Peligni

The Peligni were an Italic people who inhabited the Pelignian Valley in central Italy. Their territory was situated in the Abruzzo region, east of Rome, bordered by the Samnites to the south and the Vestini to the north. Their main city was Sulmona, known for its springs and later for its production of confetti.

Little is known about the Peligni's early history, but they are believed to have spoken an Oscan dialect, placing them within the Osco-Umbrian group of Italic peoples. They were likely absorbed into the Roman sphere of influence gradually. The Peligni participated in the Social War (91–87 BC), a major revolt of Rome's Italian allies who sought full Roman citizenship. Their participation in this conflict highlights their integration into the broader Italic political landscape and their eventual struggle for greater rights within the Roman Republic.

Following the Social War, the Peligni, like other rebelling tribes, were eventually granted Roman citizenship, and their distinct identity began to fade as they became integrated into the Roman state. Their territory became part of Roman Italy, and their cities, such as Sulmona, continued to exist and develop under Roman rule. The Peligni are primarily remembered through their participation in this pivotal conflict and their geographical location within ancient Italy.