Battle of Asculum

Overview

The Battle of Asculum was fought in 89 BC during the Social War between Rome and its former Italian allies. The Romans were led by Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo, and were victorious over the rebels. Many scholars consider this battle to have been the turning point in the war.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Asculum, fought in 89 BCE during the Social War, was a Roman victory under Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo over the Italian rebel forces led by Gaius Judacilius. Many scholars consider it the turning point in the conflict, which had begun in 91 BCE when Rome's Italian allies took up arms to secure citizenship and greater political standing. The Roman force of 75,000 outnumbered the rebel strength of 60,000, and the outcome under Strabo's command shifted the momentum of the war decisively toward Rome. The Social War would continue until 87 BCE, but the result at Asculum marked the moment at which the Italian rebel cause began its military decline, even as the broader political settlement — the extension of Roman citizenship to the Italian allies — was already being negotiated in parallel with the fighting.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (3)