Battle of the Caudine Forks

The Battle of the Caudine Forks (321 BCE) was an event that occurred during the Samnite Wars (341-290 BCE) between the Roman Republic and the Samnites.
There was no battle, instead an entire Roman Legion was bottled up in the mountain Pass known as the Caudine Forks and was forced to surrender.

The Caudine Forks are a Mountain Pass near Benevento, Campania. There was no fighting or Battle. The Samnites misled the Roman Commanders into relieving a supposed siege of Lucera in Apulia. To reach the city quickly, the Consuls entered the Pass which consists of two narrow ravines.
Having passed through the first ravine, the Legion encountered a barricade at the second ravine. Obliged to retreat through the first ravine, they found that the exit had by now been blocked by another barricade.
As there was no water and no escape, the Roman Commanders were obliged to Treaty.

The Samnite Leader, Gaius Pontius, sent a message to his Father, Herennius, asking for his advice on what he should do. Herrenius’ first reply was to suggest Gaius Pontius free the Romans, releasing them unharmed.
Unwillingly to act on this, Pontius sent another message requesting further advice. This time the reply came with the advice to massacre the Romans to the last man.
Unwillingly to follow either of these extreme alternatives, Herrenius was requested to come in person.

When Herrenius arrived he was asked by Pontius whether there was not a Middle Way between the two extremes.
Herrenius observed that to release the Romans unharmed would earn their lasting friendship. To massacre them would weaken them for decades. But to massacre half the Romans and release the other half, would only force the Romans to pursue their revenge.
Pontius then decided to release the Romans unharmed, but insisted that they pass under a yoke as a symbol of the surrender. The Consuls had no alternative but to accept. The Roman Senate did actually accept the Peace agreed to by the Consuls.
The story is used to demonstrate that the Middle Way is not necessarily the best solution.

Up to this date, the Romans had been using the Greek style Hoplite Phalanx System. But the hilly terrain of the Samnites did not favour the Phalanx system, resulting in the capture of an entire Legion in the Pass known as the Caudine Forks.
In 315 BCE, the Phalanx System was changed to the Samnite Maniple System, to give greater flexibility.
The War against the Samnites was then recommenced in 316 BCE resulting in victory over the Samnites.

Caudine Forks, Italy