Battle of Trifanum

Overview

The Battle of Trifanum was fought in 340 BC between the Roman Republic and the Latin League. The Roman force was led by Manlius Imperiosus. He pursued the Latins to the north following the Battle of Vesuvius and met them at Trifanum near the mouth of the Liri River. Livy records that the two forces dumped their baggage and fought where they met. He claimed that the Romans were victorious and that their victory was so crushing that afterwards, when the consul entered Latium, the Latins immediately surrendered. As the war continued for another two years it may be that the Latins were surprised at Trifanum and dispersed.

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

Significance

The Battle of Trifanum was an engagement of the Second Latin War fought in 340 BCE, following directly from the Battle of Vesuvius. Roman forces under Manlius Imperiosus pursued the retreating Latin League northward and brought them to battle near the mouth of the Liri River at Trifanum. Livy records the Roman victory as so complete that the Latins submitted when the consul subsequently entered Latium, yet the war continued for a further two years, suggesting the outcome fell short of a decisive capitulation. One interpretation consistent with both accounts is that the Latins were caught by surprise and dispersed rather than formally defeated in set battle. The engagement nonetheless represented a significant moment in Rome's effort to suppress the Latin League revolt, demonstrating the capacity of Roman forces to maintain operational pressure after Vesuvius and to deny the Latins the opportunity to regroup.

Tactics

Commanders (1)