Middle Roman Republic, Northern Border (201-146 BC): Venetia

Venetia (181-177 BC)

Northeast Italy is bounded west-east-south arc by the Carnic and Julian Alps and the plateaus that extend southwards to the Istrian Peninsula. This area which had been subdued by Romans was lost during the Hannibalic War to tribesmen from the mountains. In 181 BC a Latin colony was founded at Aquileia at the head of the Adriatic as a frontier defence, but its foundation stimulated further raids from the Istrians. 

In 178 BC ¹²Manlius Vulso advanced from Aquileia and took up a position in enemy country, with his two legions camped separately and his two thousand Gallic allies in a third camp. In a surprise attack his camp was stormed and his troops fled to the Roman fleet stationed nearby. Next year he and his colleague ⁰⁵Junius Brutus renewed the war with better fortune, but they were prevented from bringing to a successful conclusion by the arrival of the new consul ¹⁴Claudius Pulcher (fl.195-167 BC). Resistance was stamped out and Istria was conquered as far as the Arsia River. In 148 BC the Via Postumia was built linking Genoa (Liguria) to Cremona (Gallia Cisalpina) and Aquileia (Venetia).