Dionysius, the tyrant of Syracuse, having concluded a peace treaty with the Carthaginians after the Battle of Chrysas, was looking for a reason to renew the war.
The Carthaginian King-general, Mago II, died in battle and his son, Himilco Margo, became the new general.
The Carthaginians had concluded a truce for a few days, but having expired, the two armies confronted each other again, this time at Cronium.
Dionysius, whose troops were a select band,[2] were winning the fight, but after having received the news of the fall of Leptines and the defeat of the other wing, they were dismayed and took flight.
When the rout became general, the Carthaginians pursued the more eagerly and called out to one another to take no captives; and so all those who were caught were put to death.