By 264BC, that rivalry began to centre on Sicily. The west of the island had been controlled by Carthage for centuries, while the east was occupied by Greek communities. A small group of mercenaries, known as the Mamertines, had a foothold in the city of Messana (modern-day Messina). In an ongoing dispute with the Greeks at Syracuse, the Mamertines asked both Carthage and Rome for support. Both obliged, moves that ultimately disrupted the delicate power balance in the region and triggered what would become a 23-year war.