Battle of Silva Litana the Romans postponed military operations against the Gauls until the conclusion of the Second Punic War. In 216 BC, the Romans elected Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Gaius Terentius Varro as consuls. The consuls gave a legion to Lucius Postumius Albinus to punish the Gallic tribes in Cisalpine Gaul that had supplied troops to Hannibal's Carthaginian army. After Hannibal's crushing victory at the Battle of Cannae, Postumius was elected Roman consul for the third time and "in absentia", since he was in command of the Roman legion in Cisalpine Gaul. Postumius' army strength was increased to two Roman legions and he
Ordona economic decline began during the 4th Century BC. The construction of defensive walls during this period suggests a period of battles with other centres in the region, probably comprising clashes with the Greek Hegemonic Cities in the territory, among them neighbouring Taranto. It passed over to the Romans, with the rest of Apulia, after the wars of the Greek-Messapian League, commanded by King Pirro of Epiro (280-275 BC). Herdonia was a protagonist during the Second Punic War (219-202 BC) and in particular, during the events linked to the war's most famous battle at Cannae on 2 August 216 BC. According