The Piceni or the  Picenes in English, Early Iron Age (1100–700 BC) inhabitants of the Adriatic coast of Italy from Rimini south to the Sangro River (which rises in the centre of the neighbouring Abruzzo region). The Piceni had two main centres, one at Novilara in the north, and another around Belmonte and Fermo farther south. The Piceni traded with the Greeks as early as the 7th century BC, but there is little evidence of trade with Etruria, except at the inland site of Fabriano. The evidence suggests the Piceni were warlike, with little artistic ability of their own, but wealthy enough to sustain a flourishing trade. In 268 BC their territory was annexed by Rome.

Source: Encyclopedia Brittanica.