Through the influence of Hellenic habits a deep schism took place in the Samnite stock.

The civilized "Philhellenes" of Campania were accustomed to tremble like the Hellenes themselves before the ruder tribes of the mountains, who were continually penetrating into Campania and disturbing the degenerate earlier settlers.

Rome was a compact state, having the strength of all Latium at its disposal; its subjects might murmur, but they obeyed.

The Samnite stock was dispersed and divided; and, while the confederacy in Samnium proper had preserved unimpaired the manners and valour of their ancestors, they were on that very account completely at variance with the other Samnite tribes and towns.
Submission of Capua to Rome-- Rome and Samnium Come to Terms-- Revolt of the Latins and Campanians against Rome-- Victory of the Romans-- Dissolution of the Latin League-- Colonization of the Land of the Volsci In fact, it was this variance between the Samnites of the plain and the Samnites of the mountains that led the Romans over the Liris.
The Sidicini in Teanum, and the Campanians in Capua, sought aid from the Romans (411) against their own countrymen, who in swarms ever renewed ravaged their territory and threatened to establish themselves there.

When the desired alliance was refused, the Campanian envoys made offer of the submission of their country to the supremacy of Rome: and the Romans were unable to resist the bait.