21.25
No
intelligence, meanwhile, had reached Rome beyond the fact reported by the
Massilian envoys, namely that Hannibal had crossed the Ebro. No sooner
was this known than the Boii, who had been tampering with the Insubres,
rose in revolt, just as though he had already crossed the Alps, not so much in
consequence of their old standing enmity against Rome as of her recent
aggressions. Bodies of colonists were being settled on Gaulish territory in
the valley of the Po, at Placentia and Cremona, and intense irritation was
produced. Seizing their arms they made an attack on the land, which was
being actually surveyed at the time, and created such terror and confusion
that not only the agricultural population, but even the three Roman
commissioners who were engaged in marking out the holdings, fled to
Mutina, not feeling themselves safe behind the walls of Placentia. The
commissioners were C. Lutatius, C. Servilius, and M. Annius. There is no
doubt as to the name Lutatius, but instead of Annius and Servilius some
annalists have Manlius Acilius and C. Herennius, whilst others give P.
Cornelius Asina and C. Papirius Maso. There is also doubt as to whether it
was the envoys who had been sent to the Boii to remonstrate with them that
were maltreated, or the commissioners upon whom an attack was made
whilst surveying the ground. The Gauls invested Mutina, but as they were
strangers to the art of conducting sieges, and far too indolent to set about
the construction of military works, they contented themselves with
blockading the town without inflicting any injury on the walls. At last they
pretended that they were ready to discuss terms of peace, and the envoys
were invited by the Gaulish chieftains to a conference. Here they were
arrested, in direct violation not only of international law but of the
safe-conduct which had been granted for the occasion. Having made them
prisoners the Gauls declared that they would not release them until their
hostages were restored to them.
When news came that the envoys were prisoners and Mutina and its
garrison in jeopardy, L. Manlius, the praetor, burning with anger, led his
army in separate divisions to Mutina. Most of the country was uncultivated
at that time and the road went through a forest. He advanced without
throwing out scouting parties and fell into an ambush, out of which, after
sustaining considerable loss, he made his way with difficulty on to more open
ground. Here he entrenched himself, and as the Gauls felt it would be
hopeless to attack him there, the courage of his men revived, though it was
tolerably certain that as many as 500 had fallen. They recommenced their
march, and as long as they were going through open country there was no
enemy in view; when they re-entered the forest their rear was attacked and
great confusion and panic created. They lost 700 men and six standards.
When they at last got out of the trackless and entangled forest there was an
end to the terrifying tactics of the Gauls and the wild alarm of the Romans.
There was no difficulty in repelling attacks when they reached the open
country and made their way to Tannetum, a place near the Po. Here they
hastily entrenched themselves, and, helped by the windings of the river and
assisted by the Brixian Gauls, they held their ground against an enemy whose
numbers were daily increasing.