The consul, Lucius Julius Cæsar, fought against the Samnites
unsuccessfully. The colony of Nola fell into the hands of the Samnites,
together with Lucius Posthumius, the prætor, whom they killed. Many
different states went over to the enemy. After Publius Rutilius had
fought unsuccessfully against the Marcians, and had been slain in
battle, Caius Marius, his lieutenant-general, encountered them with
better success. Servius Sulpicius defeated the Pelignians, in a pitched
battle. Quintus Cæpio, Rutilius’s lieutenant-general, made a successful
sally against the enemy besieging him; on account of which success he
was made equal in command to Marius, and becoming adventurous and rash,
was surprised in an ambuscade, and his army being defeated, was slain.
Lucius Julius Cæsar, the consul, fought successfully against the
Samnites. On account of this victory the inhabitants of Rome laid aside
the military habit; the war being carried on with various success,
Æsernia, with Marcellus, fell into the hands of the Samnites. Caius
Marius vanquished the Marcians, Herius Asinius, the prætor of the
Marrucinians, being killed. Caius Cæcilius subdued the rebellious
Salvians in Trausalpine Gaul.