now in place, internal political divisions in the city might deliver it over to him. Livy here tells a story that may indicate the nature of the political and personal dynamics operating in cities across southern Italy. Marcellus, according to Livy, held on in Nola
Not more by confidence in his force than by the good-will
of the leading citizens. He was apprehensive of the
common people, and above all of Lucius Bantius, who was impelled by the consciousness of an attempted revolt and
by fear of the Roman praetor, now to betray his native
city, now, if fortune should not favour him in that, to desert.
Bantius was almost certainly not himself a commoner. At least, he is described as "a young man of spirit and at that time almost the best-known horseman among the allies" --hence presumably an aristocrat, the equivalent at least of equestrian rank. He had been wounded while serving with the Roman allied cavalry at Cannae, and had been well-treated and sent home by Hannibal. Hannibal's intent, as with his lenient treatment of allied prisoners of war in general, must have been precisely to create potential foci of rebellion against Rome. Such foci might well be disaffected nobles rather than commoners; indeed, it would be nobles, whether or not as leaders of populist factions, who would be in the best position to foment a rebellion.
Marcellus, however, seems to have correctly assessed that Bantius' disaffection was due more to personal ambition and restlessness than to either anti-Roman or populist sentiments.
Since he had either to be restrained by punishment or
else won over by kindness, Marcellus preferred rather to gain for himself a brave and energetic ally than merely
to take such a man away from the enemy, and summoning him addressed him kindly. It was easy, he said, to judge
that he had among his countrymen many who envied him, and this from the fact that no citizen o...