Submitted for award of PhD September 2006. - King's College London

3.1. Introduction
Chapter 3. Capua and the Campani
The most fundamental difference between the administrative institutions of Samnium
and those of the geographical region of Campania is that the administrative system of
the latter was based on pre-existing cities. This chapter concentrates on whether there
is good evidence for the existence of the so-called Campanian league; the supposed
leagues of Nola and Nuceria are discussed in chapters 5 and 6. This question will be
looked at through the study of relevant literary, epigraphic and numismatic evidence.
The traditional view that the towns of the Campanian plain were united in a
confederation or a league under the leadership of Capua has been accepted by
scholars ever since it was put forward by Mommsen. 327 Although it is generally
agreed that three federations existed in Campania, with their centres at Capua, Nola
and Nuceria, the extension of their territories and the dates of their dissolution have
been debated. Beloch argued that the Samnite invasion broke up the Etruscan-period
league of twelve cities dominated by Capua into three smaller confederations headed
by Capua, Nola and Nuceria. 328 The Capuan league consisted of Atella, Calatia,
Velecha, Sabatinum, Casilinum, Volturnum, Liternum and Puteoli. Later in his book,
Beloch also added Cumae, Acerrae and Suessula to the list. 329 The seat of the leading
officer, the meddix tuticus, was at Capua, and each town had a meddix, inferior to the
meddix tuticus. The league was dissolved after the Second Punic War.
327 Mommsen (1860) 335.
328 Beloch (1879) 11 and 314-20.
329 Beloch (1879) 316.
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