After Hannibal crossed the Rhone he marched his army toward the center of Europe in order to avoid a pitched battle with the Romans. He did this because the moral effect of a victory on Italian soil would be tremendous. So Hannibal led his troups northward toward Maillane, crossing the Durance river and then crossing the Aygues river into "the Island".
Polybius said that the Allobroges lived outside the Island and he apparently contradicts himeself later when he says that "the Island" was the territory of the Allobroges. The nationality of the Gallic tribe that lived inside "the Island" is unknown because of insufficient information. This tribe was split between two brothers disputing the throne. The elder, Brancus, had been king before his younger brother deposed him. When Hannibal arrived the two rivals asked Hannibal to mediate their dispute. Hannibal supported the views of the council and the leading men of the tribe and restored the throne to Brancus. The younger brother was then sent into exile. Then because they had marched a long way from
