The Etruscan and Gallic War

Summary

Livy and Dion, the latter of whom is entirely independent of the opinions of the former, being much more careful in investigating the connexion of events, had expressly represented this war in the same connexion with those in southern Italy, as Gellius Egnatius had made war upon the Romans in the north. Zonaras mentions the Tarentines as those who had stirred up the Etruscans, Gauls, Samnites and others against Rome, although they themselves did not come forward. An extract from Dion himself relates, that the Tarentines and others by embassadors persuaded the Etruscans, Umbrians and Gauls to revolt from Rome: Orosius states, that the Lucanians, Bruttians and Samnites allied themselves with the Gauls and Etruscans. Better authority for a connexion which is highly probable, cannot be sought for a period like this; nevertheless, although the Lucanian war must have broken out earlier than the Senonian, I shall defer mention of the former, till I shall have treated of the last efforts of Etruria for its independence.

I have already remarkt that the Volsinians, sometimes supported by a part of the western towns, but abandoned by Tarquinii, Perusia, Cortona, and Arretium, seem to have laid down their arms only during short intervals throughout the whole of this period. The prospect of a general war in southern Italy must have given them new courage; it seemed at last, as if all that were still left would rise against the enemies of all: but the most important point was the participation of the Gauls.