Picenum

An ancient province of Italy, was bounded on the north by the Galli Senones, on the west by the Umbrians and Sabines, on the south by the Vestini, and on the east by the Adriatic Sea. The Picentes, its inhabitants, remained long in undisturbed tranquillity, while the neighboring tribes were vainly struggling against the all-usurping ambition of Rome. That power condescended in 299 B.C. to enter into an alliance with them. Even when they were at length obliged, in 268 B.C. , to bow before the resistle destinies of the Romans, they suffered little injury. It was not until the outbreak of the Social war, in 90 B.C. , that the Picentes appear to have experienced the toils and calamities of a great struggle. Then they a umed an active and zealous part in the general revolt against Rome. Their capital city, Asculum, gave the signal of insurrection, by a a inating the Roman proconsul. Their armies kept the Roman general Cn. Pompeius Strabo for a long time at bay. Nor when the tide of battle began to turn against them did their courage waver. They continued to fight until 89 B.C. , and were put down by sheer force.