# Claudius Pontius — Discourses on Livy character guide

> Claudius Pontius in Discourses on Livy by Niccolò Machiavelli.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Pontius

**First appearance:** 0004-i

## Who they are

Samnite general who defeated the Romans at the Caudine Forks.

## In the story

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/xxiii)

The old Samnite who advised either honorable release or total destruction of the Romans at the Caudine Forks.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/xii)

Commander of the Samnites who, after Roman rejection of peace offers, used necessity to inspire his soldiers, declaring that a just war cannot be escaped and that their only hopes lie in arms.

### [XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/xl)

The Samnite commander who used a fraud to lure the Roman army into the Caudine Forks; his father Herennius's advice is cited.

### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/xlii)

Victorious Samnite commander who, despite his victory, was held in lower honor by his countrymen than Posthumius was by the Romans.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/characters/claudius_pontius
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/characters