Hiero II of Syracuse has remained loyal…

Hiero II of Syracuse has remained loyal to the Romans since 263 BCE, frequently supplying them with soldiers and provisions during the Punic Wars.

He maintains a powerful defensive fleet and employs his famous kinsman, the Greek Archimedes, in the construction of ingenious mechanical devices for defense of the city.

Hiero dies in 216/215 BCE.

During the long mainland campaign of the Second Punic War, with the Roman and Carthaginian armies now deadlocked on the Italian peninsula, fighting has continued as well on Sardinia and Sicily, which have become Rome's chief sources of food.

Aided by internal upheaval in Syracuse, Carthage reestablishes its presence on the island in 215 BCE; the Syracusans become Carthaginian allies.

Despite the defections by Syracuse and southern Italy, most of Rome's other allies hold firm.