Samnites

They were a people of ancient Italy. Their country was Samnium in Central Italy. The Samnites were Oscan-speaking and therefore were among the Sabelli. They were mainly a group made up of farmers from various tribes and around the fourth century BC they came into conflict with the Romans over Campania. There was probably a good deal of warfare before the three Samnite Wars (343-341 BC, 326-304 BC, 298-290 BC), after which the Romans won control of central and S Italy. Although the Samnites continued to fight against Rome with Pyrrhus, Hannibal and later Marius in the Social War, they were crushed in 82 BC by Sulla before the gates of Rome and most of them were killed. Some survivors were sold into slavery and the rest were Romanized.

note: The Tabula Agnonensis, a bronze tablet that carries an inscription engraved in the full Oscan alphabet, is an important record of their language.