and Brundisium. In 216 BC in Cannae the Roman army suffered its worst defeat against Hannibal's Carthage.

Around 7 BC, emperor Augustus divided Roman Italy into regions, one of them being Regio II Apulia et Calabria. Later on, emperor Diocletian (284-305) reorganized Italian regions into provinces, and the newly created Province of Apulia and Calabria