"La punizione dei vinti": dibattiti e decreti senatori su Campani e Tarentini dopo la riconquista (211-208 a.C.)

The punishment inflicted in 211 BC on the Campani (municipes sine suffragio) for their defection in the hands of Hannibal was assumed by a part of the senate as a paradigm also for the punishment inflicted in 208 BC to the socii Tarentini (accused of the same kind of defection). This political assessment was based on the assertion that punishment should be commensurate with the guilt, regardless of the different juridical status of defection. This kind of decision was expression of the rigorous line pursued against traitors e. g. by Q. Fulvius Flaccus (the conqueror of Capua), in contrast to the moderate and pragmatic line pursued by Q. Fabius Maximus (the conqueror of Tarentum).