Histrii ambushes on Roman camps

Histrii ambushes on Roman camps
Part of Roman-Histrii War
Date 271–178 BC Location Aquilia Result Histrii victory Romans flee from the camp Roman camp is looted
Belligerents
Histri tribe	Roman Republic
Commanders and leaders
Epulon	A.Manlius Vulso
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Histrii Ambushes (Insidiae Histrorum) were a series of engagements fought between 271 BC and 178 BC during the Roman-Histrian War. The conflict culminated when Epulon the newly crowned king of the Histrii tribe launched a decisive surprise assault on a Roman military encampment near the colony of Aquileia. Led by Consul Aulus Manlius Vulso, the Roman legions panicked and fled, allowing the Histrian forces to temporarily capture and loot the camp. Despite this initial victory for Epulon, the Romans later regrouped, ultimately defeating the Histrian king at his capital of Nesactium forcing him to withdraw.

Background

Rome had already consolidated its conquest of various peoples of northern Italy, and established good relations with the Adriatic Veneti. From there, Rome launched campaigns against the southern Illyrians of the Ardiaean Kingdom, and the northern Illyrians of the northern Adriatic and eastern Alps. Threatened by imminent loss of independence, Histria launched a first, indecisive attack against the Romans, in 221 BC. Another attack, in 181 BC at the new-founded colony of Aquileia, was beaten off by the Roman praetor Q. Fabius Buteo, who established a peace treaty with the Histrians. Later that year, Epulon became king of the Histrians; he was warlike, uncompromising and persistent, and immediately prepared for battle against the Aquilean colony. Rome sent an army in its defense in 178 BC, under the consul A. Manlius Vulso. The Histrians made a successful attack on a Roman camp and drove the legions in panic who quickly fled. Epulon's forces took a great booty of valuables, equipment, food and wine.

Aftermath

After initial successes in defeating his enemies at Aquilea, Epulon was defeated in northern Istria and forced to withdraw his forces to the Histrian capital of Nesactium.