The first historical mention of "Spoletium" is the notice of the foundation of a colony there in 241 BC; and it was still, according to Cicero "colonia latina in primis firma et illustris": a Latin colony in 95 BC. After the Battle of Lake Trasimene (217 BC) Spoletium was attacked by Hannibal, who was repulsed by the inhabitants During the Second Punic War the city was a useful ally to Rome. It suffered greatly during the civil wars of Gaius Marius and Sulla. The latter, after his victory over Marius, confiscated the territory of Spoletium (82 BC). From this time forth it was a "municipium".