Ancient Capua, modern-day Santa Maria Capua Vetere, was the capital of Campania for many centuries. It was renowed for the wealth of its citizens and for the elegant lifestyle of its ruling classes, second only to the city Sybaris. Ancient Capua is famous as the place where the plain-living Carthaginian leader Hannibal relaxed during the Second Punic War and the setting for the dramatic, bloody revolt of the slave gladiators led by Spartacus in 73 BC.