Bruttii

Origins

Diodorus says that in 356 BCE runaway slaves and herdsmen in the mountains of Calabria, then under Lucanian control, rebelled and formed a new people, the Bruttii. The story may simplify a revolt of a subject population, but by the late 4th century BCE they were an independent federation.

Rule and society

Their capital was Consentia (Cosenza). They lived in hill towns and drew wealth from the Sila forest, producing pitch and timber. They captured Greek cities including Hipponion and Terina and minted fine coins. They fought Alexander of Epirus and joined Pyrrhus against Rome.

Decline and legacy

Rome subdued them by 270 BCE and took half the Sila. They joined Hannibal after Cannae, and Bruttium was his last base in Italy until he left in 203 BCE. As punishment they lost land and status; Roman writers said they were reduced to serving as attendants to magistrates.