<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> <Ul> <Li> Mons Gaurus </Li> <Li> Saticula </Li> <Li> Suessula </Li> <Li> Neapolis </Li> <Li> Caudine Forks </Li> <Li> Lautulae </Li> <Li> Bovianum </Li> <Li> Camerinum </Li> <Li> Tifernum </Li> <Li> Sentinum </Li> <Li> Aquilonia </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> Mons Gaurus </Li> <Li> Saticula </Li> <Li> Suessula </Li> <Li> Neapolis </Li> <Li> Caudine Forks </Li> <Li> Lautulae </Li> <Li> Bovianum </Li> <Li> Camerinum </Li> <Li> Tifernum </Li> <Li> Sentinum </Li> <Li> Aquilonia </Li> </Ul> <P> After recovering surprisingly fast from the sack of Rome, the Romans immediately resumed their expansion within Italy . The First Samnite War from 343 BC to 341 BC was relatively short: the Romans defeated the Samnites in two battles, but were forced to withdraw before they could pursue the conflict further due to the revolt of several of their Latin allies in the Latin War . Rome defeated the Latins in the Battle of Vesuvius and again in the Battle of Trifanum, after which the Latin cities were obliged to submit to Roman rule . </P> <P> The Second Samnite War, from 327 BC to 304 BC, was much longer and more serious for both the Romans and Samnites . The fortunes of the two sides fluctuated throughout its course . But the Romans won the Battle of Bovianum, and the tide turned strongly against the Samnites from 314 BC onwards, leading them to sue for peace with progressively less generous terms . By 304 BC, the Romans had effectively annexed the greater degree of the Samnite territory, founding several colonies . </P>

Who were rome's rulers before the republic