Picenum was first settled at the beginning of the Iron Age (1200BC). The
Liburnians had colonies on the western Adriatic coast in Picenum from the beginning of the Iron Age and until the 6th century BC Liburninan naval supremacy meant both political and economical authority in the Adriatic. In 390 BC the
Senoni Gauls invaded Italy from the north and occupied Picenum north of the Esino river. The archaeological evidence shows groups of Senones settled much further south of this river, in the Macerata area and even in the Ascoli area, in sites such as Filottrano, San Genesio, Matelica, Offida. In 283 BC the Romans expelled the Senones and annexed Picenum down to
Ancona when it became the
Ager Gallicus, part of the
Ager publicus (Roman state land). In 268 BC the Romans defeated the Picentes after they had rebelled. Part of the population was deported and others were given Roman citizenship without the right to vote. Thus, Picenum was annexed, except for the city of
Asculum, which was considered an allied city. To keep it under control, the colony of Firmum was established nearby in 264 BC. According to
Polybius, during the consulship of
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (232BC), "the Romans divided among their citizens the territory in Gaul known as Picenum, from which they had ejected the Senones when they conquered them". Picenum sided with Rome against
Hannibal during the
Punic Wars. It also became a Roman base during the
Social War. Some Picentes remained loyal to Rome in the war, while others fought against them for the right of Roman citizenship. All Picentes were granted full Roman citizenship after the war. In the
Edict of Diocletian, it was mentioned that the wine from Picenum was considered the most expensive wine, together with Falerno.
Vinum Hadrianum was produced in Picenum, in the city of
Hatria or
Hadria, the old name of
Atri. This is also the same wine that
Pliny considered one of the highly-rated wines, along with a few others. ==Culture==