made their last single effort against the
Roman power. An expedition was sent in 311 to attack the military colony
of Sutrium, which had been founded seventy-six years before. The Consul
Quintus Fabius went to the rescue, raised the siege, drove the Etruscans
into the Ciminian forests, and there completely defeated them.

Six years intervened between the Second and the THIRD SAMNITE WAR
(298-290). This time was employed by the Samnites in endeavoring to
unite Italy against Rome. They were joined by the UMBRIANS, GAULS, and
ETRUSCANS. The LUCANIANS alone were with Rome.

The war was of short duration, and was practically decided by the
sanguinary battle of SENTINUM (295) in Umbria. The Samnites, led by
Gellius Egnatius, were routed by the Roman Consuls QUINTUS FABIUS
MAXIMUS and PUBLIUS DECIUS MUS.

In this battle the struggle was long and doubtful. The Samnites were
assisted by the Gauls, who were showing themselves more than a match
for the part of the Roman army opposed to them, and commanded by Decius.
Following the example of his illustrious father, the Consul vowed his
life to the Infernal Gods if victory were granted, and, rushing into the
midst of the enemy, was slain. (Footnote: It is said that the father
of Decius acted in a similar manner in a battle of the Latin war.) His
soldiers, rendered enthusiastic by his example, rallied and pushed back
the Gauls. The victory was now complete, for the Samnites were already
fleeing before that part of the army which was under Fabius.

The war dragged on for five years, when the Consul MANIUS CURIUS
DENTATUS finally crushed the Samnites, and also the SABINES, who had
recently joined them. The Samnites were allowed their independence,
and became allies of Rome. The Sabines were made Roman citizens (_sine
suffragio_), and their territory was annexed to the _Ager Romanus_. This
territory now reached across Italy from the Tuscan to the Adriatic
Sea, separating the Samnites and other nations on the south from the
Umbrians, Gauls, and Etruscans on the north.

In 283, at Lake Vadimonis, the Romans defeated the Senonian and Boian
Gauls, and founded the military colony of SENA GALLICA.

CHAPTER X. WARS WITH PYRRHUS (281-272).

In the early times of Rome, while she was but little known, it had been
the custom of Greece to send colonies away to relieve the pressure
of too rapid increase. We find them in Spain, France, Asia Minor, and
especially in Sicily and Southern It