatest alarm was created by this step, and the Calavii, Ovius, Novius, who had been the ringleaders, did not wait to be denounced to the Dictator, but placed themselves beyond the reach of prosecution by what was undoubtedly a self-inflicted death.

As there was no longer any matter for investigation at Capua, the inquiry was directed to those who were suspected in Rome.

The decree was interpreted as authorising an inquiry, not in regard to Capua especially, but generally in respect of all who had formed cabals and conspiracies against the republic, including the secret leagues entered into by candidates for office. The inquiry began to embrace a wider scope both with respect to the nature of the alleged offences and the persons affected, and the Dictator insisted that

the authority vested in him as criminal judge was unlimited.