The Marsi, classified as a tribe of Italics, lived about the former Lake Fucino (drained in the 19th century) in the Apennines in the present-day region of Abruzzi in central Italy, part of the area known to the Romans as Samnium. Their capital was Marruvium on the lake’s east shore. As are other Italics in the central Apennines they are known through contacts with the Romans. They played a key part in the Social War of 90-88 B. C.E.
It is not known certainly when the Marsi formed a group distinct from other italics and settled in the central Apennines. Roman writers refer to them as a distinct people by the fourth century B. C.E.
The Marsian language was one of the Sabellian subgroup of the Oscan group of Italic languages, related to Aequian, Marrucinian,
Paelignian, Sabine, Vestinian, and Volscian. By the first century C. E. Latin was in use among some of the Marsi.
HISTORY
The Marsi, known as a warlike people (and named after the war god Mars), became allies of the Romans in 325 b. c.e. at the start of the Second Samnite War of 326-304 b. c.e. In 309 B. C.E., however, they were part of a confederacy, which included the Marrucini, Paeligni, and Vestini, in support of the Samnites against the Romans (leading to their sometimes being discussed as Samnites.) With the defeat of the Samnites in 304 b. c.e., the Marsi again became Roman allies, only to revolt again briefly two years later; at that time the Romans punished them by seizing some of their lands.
The Marsi remained loyal allies of Rome until the Social War of 90-88 b. c.e., when various tribes revolted against Rome to achieve equal rights as citizens. Since their warriors were central to rebel efforts under their leaders Quintus Pompaedius Silo and Caius Papius Mutilus (known to history by their Latin names), the Social War is referred to in some texts as the Marsic war (and in others as the Italic war). Although the Romans prevailed on the battlefield, resistance continued until the passage of a law granting citizenship to noncombatants in 90 b. c.e. Three years later citizenship was granted to all inhabitants of italy south of the Po River.
CULTURE (see also Italics)
The Marsi were known to the Romans as practitioners of witchcraft and magic, with considerable skill in the healing arts, using herbs from the Marsian woods. A principal deity among them was Angitia, a goddess of healing. The Marsi built a temple to her at the southwestern end of Lake Fucino (near modern Luco).
The Greek historian Appian of the second century wrote that the Romans never triumphed over the Marsi or without the Marsi, indicating their value as soldiers.
World History
