The Only Roman War Won Through an Act of Kindness

When the Romans besieged Falerii, the city of the resilient Faliscans, their commander found an ingenious way to get them to surrender after years of bloody fighting.

The early Romans were comprised of several Italic tribes known as the Latins. In the late fifth century BC, during the early days of the Roman Republic, the Romans were in a long war with Etruria, and they were attacking the Etruscan cities Veii and Fidenae. The latter was across the river from Veii. Both were relatively close to Rome. Yet, Roman efforts were unsuccessful, and the war lasted for years.

Falerii was a city in close proximity to Rome, and the Faliscans were afraid that the Romans would attack them as well and sack their city. Hence, they determined they would ally with the Etruscans even though they were of a different race, according to Strabo.

They supported the Etruscan cities of Veii and Fidenae, situated near Veii, on the other bank of the river, in their conflicts with Rome. Roman Historian Livy noted that: “As these two States [Falerii and the nearby Capena] were nearest in point of distance, they believed that if Veii fell they would be the next on whom Rome would make war.”

The Faliscans spoke a similar Latin dialect. Despite the power and position of the Etruscans, the Faliscan language survived the domination of the Etruscan culture as well as the expansion of the Romans.

The Romans besiege Falerii

As expected, the Romans attacked Falerii and the nearby Capena in 396 BC. The two Roman commanders advanced near the two cities, but they were ambushed by the Faliscans. One Roman commander and his army fell in battle, and the other fled. A year later, they did not attack the two cities but burned the countryside around them to deprive them of food.

In 394 BC, General Marcus Furius Camillus was entrusted to lead the Roman army against Falerii. His strategy was to burn the fields and farmhouses around the city while camping strategically one mile from Falerii, thus forcing the Faliscans to come out of the city. When they did, the Romans attacked and drove them back to the city. The Faliscans, however, had stocked plenty of food supplies, and the siege was prolonged.

The Roman General and the Faliscan Children

At the time, the Faliscans followed the Greek practice to entrust their children to a single tutor for their education.

At one point, a tutor took his pupils outside the city walls for exercise. His plan was to betray his people and make lots of money out of it. The children were the sons and daughters of prominent Falerii families. The tutor took them to Camillus expecting that the Roman general would use them as hostages and the tutor himself would receive a handsome reward.

However, Camillus refused to take the children as hostages. Instead, he took an unexpected approach, commanding his men to strip and scourge the tutor. He then gave each child a stick, urging them to beat their tutor all the way back home.

Camillus’ grand gesture had an immediate effect on the Faliscans. The besieged citizens were convinced that perhaps the Romans were not as evil as they had believed.

The Roman general had earned his enemies’ trust and respect. On their part, the Faliscans decided that if they surrendered, they would end years of war and losses. Possibly, they would have the chance to prosper under Roman rule—and they surrendered.

According to Livy, the Faliscans pledged allegiance to the Romans. Plutarch wrote that Camillus sent them to Rome and they told the senate that “the Romans, by esteeming righteousness above victory, had taught them to love defeat above freedom and considered themselves “vanquished in virtue.” He also wrote that Camillus established friendship with the Faliscans.

Camillus returned victoriously to Rome and later served as a successful politician.