The Samnite was an Italian people inhabiting the central mountainous region of Italy south of Rome. Both in reponse to an ambassy sent from Capua (the richest city of the Campania region) in 343 BC seeking help against the incessant raids by their neighbours, the Samnites, as well as seeking to enlarge their own hegemonous claim on Italy south of the River Po, Rome went to war against the Samnites. The consequence of this decision was three Samnite Wars over a period of about fifty years.
1) The First Samnite War (343-338 BC). Rome responded to Capua's request for help was, first to grant the inhabitants of Capua Roman citizenship while retaining the freedom to govern themselves internally, though a garrison of Roman soldiers was stationed in the city. Provoked by this action, the Samnites baited the Romans into battle by raiding the city. The war ended five years later with a treaty that, essentially, kept the status quo.
2) The Second Samnite War (326-304 BC). The most fiercely fought war in the conflict between the Romans and the Samnite began over the internal struggles in the city of Naples (the major port and commercial city in Campania). Siding with the aristocrats, Rome siezed the city, bringing the war to the Samnites. Not used to fighting in mountainous terrain, the Romans at first lost a number of important engagements (most humiliating of all was the Battle of Caudine Forks in 321 where the Romans were trapped and forced to surrender). Buthe the Romans learned, and reorganized their methods and structure. Lasting over twenty years, with lulls in between, the victory finally went to Rome.
3) The Third Samnite War (298-290 BC). Licking their wounds, the Samnites now sought revenge, and by 298 BC had formed an alliance with the Etruscans and the Gauls in northern Italy. The story line followed much the same path as the Second War, with the Samnites routing the Roman army at the Battle of Camerium (298 BC). The Romans responded with a massive increase in force and the Samnites, having lost a number of their best officers eventually accepted the peace offered by Rome.
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