The siege of Nola (c. 90–80 BC) refers to various Roman attempts to regain control of the city following its loss during the Social War.
Background
Nola was captured by Samnite forces under Gaius Papius Mutilus in 90 BC. The captors were able to induce the defection of most of the 2000 Roman soldiers, with the officers refusing and starved to death.
First Roman operations (89–87 BC)
In 89 BC, in the Battle of Nola, the Roman commander Sulla defeated an Italian force led by Lucius Cluentius. The survivors of the battle tried to flee into the city, although around 20,000, including Cluentius himself, failed and were killed outside the walls. The siege continued and in 88 BC Sulla used the besieging forces for his March on Rome.
Final surrender (80 BC)
Major Roman commanders in the siege were Sulla and Appius Claudius Pulcher.
It was the last city to hold out against Rome with Rome not re-establishing control until 80 BC, after Sulla's civil war ended. It is possible that the city surrendered to avoid the consequences of a siege rather than being starved out by a siege.
Aftermath
Following its surrender in 80 BC, Nola was restored to Roman control. According to Livy, 47 legions of Roman veterans were settled in the surrounding territory, reflecting Sulla’s wider program of land redistribution after the civil wars.
Third Servile War
In the Third Servile War in 75 BC Nola was again besieged, this time by escaped slaves. It fell and was looted.