Please note that Mommsen uses the AUC chronology (Ab Urbe
Condita), i.e. from the founding of the City of Rome. You can
use this reference table to have the B.C. dates From: The
History of Rome, by Theodor Mommsen Translated with the sanction
of the author by William Purdie Dickson Tarentum Taken by
Hannibal The year 542 was more unfavourable for the Romans in
consequence of fresh political and military errors, of which
Hannibal did not fail to take advantage. The connections which
Hannibal maintained in the towns of Magna Graecia had led to no
serious result; save that the hostages from Tarentum and Thurii,
who were kept at Rome, were induced by his emissaries to make a
foolhardy attempt at escape, in which they were speedily
recaptured by the Roman posts. But the injudicious spirit of
revenge displayed by the Romans was of more service to Hannibal
than his intrigues; the execution of all the hostages who had
sought to escape deprived them of a valuable pledge, and the
exasperated Greeks thenceforth meditate