, in Apulia; but
though the Romans were defeated, it was only another of those Pyrrhic
victories which were almost as disastrous as defeat.

The same year Pyrrhus retired to Sicily to defend Syracuse against the
Carthaginians, who were allied to the Romans. He remained on the island
three years. Upon his return to Italy he met the Romans for the last
time in 274, near BENEVENTUM, where he was defeated by the Consul MANIUS
CURIOUS DENTATUS. The Romans had by this time become accustomed to the
elephants, and used burning arrows against them. The wounded beasts
became furious and unmanageable, and threw the army into disorder. With
this battle ended the career of Pyrrhus in Italy. He returned home, and
two years later was accidentally killed by a woman at Argos.

The departure of Pyrrhus left all Italy at the mercy of Rome. Two years
later, in 272, the garrison at Tarentum surrendered, the city walls were
demolished, and the fleet given up.

CHAPTER XI. DIVISIONS OF THE ROMAN TERRITORY.--NOTED MEN OF THE PERIOD.

Rome was now mistress of all Italy south of the Arnus and Aesis. This
country was divided into two parts.

I. The AGER ROMANUS, including about one quarter of the whole, bounded
on the north by CAERE, on the south by FORMIAE, and on the east by the
APENNINES.

II. The DEPENDENT COMMUNITIES.

The _Ager Romanus_ was subdivided, for voting and financial purposes,
into thirty-three, afterwards thirty-five districts (tribes), four of
which were in Rome. The elections were all held at Rome.

These districts were made up,--

a. Of ROME.

b. Of the ROMAN COLONIES, mostly maritime, now numbering seven, but
finally increased to thirty-five.

c. Of the MUNICIPIA (towns bound to service).

d. Of the PRAEFECTURAE (towns governed by a praefect, who was sent from
Rome and appointed by the Praetor).

The DEPENDENT COMMUNITIES were made up,--

a. Of the LATIN (military) COLONIES, now numbering twenty-two,
afterwards increased to thirty-five.

b. Of the ALLIES of Rome (_Socii_), whose cities and adjoining territory
composed more than one half of the country controlled by Rome.

These allies were allowed local government, were not obliged to pay
tribute, but were called upon to furnish their proportion of troops for
the Roman army.

The inhabitants of this country were divided into five classes, viz.--

a. Those who possessed both PUBLIC and PRIVATE RIGHTS as citizens, i. e.
FULL RIGHTS. (Footnote: Pub