SOCIAL WAR, the name of a noted struggle in Roman history. M. Livius Drusus proposed a law for investing the Italian allies with the privileges of Ro man citizens; but it was strongly opposed by the senators, the knights, and the people, and Drusus was assassinated 91 B. c. The Marsi, who took the lead (whence the name Marsian or Marsic, also given to that war), the Peligni, the Samnites, the Lucani, and almost every nation in Italy except the Latins, Tus cans, and Umbrians, revolted and estab lished a republic in opposition to that of Rome. In the first campaign the Romans met with some severe losses. Nola was taken by the Samnites; the consul, P. Rutilius, and his lieutenant, Q. Cxpio, were defeated and slain, and many cities were captured. On the other hand Sylla and Marius obtained a great victory over the Marsi, and L. Czesar defeated the Samnites. In the second campaign, 90
B. c., the Romans defeated the Marsi and induced them, together with the Vestini, Peligni, and Marrucini, to make a sepa rate peace. Sulla, the Roman general, destroyed the town of Stali, defeated a large army near Nola, reduced the Hir pini to subjection, and defeated the Sarni ans. The Romans were induced, hearing that Mithridates VI., King of Pontus, in tended to aid the allies, to adopt measures of conciliation, and one state after an other submitted and received the gift of Roman citizenship. After the close of this campaign the war dwindled away till it was brought to a conclusion, 88 B. C., by the remainder of the Italian states receiving the concessions they required. During this war, called the Social War, 300,000 men were slain.