[Martin Tell]

Well, read Livy and you know the Samnites were formidable opponents of the Romans. Came real close to defeating them. Livy tells a great story where the Samnites captured an entire Roman army. The wisest Samnite counselor said to let them go. When that was not accepted he advised killing them all. His reason was that anything other than complete friendship or warfare with the Romans would end in disaster. The Samintes did not follow his advice. They sent the Roman army "under the yoke" earning their hatred and ultimately their own destruction.

[FreedomSurge]

Didn't Shakeaspere write a play about these people?

[Cicero]

Just so. The wars against the Samnites were almost as serious as the Punic wars against Carthage. It took the Romans a very long time to prevail.

[SedVictaCatoni]

Ah, the ambush at the Caudine Forks. The Samnites probably gave the Romans more trouble than the Carthaginians, all things considered - the Battle of the Colline Gate was a near-run thing.