The Volsci are classified as an italic tribe. They inhabited the hill country of southern Latium (part of modern Lazio) in present-day west-central Italy by the sixth century B. C.E. The Volsci and the Romans fought nearly continuously for the 200 years after the founding of the Roman Republic in about 509 B. C.E., and what little is known about them is taken from ancient historians’ accounts of the warfare. They are associated with neighboring fellow Italics, the Aequi, Aurunci, Hernici, Faliscans, Latins, and Marsi.
ORIGINS
By about 600 B. C.E. the Volsci lived in the Upper Liris valley in Latium. As are many of the related tribes, they are thought to have migrated from the Apeninne Mountains to the west, settling along the river and toward the Tyrrhenian
Sea. The name Volsci, or Volusci, is probably related to the Indo-European root of the Roman word for “marsh.” The area of southern Latium that the Volsci inhabited was partly hilly and partly filled with marshes.
LANGUAGE
The Volscian language, known from a single inscription from the third century B. C.E., was one of the sabellian subgroup of the oscan group of Italic languages, related to Aequian, Marrucinian, Marsian, Paelignian, sabine, and Vestinian.
HISTORY
By about 509 B. C.E. the Volsci had occupied territory as far north as the Alban Hills. The Romans responded to the movement of the Volsci by establishing extended colonies in Latium, such as at Signia in 495 B. C.E. Around 493 B. C.E. the Romans aligned themselves with the Hernici and Latins, probably in response to the alignment of the Volsci with the Aequi. The Romans’ continuing to establish colonies for defense in Latium, at Norba and Ardea, reflects the threat the Volsci and Aequi posed.
The tides turned in 431 B. C.E., when the Aequi were resoundingly defeated by the Romans’ allies. The Volsci were put to flight. The hostilities continued until 396 B. C.E., when the Volsci signed a peace agreement with Rome. After the invasion and sack of Rome by Celts in 390 B. C.E. the Volsci reneged on their agreement. This time the Romans and Latins advanced into the territory of the Volsci.
In 354 B. C.E. the Romans aligned themselves with the Samnites, who had been their enemies, primarily to drive out the Celts, but the samnites and Romans both pressed into the territory of the Volsci, occupying more and more important towns. In 345 B. C.E. the Romans took sora, an important city of the Volsci. The Samnites joined the Romans when the Latin allies of Rome (the Latin League) revolted in 341 B. C.E. The Volsci supported the Latins. The Latins and Volsci were defeated in 338 B. C.E. by the Roman general C. Maenius. The chief city of the Volsci, Antum, was captured, and the Volsci again submitted to Rome.
By 329 B. C.E. the Romans had further taken control of the Volscian towns of Fabrateria and Luca. The Samnites took Ineramna, Casinum, Ardinum, and Fragellae. The Volsci revolted in 318 B. C.E. and were defeated at Satricum a year later. By 304 B. C.E. the Volsci were utterly defeated and soon afterward Romanized.
A story of the Volsci is taken from Roman sources that may or may not be based in fact. The legend tells of a Roman general and statesman by the name of Gnaeus Marcius who was possibly active in the 490s b. c.e. On learning that the Volsci were planning to attack Rome, he led the Romans in a successful siege of the Volscian city Corioli; after his victory he became known as Coriolanus. Coriolanus returned to be elected consul, but two tribunes convinced the people to reject him. Coriolanus was also accused of treason and departed Rome, bent on revenge. He took refuge among the Volsci and later led an army against Rome. At the last moment he relented in his campaign, however, and was executed by the Volsci. This legend is the basis for the play Coriolanus (early 17th century) by the English playwright William Shakespeare as well as music written for a German play by Ludwig van Beethoven.
CULTURE (see also Italics)
The Volsci moved under pressure from other tribes into the fertile regions of the Liris valley, probably to farm. They were warlike, as indicated by their stands against the Romans. The Volscian towns of the Liris valley were independent of those along the Tyrrhenian coast, with apparently minimal contact. Regarding their religion only an inscription on a votive offering dedicated to the god Declunus, or goddess Decluna, sheds light.
The story of the Roman general Corolianus who is supposed to have led the Volsci in revolt, then was killed by them, which served as inspiration for Shakespeare and Beethoven, demonstrates how legend and history are entwined regarding ancient peoples.
Volunti See Ulaid.
World History
