[1] Following an incident earlier in 435 BC in which Fidenates entered Roman territory and ravaged it, Priscus was appointed dictator for the year by the Senate.
[2] Priscus chose former consul Postumus Aebutius Helva Cornicen to join him as his magister equitum.
Because of the town's elevation and its bountiful resources and supplies, Priscus decided not to lay siege or charge into the city.
He divided his army in such a way that certain groups would be able to constantly attack the walls of the town while another would be able to work on tunnelling through the hill.
When the hill was finally tunnelled through, the Romans entered the town, taking the Fidenates, who had been preoccupied with the attackers at the walls, by surprise.