A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

proprietor in B. C. 217, was sent by the consul Cn. Servilius Geminus from the neighbourhood of Ariminum with 4000 cavalry to the assistance of his colleague C. Flaminius in Etruria, whom he intended to join with all his forces. Centenius took possession of a narrow pass in Umbria near the lake Plestine, so called from a town, Plestia, in its neighboulrhood; and here, after Hannibal's victory at the Trasimene lake, he was attacked by Maharbal, one of Hannibal's officers, and defeated; those of his troops that were not killed took refuge on a hill, but were compelled to surrender next day. Appian, who is the only writer that gives us the exact place of this defeat, confounds C. Centenius with the M. Centenius mentioned be low. (Plb. 3.86; Liv. 22.8; Appian, Anib. 9-11, 17; Zonar. 8.25; C. Nepos. Hannib. 4.)