tribal confederation · Italy

Aurunci

700 BCE – 314 BCE (approx.) · capital Suessa Aurunca

Ancient Italic people of the coast between Latium and Campania, whose towns were destroyed by Rome in 314 BCE.

Origins

The Aurunci, called Ausones by the Greeks, lived between the Liri and Volturno rivers around the Roccamonfina volcano. Greek writers used 'Ausonia' for much of early Italy, which suggests they were once a widespread people. Little is known of their origins or language.

Rule and society

Known only from Roman and Greek sources, the Aurunci lived in hill towns such as Ausona, Minturnae, Vescia and Suessa Aurunca. They fought Rome and the Latins in the late 6th and early 5th centuries BCE, and in the 4th century came under Roman protection; in 337 BCE, under attack from the Sidicini, they abandoned their town of Aurunca for Suessa.

Decline and legacy

After they joined Rome's enemies during the Samnite Wars, Rome destroyed the towns of Ausona, Minturnae and Vescia in 314 BCE, massacring much of the population. Roman colonies followed at Suessa Aurunca in 313 BCE and Minturnae in 296 BCE, and the people disappeared from history.

Few sources survive for this state; details are uncertain.

Connections (1)

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Aurunci. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/aurunci
MLA
“Aurunci.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/aurunci. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Aurunci.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/aurunci.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Aurunci’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/aurunci (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻