Samnites: an ancient Italic people of south-central Italy. Their country, Samnium, was roughly equivalent to the modern regions of Abruzzo and Molise. Speaking a dialect of Oscan, they were a Sabellian people, probably an offshoot of the Sabines. The most important example of the Samnite tongue is the famous Tabula Agnonensis, a bronze tablet that carries an inscription engraved in the full Oscan alphabet. The Samnites were a loose confederation of agricultural tribes, lacking a centralized government. They were, nevertheless, capable of coordinated action and were able to effectively expanding their territory westward in the 4th century B.C. The Campani appealed for help to Rome, thus setting off an inevitable conflict between the two most powerful peoples in ancient Italy. The outcome of this conflict would decide not only the fate of Campania but the whole of Italy as well. The Samnites decision to expand had the long-term result in the Roman conquest of Italy and their subsequent conflict with the Carthaginians for Sicily. The conflict was divided into three principal episodes, the First, Second, and Third Samnite Wars (343-341 BC, 326-304 BC, and 298-290 BC). Although the Samnites continued to fight against Rome with Pyrrhus, Hannibal and later Marius in the Social War, they were crushed (82 B.C.) by Sulla before the gates of Rome; most of them were killed. Some survivors were sold into slavery, while most the rest were Romanized. Some Samnites, both free and slave, probably formed part of Spartacus’s army during the Third Servile War (73-71 BC).
Samnium (1): ancient country of central and S Italy, mostly in the S Apennines. It was E of Campania and Latium and NE of Apulia. It measured about 2,700 sq. miles in area.
Samnium (2) (Regio III): one of the eight provinces of Italy created by the Roman Emperor Augustus in the late 1st Century AD. It encompassed the area of the modern regions of Abruzzo and Molise. The province was governed by a praesides or corrector. The province encompassed all or parts of the territories belonging to the Sabini, Aequi, Marsi, Peligni, Vestini, and Marrucini.
Samo (RC): A commune in the province of Reggio Calabria.
Sanarica (LE): A commune in the province of Lecce. Population: 1,471 (2006e).
San Bartolomeo in Galdo (BN): A commune in the province of Benevento. Population: 5,456 (2006e).
San Basile (CS): A commune in the province of Cosenza. Population: 1,208 (2006e).
San Benedetto dei Marsi (AQ): A commune in the province of L’Aquila. Population: 4,091 (2006e).
San Benedetto in Perillis (AQ): A commune in the province of L’Aquila. Population: 133 (2006e).
San Benedetto Ullano (CS): A commune in the province of Cosenza. Population: 1,650 (2006e).
San Biagio Platani (AG): A commune in the province of Agrigento. Population: 3,678 (2006e).
San Biase (CB): A commune in the province of Campobasso. Population: 244 (2006e).
San Buono (CH): A commune in the province of Chieti. Population: 1,150 (2006e).
San Calogero (VV): A commune in the province of Vibo Valentia.
San Cassiano (LE): A commune in the province of Lecce. Population: 2,192 (2006e).
San Cataldo (CL): A commune in the province of Caltanissetta. Population: 23,149 (2006e).
San Cesario di Lecce (LE): A commune in the province of Lecce. Population: 7,992 (2006e).
San Chirico Nuovo (PZ): A commune in the province of Potenza.
San Chirico Raparo (PZ): A commune in the province of Potenza.
San Cipirello (PA): A commune in the province of Palermo.
San Cipriano d’Aversa (CE): A commune in the province of Caserta. Population: 12,852 (2006e).
San Cipriano Picentino (SA): A commune in the province of Salerno.
San Cono (CT): A commune in the province of Catania. Population: 2,930 (2006e).
San Cosmo Albanese (CS): A commune in the province of Cosenza. Population: 659 (2006e).
San Costantino Albanese (PZ): A commune in the province of Potenza.
San Costantino Calabro (VV): A commune in the province of Vibo Valentia
Sancto Officio (Holy Office): a term used in Sicilian and Spanish documents to refer to the Spanish Inquisition.