As these abuses interfered with Roman ability to speedily raise troops, the Senate decreed that any citizen of an ally would be immediately emancipated.
The Senate assigned Nerva to establish a tribunal in Sicily to determine who qualified for release.
Claiming that they would not face repercussions for their actions, Nerva told the slaves to disperse and return to their masters.
[3] Nerva tried to put down the revolt, but failed to react with decision; by false promises he was able to return one body of the rebels to slavery, but neglected to address more serious outbreaks near Heraclea and near Lilybaeum.
Eventually, Nerva dispatched a detachment of 600 soldiers to Heraclea but they were defeated, the slaves now gained confidence, having won a large supply of armaments.