The details of the Battle of Capua began to spread through the Roman nobles and soldiers who had escaped from Capua and had witnessed the battlefield.
Septimus's bloody methods against Roman citizens generated outrage among many noble families that supported Cinna's faction, including families that supported Sulla.
Thousands of Roman soldiers and nobles were massacred indiscriminately.
On the other hand, Septimus's army had already replaced the dead clones with new soldiers.
Septimus mobilized three legions to besiege the city of Naples.
Rome did not have enough troops to avenge the defeat suffered on the battlefield of Capua.
After repeated defeats and new forced recruitments, Rome's legions only totaled 10 in all.
Consul Norbanus entrenched himself in the city of Rome while waiting for Sulla's army.
Norbanus, like Marius, was a Roman politician of plebeian origin who rose within the republican system thanks to his alignment with the popular faction of Gaius Marius.
Norbanus's strength was politics, and he himself was aware that he could not defeat Sulla on equal terms on a battlefield.
Due to the historical interference of Septimus, Norbanus's army did not suffer a defeat against Sulla that would have caused him to take refuge in Capua.
As a result, Norbanus's army entrenched itself in the city of Rome after receiving news of the disastrous defeat of Consul Scipio in the Battle of Capua.
Sulla had a slight numerical superiority in soldiers compared to Norbanus's army.
Septimus had no intention of mobilizing troops before completely conquering the region of Campania.
The region of Campania became Septimus's personal fief and his power base in Rome.
In the year 83 BC, the region of Campania had approximately 75 urban centers, distributed among 10 large cities, 25 medium cities, and 40 smaller settlements (including colonies, municipalities, and *oppida*), making it one of the most densely urbanized areas of Italy; among the main ones were Capua, Neapolis, and Puteoli, in a context where its agricultural wealth, commercial activity, and network of cities made it strategically key.
By 83 BC, the total population of the region of Campania is estimated at around 600,000 inhabitants.
This figure includes both the urban and rural population in one of the most fertile and densely populated areas of Italy.
Of that total, approximately 250,000–300,000 people lived in cities such as Capua, Neapolis, or Puteoli, while the rest were distributed in the countryside, agricultural villas, and small settlements.
Septimus not only wanted to conquer; he also wanted to fully control the region.
Septimus's first objective would be the city of Naples, and the next city would be Puteoli.
Previously, Septimus had only paid attention to the cities of Capua and Naples, giving little importance to Puteoli because the city was very closely linked commercially with Naples and Capua.
Neapolis had greater cultural prestige, antiquity, and social weight. It was an established Greek city, with intellectual tradition, education, refined urban life, and close ties to the Roman elite; many aristocrats preferred it as a place of residence and education.
In contrast, Puteoli stood out for its economic and strategic importance: it was the main port of entry for goods into Italy, especially before the definitive rise of Ostia. Its commercial activity, maritime traffic, and presence of merchants made it vital for the supply of Rome.
White sugar and the various commercial products of Septimus were highly favored by the nobles of Neapolis.
On the other hand, the treaty with the Scipio family did not allow him to trade directly outside Rome, making the port of Puteoli not very important for Septimus at the moment.
Naples.
On the outskirts of the city, Septimus's three legions began to slowly surround each side of the city.
Hundreds of soldiers in black armor headed into the forest to cut down trees and create siege machines.
The city of Naples faced its most difficult challenge.
The soldiers defending the city numbered barely 10,000, and most did not have decent armor.
Almost half of the city's defending soldiers had been forcibly recruited by the city's administrator and the nobility.
Panic throughout the city was evident, with nobles engaging in unrestrained indulgence while awaiting their final days.
The brothels were completely full, as were the small gladiatorial arenas.
A large part of the city's population numbed itself with alcohol and excess to forget the tragic news told by the soldiers who survived the Battle of Capua.
When the news of the Battle of Capua spread throughout the region of Campania, a large number of nobles and elites of the region were skeptical. As a consequence, a large number of spies infiltrated the surroundings of the city of Capua.
The image of an endless forest of human heads spread throughout the entire region of Campania and its surroundings.
Due to the lack of clear communication, the rumors about Septimus only worsened, and the scene of thousands of dead transformed into the belief that the entire city had been massacred without leaving anyone alive.
The symbol of Septimus and his actions in Capua spread rapidly throughout almost all of Rome.
The standard of spears with decapitated heads became a symbol of fear throughout the region of Campania.
The name of Septimus, the impaler of heads, became quickly known.
Parents used the name of Septimus and his symbol to frighten their young children.
Many people in the city of Naples, realizing they could not escape, began to live a reckless life.
The administrator of the city of Naples could only sigh and attempt to negotiate surrender with Septimus.
Unfortunately, all the messengers from the city who approached the fearsome black-armored army were met with dozens of arrows.
The city of Naples, with its imposing defenses, did not provide any sense of security to the soldiers defending it.
A dozen kilometers from the city, a battle scene unfolded in a camp on the shores of the Mediterranean.
The admiral of Campania, Sextus, and a dozen of his most loyal soldiers faced a dozen Roman soldiers.
The position of admiral of Campania did not have a fixed independent term: its naval authority depended on the magistrate who appointed him, and in practice it could last from a few months to several years, although the institutional standard was one year, extendable.
After suffering a defeat years ago against Septimus, the current admiral of Campania, Sextus, could only spend money and take advantage of the influence of the Scipio family to maintain his position.
Sextus's political career was severely affected after being taken hostage by Septimus.
When Sextus learned of the Battle of Capua, his thoughts were complicated. He was somewhat pleased because the defeat of Consul Scipio meant that his previous defeat was not due to a lack of ability or mediocrity.
On the other hand, Sextus feared Septimus.
The soldiers that Septimus had provided him were the elite of the army of the admiral of Campania.
Sextus had great confidence in the ability of the soldiers that Septimus had provided him, and in recent years he had tried to win them over.
When Septimus's army began to besiege the city of Naples, the situation within the army of the admiral of Campania became somewhat tense.
The clone soldiers infiltrated into the army of the admiral of Campania organized themselves to fully equip and began to attack the Roman soldiers.
Septimus considered it completely unnecessary to continue maintaining a force belonging to Rome within the region of Campania.
Quickly, the Roman soldiers and the infiltrated clone soldiers clashed.
Sextus gathered a dozen loyal men to try to break through to the stables and escape on horseback.
The clone soldiers were elite and had superior combat skill, and they easily dominated the battlefield.
Sextus and his dozen loyal soldiers were easily killed.
The camp filled with the sounds of combat.
Some more intelligent centurions began to organize the few surviving Roman soldiers to escape by sea.
The military camp was located near the sea, and its purpose was to protect the region from Mediterranean pirates.
Sextus was a man who had lost hope of advancement, and his only purpose was to maintain his current position. The affairs of the defense of the region were organized by his subordinates.
The battle between the two sides lasted an entire day, and the clone soldiers dressed in typical Roman armor managed to take the entire camp.
A clone soldier took out a banner with the symbol of heads impaled on spears and waved it on the wall of the city.
Septimus intended to form a fleet and needed the ships of the admiral of Campania.