A Roman defeat at Aesernia during the Social War forced consul Lucius Julius Caesar to rebuild his army and allowed rebels to consolidate control of the region.
Key Facts
- Date
- 90 BC
- Conflict
- Social War
- Roman commander
- Consul Lucius Julius Caesar
- Rebel commander
- Titus Vettius Scato
- Roman dead (Appian)
- 2,000 soldiers
- Aftermath
- Army rebuilt with Gallic and African troops
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the Social War, the Italian rebel allies besieged the Roman town of Aesernia. The Roman consul Lucius Julius Caesar, an uncle of the later dictator Julius Caesar, marched to relieve the siege, bringing his forces into contact with the rebel army led by Titus Vettius Scato.
Caesar's relief force was intercepted and defeated by Scato's rebel army near Aesernia in 90 BC. Orosius records that the defeat was so severe Caesar had to entirely rebuild his army using Gallic and African troops, while Appian reports at least 2,000 Roman soldiers killed in the engagement.
The rebel victory freed up sufficient forces to reinforce the existing siege of Aesernia while a separate rebel army captured or received the defection of Venafrum. The defeat weakened Rome's military position in the region and demonstrated the serious threat posed by the Italian rebels.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Lucius Julius Caesar.
Side B
1 belligerent
Titus Vettius Scato.