CAUDINE FORKS 231 BC

◗ Nic Fields

◗ Osprey (2021)

◗ £15.99

◗ 96 pages (softback)

◗ ISBN:9781472824905

◗ ospreypublishing.com

Churchill wrote of the fall of Tobruk ‘Defeat is one thing, disgrace is another’. So it was with this Roman defeat by the Samnites: a humiliation (the Romans were disarmed and each had to scramble under a yoke before being released) which stood long in Roman memories and meant a bitter vengeance against the Samnites.

Very little indeed is known about the ‘battle’, including its exact location. The author has sensibly focused on the political and strategic background and the after-effects, wrapped around the handful of pages devoted to the ambush. As usual in the Osprey Campaign series, the chief chapters are on the opposing forces, plans, campaign/battle, and conclusions, plus in this case a chapter on the (fairly threadbare) sources. Maps are fine and with excellent colour photos of likely sites – the latter make you wistful for a site visit in these Covid times....

The period was basically the start of Rome’s expansion, so this Osprey could provide a useful aide to a multi-player campaign, with neighbouring states and the prospect of Greek or Carthaginian involvement.