Battle of Nola ( 214 BC ) The Third Battle of Nola was fought in 214 BC between Hannibal and a Roman army led by Marcus Claudius Marcellus . It was Hannibal ' s third attempt to take the town of Nola . Once again , Marcellus successfully prevented the town ' s capture . Background . Upon Hannibal ' s descent from the alps he had for 3 years won an impressive string of victories against Rome The battle of Ticinus , Trebia , Trasamene and Cannae were some of the more notable victories that he ' d won These had been disastrous defeats for the Romans , especially the latter battle . This victory brought the Romans to the brink of despair . The Senate had issued a decree that forbade anyone to say the word , " Peace " within the city itself . Mourning was legislatively circumscribed to 30 days , women were not permitted to cry in the public venues . In spite of these and other like measures , there was much despair in the city and there were a number of young Romans of high birth who proposed desertion to all in the army and to establish a new colony elsewhere . This proposed defection was put down and all thoughts of surrender were circumscribed . However , in spite of the tremendous blow to the cause of Rome , Hannibal could not take the city itself - he did not think he had the resources that a siege of the city itself would have required - and as a result did not attempt it . There were two reasons that Hannibal thought this was the proper course ; he did not believe that that he had the resources necessary for a siege of Rome itself , secondly thus far - and even after the battle of Cannea he had not been able to break up the Roman Symmachy . Not a single member of the Italian Confederacy ever broke its treaty with Rome , the roots of Roman power in the peninsula were sown deep , based upon time and the mutual benefit that both Rome and her subordinate allies had received from the alliance . To be sure , there were colonies that had been detached from the Confederacy in Cisalpine Gaul , but not seriously demoralizing blow had been struck at the Symmachy . So after Cannae , Hannibal set about just this task . It was indeed upon the basis of his being able to detach the confederates of Rome , that Hannibal had calculated upon a lasting victory . Without them , nothing serious could be brought about . So after the battle itself , Hannibal started to conduct diplomacy to this effect . Phillip of Macedon promised a navy and an army to descend on Italy - it was in this way that he hoped to simultaneously strike a blow at Rome herself while regaining Epirus to his kingdom . In addition to this , Hiero of Syracuse recently passed , and his successor concluded a treaty with Hannibal . With the end of detaching more confederates from the Roman Symmachy , after the battle Hannibal released all soldiers that had been enlisted under the banners as a result of their cities treaty with Rome without request for ransom . However , in spite of the seeming assendency of Hannibal over Rome , his cause was in reality anything but that . His military chest was stretched to its limit , and to this effect he sent a deputation to Rome that requested money in return for hostages . This deputation was forbidden to even enter the city , and the Senate forbid anyone from purchasing hostages from the Carthaginians on an individual basis - deeming the enrichment Hannibal through the wealth of Rome and its citizens to be unacceptable . What happened at this point , was a number of Roman Allies - although no Latin confederate - were detached . Capua , the second city of all Italy and in a commanding position on the crucial plain of Campania was detached . This city had been much oppressed by the Romans , and faced discriminitory treatment by the Senate and the chief magistrates of the Republic . This city was said to be able to furnish Hannibal with 30 , 000 foot and 4 , 000 cavalry . This was a major blow to the Symmachy , and was in and of itself as demoralizing as the defeat at Cannae had been . Following the example of Capua was ; Uxuntum , much of Bruttia , much of Lucaria , the Picentes of Salernia , the Harpini , almost all of Samnium Amongst whom the Samnites were noted for their prowess in battle , even still . Hannibal had effectively won over all of southern Italy . From the mouth of the Vulturnus river to the peninsula of Mons Garganus and south nothing could be found except a string of Roman forts holding out and adherents of Hannibal .