 Complete the following phrase:  In 296 BC, in the midst of the Third Samnite War, Sempronius was elected as Praetor, a position which though inferior to that of consul, was frequently held by ex consuls at this time. In this year, there was news received in Rome that the Etruscans, who had allied with the Samnites against Rome, had invited the Umbrians and Gauls to join their cause as well. This struck great panic into the senators of Rome, particularly because of the Roman dread of Gauls which originated during the 