circa B.C. 350- Samnites resisted the aggressive policy of Rome beginning in the valley of the Liris. In the earliest struggle they were supported only by their mountain tribal kinsmen (Marsi, Peligni, Frentani, Vestini, Piceni and Marrucini). The Etruscans joined in the fight for a short time.

B.C. 303 - Rome suffered a defeat at Caudine Forks but was strong enough to recover and marched through the Adriatic, causing one tribe after another to surrender. Near the end the Samnites sued for peace.
The Aequi on the western borders were still rebellious, and were ruthlessly put down. All the Aequine, Aequiculine territory and the strip now known as Cicolano passed into the power of Rome.

B.C. 302- Romans refortified Alba (Alba Fucensis) on the Fucine lake. Established a colony of six thousand men as a stronghold against the Marsi. Ancient saying; `Who can triumph over the Marsi, or without them?' --and famous, too, for their skill in art, their mystic wisdom, and their magic powers.

B.C. 300-The Roman colony of Carsioli (ancient Carsioli) was built, the old Aequine inhabitants were conquered and scattered.

The Samnites had been beaten but had not given up defying Rome. they demanded rights and privileges, extended their territory until a death-struggle ensued. No one came to their aid and the Samnium had fought with a few intervals for nearly fifty years until peace was made in B.C. 290

Rome multiplied her colonies in the disaffected districts.
B.C. 282- Strong fortress of Atria (in Atri Piceno) was built as part of the wedge between North and South Italy. {Abruzzesi legend has it that Atri Piceno and Atria was the place from which the Adriatic took it's name.}

['Atri Piceno (if not the birthplace of Hadrian at least the cradle of his race').]

Using the Celtic invasions as an excuse the Romans began latinizing the Abruzzi provinces by the military means of "togati". The Abruzzi tribes never deeply embraced the Roman efforts at national unity. Instead they began to secretly embrace the name of Italian given to them by the Greeks of the South and it soon became a "war cry" for them.

{ ... The Abruzzi tribes were not eager to fight on either side in the Punic War but Hannibal had some allies among them. Rome took notice and revenge against them.
Defections were punished, lands were confiscated, suspect persons were banished, new Roman colonies were formed and strangers were brought in and favored. Only by settling in the Roman colonies was peace to be found. The end of the Punic wars set loose bands of lawless, desparate men who found shelter in the mountains. Slave labor grew the most profitable to the few large landowners left; and slave herds-men and shepherds soon out numbered the free labourers.

'Things appeared to settle down in the Abruzzi. The people remained a hardy and industrious people. The farmers maintained a sturdy front. Political conditions were intolerable and martial law reigned perpetually. Yet, on the surface there was peace for nearly two hundred years.'

'The voice of Caius Gracchus penetrated into the mountains.   [my note:  Caios was one of the "Gracchi" (the Gracchus brothers). He wanted to divide the large estates of the rich land owners amongst the local poor people. The influencial land owners used Drusus against Caius Gracchus.]
Drusus had friends -the Marsi and Peligni- in secret league with him.'

'Rome was full of tumults and revolts and at variance with herself. This was the opportunity of the tribes, and especially of the Marsi-- for Rome had tired out her best allies. The Social war, which now was to shake Rome to its foundations, was called the Marsic War. The fiery cross went out again to the old confederation. Arming went on in secret; and the great Marsian chief and hero of the war, Q. Pompidius Silo, a friend of Drusus, had it in his mind to march to the city at the head of this men and seize it. Nevertheless, the first fire was not kindled among the Marsi, but among the Piceni at Ascoli. The Roman preator, Gaius Servilius, learning that Ascoli was in league with neighboring towns, went there with a small escort, determined to browbeat the people and stifle any resistance by prompt executions. In the theatre he harangued them, scolding, threatening, his lictors standing by with their axes. The multitude rose like one man, killed the preator and his underlings then and there, and closing the gates, left not a living Roman in the Town.

The fire was kindled. The Marsi were ready. So were the Peligni, the Vestinin, the Freentani, all the mountaineers. And the Samnites joined; till, in Central and Southern Italy, only Eturia and Umbria stood by Rome, which woke up to recognize its peril. It still kept the officials in the disaffected regions; but all the farmers, all the substantial middle-class, were in revolt. And not even the colonies, Alba, Carsoioli, Atria, Aesernia, were safe. but the impulsiveness of the Ascolani was not imitated. Envoys were sent with messages to the effect that the confederates would lay down their arms in return for Roman citizenship. The messengers sued in vain.'

B.C. 90- Abruzzesi defied Rome. They set up their own center of new national unity. They chose Corfinium of the Peligni (ruins are near little Pentima abt. 8 miles from Sulmona). Citzenship on a Roman model was granted to all the burgesses, drawn from many tribes, and on all the insurgents. Strong walls were thrown up . A senate house was built. A senate of five hundred members was created, and supreme authority in peace and war was given to two consuls and twelve preators. The old Samnit language, then spoken by all save the Piceni and the Marsi, was officially recognized, and money was coined. Slow of incubation, the movement was now whole hearted, essentially national. It was no mere question any longer of winning a political franchise they were debating. They renounced Rome. They were a separate state---Italia. Corfinium was Italica.
Rome knew it's danger at last; tired to set it's house in order, mended its walls, and sought everywhere for recruits, near home and far off, among Celts, among Numidian; and collected a fleet from the cities of Greece and Asia Minor. It was able to put about ten thousand men in the field. The Italians gathered as many.
The Roman Rutilius Lupus and Lucius Julius Ceasar were great generals. But Quintus Silo, the Marsian, was a leader of consumate genius, and Gaius Papius Mutilus, of the Samnites, hardly less so.
The insurrection spread, and the first events were disastrous to the Roman arms. Silo was throwing himself on the colony of Alba, and Mutilus on Asernia, which, after a desparate struggle, capitulated to the Italians. All Campania, except Nuceria, was lost to Rome; and the strangers in the Roman army were won over. The Numidians deserted to the insurgents when they saw Oxyntas, Jugurtha's son, clad in purple among the Samnites. There were ups and downs; but, on the whole, success was with the Italians. Caesar was routed by the Samnites and Marsi under P. Vettius Scato. Strabo, with a great force, was sent to Picenum, but the main part of the Roman troops remained under Lupus on the Marsian border, to guard the passage to the capital. Here a great battle was fought, Scato again the victor. The river ran red with Roman blood, and Lupus met his death. Marius hastily came to the rescue and saved a remnant of the legion.

What were they like those mighty warriors that defied Rome? Here is a portrait by Silius Italicus of a Vestino: "Tall, handsome, strong of body, with long flowing locks, his face covered with thick black hair. Over his great broad shoulders he wears a rough bear's skin. He is armed with a light, crooked spear, and with a sling to bring down birds on the wing."

Fortune wavered. Now the Peligni were cut down by Servius Sulpius; now the Marsi and Vestini, under Silo, had their revenge. Marius, the wily, played with Silo, egging him on, yet refusing battle till he could administer a terrific defeat--when the chief of the Marrucini fell--and following this up by a rout of the Marsi. But the Roman forces were taxed beyond their strength; and the supply of Italians seemed inexhaustible. The contentions within the city were so many and bitter, that, had the enemy knocked at the door, they might have bestowed the name of Italica on Rome itself. In desparation, the Senate offered terms at last, but terms which satisfied nobody; and the war continued, Lucius Porcius Cato succeeding Marius in his command, and Strabo still endeavoring to hold the Picenian territory for Rome. A determined movement to divert the Roman attack from the Abruzzi by sending fifteen thousand Marsi to Etruria, was defeated by Strabo. Few ever came back; but Cato, hoping to take advantage of the drain of men from the Fucine territory, advancing, there met his death; and now on Strabo felt the full burden.