During the Social War, the Oscan-speaking population of Pompeii naturally took the side of the Samnites. Thus, the town was targeted by the proconsular forces of Lucius Cornelius Sulla. The siege of the town, which possibly included a young Marcus Tullius Cicero, lasted for some time, leaving lasting physical evidence of Sulla’s siege engines bombarding the town in the form of impact damage to the town walls. As a consequence of the fall of the town and the subsequent outcome of the Social War, Pompeii’s status changed to that of a colonia. A couple of thousand Sullan veterans were settled in the town and its name was changed to Colonia Cornelia Verenia Pompeianorum. These veteran settlers proceeded to dominate local politics over the succeeding generations with locals possibly being excluded…
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Ancient Warfare (Digital) - 1 Issue, AW XV.3