Gaius Pontius
Encyclopedia
Gaius Pontius, sometimes called as Gavius Pontius or simply Pontius, was a Samnite
commander during the Second Samnite War. He is most well known for his victory over the Roman legions at the Battle of the Caudine Forks
in 321
BCE. He was eventually captured and executed by Fabius Maximus Rullianus
.
or Magistratus at the beginning of the Second Samnite War. He controlled a force of nearly 9,000, including nearly 1000 cavalry
men. With this force, he won a series of early victories, which included taking the towns of Canusium and Gnaitha, and defeating the army under the command of Cornelius Lentulus. The Samnites failed to take advantage of these victories, however, and the Romans continued to press into Samnite territory.
In 321 BCE, the Romans were moving into Samnium
, and Pontius, who was encamped at Caudium
, discovered that the army led by the Roman Consuls was near the town of Calatia
. He devised a plan to trap the Roman army
, and quickly sent ten shepherds to the Roman encampment. They told the Romans that the Samnite army was laying siege to the town of Luceria, in the region of Apulia
.
The Romans fell for his trap, and found themselves cornered by the Samnite army in a narrow pass. They were forced to surrender to Pontius.
Pontius ended up ignoring his father's advice and forcing the Romans to walk under a yoke composed of Roman spear
s. This was supreme humiliation, as it was seen as cowardly for a Roman soldier to lose his spear, and the army went back to Rome smarting but intact.
Rome's revenge was swift, and ended up with the Samnites being soundly defeated, and Pontius being executed years after the battle.
system of military organization, which the Pontius and the Samnites used throughout the conflict.
Gaius Pontius may be an ancestor of Pontius Pilate
, the Roman Prefect of the province of Judaea
and judge at the trial
of Jesus
, thus being the ancestor of the Gens Pontia, who also gave Roman consul
s Marcus Pontius Sabinus, Marcus Pontius Laelianus and ... Pontius Proculus Pontianus.
Samnium
Samnium is a Latin exonym for a region of south or south and central Italy in Roman times. The name survives in Italian today, but today's territory comprising it is only a small portion of what it once was. The populations of Samnium were called Samnites by the Romans...
commander during the Second Samnite War. He is most well known for his victory over the Roman legions at the Battle of the Caudine Forks
Battle of the Caudine Forks
The Battle of Caudine Forks, 321 BC, was a decisive event of the Second Samnite War. Its designation as a battle is a mere historical formality: there was no fighting and there were no casualties. The Romans were trapped in a waterless place by the Samnites before they knew what was happening and...
in 321
321
Year 321 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Crispus and Constantinus...
BCE. He was eventually captured and executed by Fabius Maximus Rullianus
Fabius Maximus Rullianus
Quintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus , son of Marcus Fabius Ambustus, of the patrician Fabii of ancient Rome, was five times consul and a hero of the Samnite Wars. He was brother to Marcus Fabius Ambustus ....
.
Early Command
Gaius Pontius was a Meddix, a Samnite position similar to a Roman ConsulConsul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
or Magistratus at the beginning of the Second Samnite War. He controlled a force of nearly 9,000, including nearly 1000 cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
men. With this force, he won a series of early victories, which included taking the towns of Canusium and Gnaitha, and defeating the army under the command of Cornelius Lentulus. The Samnites failed to take advantage of these victories, however, and the Romans continued to press into Samnite territory.
Battle of the Caudine Forks
In 321 BCE, the Romans were moving into Samnium
Samnium
Samnium is a Latin exonym for a region of south or south and central Italy in Roman times. The name survives in Italian today, but today's territory comprising it is only a small portion of what it once was. The populations of Samnium were called Samnites by the Romans...
, and Pontius, who was encamped at Caudium
Montesarchio
Montesarchio is a comune in the Province of Benevento, Campania, southern Italy. It is located 18 km south-east of Benevento in the Valle Caudina at the foot of Monte Taburno...
, discovered that the army led by the Roman Consuls was near the town of Calatia
Calatia
Calatia was an ancient town of Campania, southern Italy, c. 10 km southeast of Capua, on the Via Appia, near the point where the Via Popillia branches off from it. It is represented by the church of Giacomo alle Galazze...
. He devised a plan to trap the Roman army
Roman army
The Roman army is the generic term for the terrestrial armed forces deployed by the kingdom of Rome , the Roman Republic , the Roman Empire and its successor, the Byzantine empire...
, and quickly sent ten shepherds to the Roman encampment. They told the Romans that the Samnite army was laying siege to the town of Luceria, in the region of Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
.
The Romans fell for his trap, and found themselves cornered by the Samnite army in a narrow pass. They were forced to surrender to Pontius.
Aftermath
As recorded by Livy, Pontius was confused as to what should become of the Roman army which had surrendered to him. He sent a letter to his father, the Samnite statesman Herennius Pontius, and the reply was that he should free them all, and therefore make Rome an ally. Pontius did not like this idea, and sent another letter to his father, saying so. Herennius, in a seemingly hypocritical manner, told his son to execute the entire army, saying that it would destroy the threat of Rome for a long time. Pontius knew that the number of Romans were simply too large to have them all executed, so he sent for his father in person, and asked him if there was a middle road. Herennius advised his son not to take that road, as it would not only humiliate the Romans, but leave them with the means to carry out revenge.Pontius ended up ignoring his father's advice and forcing the Romans to walk under a yoke composed of Roman spear
Spear
A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head.The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with bamboo spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as flint, obsidian, iron, steel or...
s. This was supreme humiliation, as it was seen as cowardly for a Roman soldier to lose his spear, and the army went back to Rome smarting but intact.
Rome's revenge was swift, and ended up with the Samnites being soundly defeated, and Pontius being executed years after the battle.
Legacy
During the Second Samnite War, the Romans adopted the manipularManiple (military unit)
Maniple was a tactical unit of the Roman legion adopted from the Samnites during the Samnite Wars . It was also the name of the military insignia carried by such unit....
system of military organization, which the Pontius and the Samnites used throughout the conflict.
Gaius Pontius may be an ancestor of Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilatus , known in the English-speaking world as Pontius Pilate , was the fifth Prefect of the Roman province of Judaea, from AD 26–36. He is best known as the judge at Jesus' trial and the man who authorized the crucifixion of Jesus...
, the Roman Prefect of the province of Judaea
Iudaea Province
Judaea or Iudaea are terms used by historians to refer to the Roman province that extended over parts of the former regions of the Hasmonean and Herodian kingdoms of Israel...
and judge at the trial
Trial
A trial is, in the most general sense, a test, usually a test to see whether something does or does not meet a given standard.It may refer to:*Trial , the presentation of information in a formal setting, usually a court...
of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, thus being the ancestor of the Gens Pontia, who also gave Roman consul
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
s Marcus Pontius Sabinus, Marcus Pontius Laelianus and ... Pontius Proculus Pontianus.