If Etruria went, then Rome’s already over-stretched armies would struggle to hold Campania in the south where already manpower shortages had led to ex-slaves being recruited to man the defences of Capua and the coastal cities. With Umbria too in revolt, Rome would be cut off from the reinforcements that the ever-able Quintus Sertorius was supplying from Cisalpine Gaul. Already the Gallic Saluvii on the other side of the Alps had become dangerously restive. Should the Italian tide gain momentum by the end of 89 BC ‘Roman Italy’ might consist of northern Picenum and Latium – and may have ceased
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