Titus Livy, the historian of the 1st century attributes to the prefect of the garrison, the brindisino Dasio, the transfer of the town for the sum, not even exceptional, of four hundred golden nummies.The battle that broke out was felt as far as Placentia, so much so that the consul prepared the cavalry, commanding the legions to follow him in square order (quadrato agmine).[25] Hannibal, after having unsuccessfully attempted the passage of the Apennines in the early spring of 217 BC, returned near Piacenza and, after having advanced for approximately 10 miles (15 km) beyond the city, he set up his camp here.The following day he led part of his army against the Romans who were camped with the consul Tiberius Sempronius Longus near the city, triggering a new battle.When three in the afternoon arrived (nona hora diei), the Romans, now tired from the assault, gave the signal to retreat, seeing that there was little hope of taking over the enemy camp.[34] Two Roman quaestors, Gaius Fulvius Flaccus and Lucius Lucretius, were delivered to the Carthaginian by this population, together with two tribunes and five sons of senators, almost all of them of the equestrian order.