Since the beginning of the 5th century, Rome was in a state of constant war with the Aequi and the Volsci, two Italic peoples who moved from central Italy to settle in south Latium. Livy relates that due to this conflict, the city was crowded with refugees and cattle from the countryside and the promiscuity triggered a deadly plague. Dionysius gives a different account: the plague started on 1 September 463 and first hit the cattle, but the Aequi and Volsci only attacked once they learnt about the effect of the plague on Rome. Both agree that Rome was unable to help its allies due to the epidemic. This plague was the first recorded at Rome, but the exact nature of the epidemic remains unknown, due to the lack of a uniformed taxonomy of diseases among ancient authors. Moreover, they often used a stereotypical narrative that mimicked that of Thucydides on the Athenian plague of 430: the plague starts with animals, then hits the people, who are unable to defend the city as a result.