Battle of Lasinja

1) Background- The Brutii were in full control of Illyria by 267 BC. The Brutii commander Aulus Brutus had recently conquered the settlement of Segestica killing Captain Durpaneus and taking Pistias prisoner. Aulus would swiftly have Pistias released. Pistias however remained resentful towards Brutii domination and he used Aulus's campaigns in Illyria to gain support and prepared to start a riot.

2) Prelude-

Aulus attention was called to the west when a Gallic leader named Belenus invaded Illyria with an army. Aulus would leave Segestica with the invent to defeat the Gaul's leaving Captain Flavius in charge of the town. Pistias took Aulus's absence to orchestrate a riot, he assembled some 200-500 rioters and he prepared to take the central plaza, however Captain Flavius gathered the towns garrison consisting of 118 men and prepared the defend the plaza. Pistias attacked but was quickly defeated loosing 67 men compared to 8 Brutii soldiers, 41 non-combatants were also killed in the fighting.

Pistias left and headed towards the village of Lasinja, Meanwhile Brutii general Spurius Scapula arrived near Segestica with 49 elite heavy cavalry, where he received a message from Aulus to crush the rebels. He entered the town itself and join 114 Illyrian town garrison led by Flavius, where he marched towards Pistias reported position at Lasinja. The two armies met shortly after near the village itself.

3) Battle-

Spurius first led a downhill charge with his cavalry against the rebels and did considerable damage, but he quickly withdrew back to the high ground not wanting to be pinned in melee with infantry. Next he rode over to the 114 men that were still on the way to the battle, Pistias began marching his forces uphill against Flavius's men, who responded by showering the rebels with javelins killing many. Flavius then led a counter attack against the rebels, but he was outnumbered and forced to pull back taking heavy casualties. Flavius had managed to rally his forces and led another charge, this time with support from Spurius's cavalry, but was once again routed. Pistias seeing this believed he had won the fight began to pursue the fleeing Brutii, which proved to be a crucial mistake, as Spurius managed to arrive around the rear of Pistias's men. He then attacked the rebels from the rear and utterly routed then killing Captain Pistias in the process.

4) Aftermath-

Although the Brutii won they lost 95 men and nearly the battle itself. Notably for the Brutii commander Spurius Scapula would struggle with the accusations of "Doubtful Courage" to which he would struggle with for the rest of his life. Afterwards Aulus would go on to defeat the Gallic incursion and begin the Brutii invasion of northern Italy.