Samnites were members of an ancient tribe in what is now southern Italy. They are known chiefly for their prolonged struggle against the Romans. By the 300’s B.C., Rome had expanded its empire to Samnite territory. This expansion led to war. The Samnites dealt the Romans a major defeat at the Battle of the Caudine Forks around 321 B.C., but the Romans overpowered the Samnites in the 290’s B.C. This defeat greatly reduced the Samnite population. In the Social War (91-88 B.C.), the Samnites played a prominent role in the struggle against Roman domination of Italy. However, forces loyal to the Roman general Lucius Cornelius Sulla ruthlessly crushed the Samnites in the 80’s B.C. Most of the Samnites then adopted Roman customs and the Latin language.
