The sources describe Hampsicora as the richest among the landowners of Sardinia, which at that time appeared to be split into two entities: the Carthaginian-dominated Southern and Western agricultural coastline, including the vast Campidano plain, and the more inland areas that maintained their independence and, while being eventually tolerant of the Carthaginians after many skirmishes, were nonetheless hostile to the Roman conquest.

Also, the senators of Cornus, the city of which Hampsicora was the chief magistrate, sent ambassadors to Carthage asking aid for the Sardinians who were aware of what was happening in Sardinia and the Italian peninsula.

Manlius surprised the few troops of Cornus, led by Hiostus, son of Hampsicora, who was defeated, having made the mistake of facing the enemy in the open field without waiting for further reinforcements.

The pitched battle between the two armies took place near Decimomannu, according to Francesco Cesare Casula,[4] between the two rivers in the area, a few miles north of Caralis and saw the defeat of the rebels and the death of Hiostus.

There are some ancient toponyms related to the name of Hampsicora in contemporary Algeria and Tunisia, like the river Ampsaga (today's Rhummel in Algerian Arabic), bordering with the Numidian Massylii in the vicinity of Cirta.