There was the stronger necessity for trying to dissolve the union between the two Ausonian nations, since the Sabines were continually making inroads into the Roman territory: nay the Æquians by themselves were strong enough to bring the Romans to repent that they had deemed a single consular army able to withstand their power. L. Minucius was defeated on the Algidus in 296, and besieged in his camp: from this strait he was rescued by aid sent to him from Rome, his collegue being in the field against the Sabines: as the battle however had been lost through his fault, he was forced to resign; and Q. Fabius took the command of the army in his stead.

This colourless outline is the utmost share that history takes in the narrative of this campaign. One annalist indeed ascribes the command of the troops that relieved the army to T. Quinctius; but this assuredly is merely a transfer of his name to this year from 290. According to the system explained above, the reserve, which must have brought the relief, was headed by a general with consular authority: but it is exceedingly improbable that this command should have been committed to one of the quæstors of blood, which office T. Quinctius filled at this very time. Either a dictator was actually appointed, or Q. Fabius, who afterward took the command of the army, was also the person who saved it.