| abstract | - Hannibal had lifted the siege of Capua after mauling two Roman consular armies in the battle of Capua. The Roman consuls had split their forces, with Flavius Flaccus moving towards Cumae, while Appius Claudius marched towards Lucania. It is not sure why they had done so, because their forces still outnumbered Hannibal's army, even after with the losses suffered in the battle. Hannibal decided to follow Claudius. Claudius managed to evade the pursuit of Hannibal, but a centurion, Marcus Centenius, had appealed to the Roman Senate for independent command against Hannibal, claiming that with his knowledge of Campania he can best the Carthaginians. Surprisingly, his appeal was granted. 8,000 soldiers were detached to serve under him, possibly from the army of Gracchus which was stationed in Lucania. To this force another 8,000 volunteers from Campania, Lucania and Samnium was added. While Appius Claudius with his consular army marched west to join his fellow consul, Centenius set off to pursue Hannibal. In Iberia, the situation remained deadlocked. Neither the Scipios nor the Barcids gained any decisive advantage. The Siege of Syracuse continued in Sicily. Hanno the Elder remained active in Bruttium.
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