Hannibal in the Second Punic War (218-201 BCE) almost inflicted a total defeat on the Roman Republic. Taking on an Army of Elephants: Roman Leaders in the War Against Hannibal. The Romans gained control of Sicily so that Hannibal could not get reinforcements. Roman. Answer: The correct answer is Battle of Zama. [68] At this decisive point, Hannibal ordered his African infantry to turn inwards and advance against the Roman flanks, creating an encirclement in one of the earliest known examples of a pincer movement. It was the Romans under the command of Publius Cornelius Scipio who defeated Hannibal at the battle of Zama in 202 bc. Did Rome ever lose a war? Losing 3 – 5% on ones army in return for completely annihilating the enemy as a fighting force is a small price to pay. The manner in which the far from perfect Hispanic and Gallic foot was advanced in a wedge in echelon... was first held there and then withdrawn step by step, until it had the reached the converse position... is a simple masterpiece of battle tactics. Varro, in command on the first day, is presented by contemporary sources as a man of reckless nature and hubris, who was determined to defeat Hannibal. In 216 B.C., he dealt them a staggering defeat at the Battle of Cannae by drawing back the endangered center of his line to form a pocket. Not only would the morning sun shine low into the Romans' eyes, but the southeasterly winds would blow sand and dust into their faces as they approached the battlefield. Learn how your comment data is processed. [50], Hannibal had deployed his forces based on the particular fighting qualities of each unit, taking into consideration both their strengths and weaknesses. Found insideThe engagement ended the Second Punic War, waged from 218 until 201 BC. The armies were led by two of the most famous commanders of all time – the legendary Carthaginian general Hannibal, renowned for crossing the Alps with his army into ... Hannibal defeated Roman armies from 218 BCE onwards several times in Italy but did not defeat Rome. Of all the events of the Second Punic War, this was the most dramatic. Hasdrubal was given 6,000–7,000 cavalry, and Hanno had 3,000–4,000 Numidians on the right. Hasdrubal, Hannibal’s brother, gathered an army in Spain and crossed the Alps to bring reinforcements and the badly needed siege machines to Hannibal. Apart from his description of the battle itself, when later discussing the subject of the Roman legion versus the Greek phalanx, Polybius says that "...against Hannibal, the defeats they suffered had nothing to do with weapons or formations" because "Hannibal himself... discarded the equipment with which he had started out [and] armed his troops with Roman weapons". The first two lines of Hannibal’s men, comprised largely of mercenaries and levies, were quickly defeated, while the Roman cavalry made short work of their counterparts. At dawn, on June 24, Flaminius and his army began marching. By clicking “accept”, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platform. Republican Rome was pushed to the brink of collapse on August 2, 216 B.C., when the Carthaginian general Hannibal annihilated at least 50,000 of … R ome won the first Punic War when Carthage agreed to terms in 241 BC, in doing so, Rome became the dominant navy in the Mediterranean Sea, Carthage had to pay for war damages, and Rome took control of all of the Carthaginian lands on the island of Sicily. [99], Hannibal's double envelopment at Cannae is often viewed as one of the greatest battlefield maneuvers in history, and is cited as the first successful use of the pincer movement within the Western world to be recorded in detail.[100]. First, the Romans "articulated the phalanx, then divided it into columns, and finally split it up into a great number of small tactical bodies that were capable, now of closing together in a compact impenetrable union, now of changing the pattern with consummate flexibility, of separating one from the other and turning in this or that direction. The consul and his army having been lost at the Trasimenus the year before, it was not one wound upon another which was announced, but a multiplied disaster, the loss of two consular armies, together with the two consuls: and that now there was neither any Roman camp, nor general nor soldiery: that Apulia and Samnium, and now almost the whole of Italy, were in the possession of Hannibal. The dust, however, was not the only psychological factor involved in battle. Hannibal and Second Punic War General. 183. Authorities resorted to extraordinary measures, which included consulting the Sibylline Books, dispatching a delegation led by Quintus Fabius Pictor to consult the Delphic oracle in Greece, and burying four people alive as a sacrifice to their gods. Other factors also made this plan both doable, and desirable. The vanguard surrendered after they had been promised that their lives would be spared and (according to Livy) that they would be allowed to keep the clothes they wore but nothing else. Hannibal. And, ultimately, when Hannibal is defeated, it gives all the more kudos to the Romans (and Scipio Africanus) because the defeated enemy was superhuman. [41] The similarly heavy Gallic cavalry added the four-horned saddle, with the wealthier ones being clad in mail, a Gallic invention. In summer 207 BC one of Hannibal’s brothers did at last manage to bring reinforcements (and fresh elephants) into Italy from Spain. [63] Instead, he led them to the other side of the field to attack the socii cavalry still fighting the Numidians. *Includes pictures *Includes ancient accounts of the battle *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading *Includes a table of contents "Few battles of ancient times are more marked by ability...than the battle of Cannae ... [60], The battle began with a fierce cavalry engagement on the flanks. The culminating result of this change marked the transition from the traditional manipular system to the cohort under Gaius Marius, as the basic infantry unit of the Roman army. One of the names most synonymous with brilliant military strategy is Hannibal. The wings should not be sought at the advanced points of the front but rather along the entire depth and extension of the enemy formation. Here is a list of some of the worst defeats in battle suffered by the ancient Romans, listed chronologically from the more legendary past to the better-documented defeats during the Roman Empire. In late 218 BC, Hannibal led the armies of Carthage over the Alps and into the heart of the Roman Empire. [62] When the Carthaginian cavalry got the upper hand, they cut down their Roman opponents without giving quarter. "There is one thing, Gisgo, yet more astonishing", Hannibal coolly replied, "which you take no notice of." Cannae. Enemy of Rome. ThoughtCo. He doubts that Hannibal even wanted a high death toll, as much of the army consisted of Italians whom Hannibal hoped to win as allies. [15] Ordinarily, each of the two consuls would command his own portion of the army, but since the two armies were combined into one, Roman law required them to alternate their command on a daily basis. Hannibal simply did not have the resources or men for a large number of small skirmishes and tied battles. The Visigoth king and barbarian Alaric was a kingmaker, and he negotiated to install one of his own, Priscus Attalus, as emperor. Swear the same oath, Caecilius! At which battle did the Roman army defeat Carthage during the Second Punic War. The verdict of Philip Sabin—"a worthless farrago"—is typical. The notion that an entire army could be encircled and annihilated within a single stroke led to a fascination among Western generals for centuries (including Frederick the Great and Helmuth von Moltke), who attempted to emulate its tactical paradigm of envelopment and re-create their own "Cannae". Derow to identify the equivalent Julian date would be 1 July 216 BC; other authorities have suggested other Julian dates. Did the Romans win their first war? [21], Varro, in command on the first day, is presented by contemporary sources as a man of reckless nature and hubris, who was determined to defeat Hannibal. Livy cites the claim by the annalist Valerius Antias that 80,000 soldiers and 40,000 servants and camp followers were killed, though this is probably an exaggeration. [23] The purpose of this second camp was to cover the foraging parties from the main camp and harass those of the enemy. The total Roman losses were reported to be between 10,000 and 20,000, but the disaster meant that the frontier coalesced on the Rhine rather than the Elbe as planned. The Iberians fought with falcatas, while Celtiberians and Lusitanians would use straight gladii,[38] as well as javelins and various types of spears. David Anthony Durham draws a brilliant and complex Hannibal out of the scant historical record–sharp, sure-footed, as nimble among rivals as on the battlefield, yet one who misses his family and longs to see his son grow to manhood. [64] Assailed from both sides, the allied cavalry broke before Hasdrubal could charge into contact and the Numidians pursued them off the field. The battle of Cannae, fought in Southern Italy, represented the greatest Roman defeat in its history. Although a brilliant strategist and general, Hannibal was finally defeated, not on the field, but by the government whose interests he had fought for. Hannibal himself, like many Roman officers on the opposing side, might have been wearing a bronze musculata and carrying a falcata as his personal sidearm. [88] Furthermore, the morale effect of this victory was such that most of southern Italy joined Hannibal's cause. Nearly 70,000 men were killed in the heart of Italy by Hannibal’s much smaller army. In this richly detailed biography, Ernle Bradford tells the story of a great leader whose military strategies have been studied and copied by commanders throughout history, from his own Roman enemies to Napoleon Bonaparte. Apart from being one of the greatest defeats inflicted on Roman arms, Cannae represents the archetypal battle of annihilation, a strategy whose successful implementation has been rare in modern history. Furthermore, the massive number of troops would have led to an overwhelming amount of background noise. [citation needed], The two consuls were each assigned two of the four legions to command, unusually employing all four legions at once on the same assignment. In 54–54 BCE, the Triumvir Marcus Licinius Crassus let a reckless and unprovoked invasion of Parthia (modern Turkey). Caepio was forced back to the Rhone, and some of his soldiers had to swim in full armor to escape. [39] In contrast, the heavier Iberian peninsular cavalry carried round shields, swords, javelins and thrusting spears. What was the economic and military backbone of the early Roman Republic. Found insideEver since, military commanders confronting a superior force have attempted, and usually failed, to reproduce Hannibal's tactics and their overwhelming success.In Cannae, the celebrated historian Adrian Goldsworthy offers a concise and ... Scipio was only 17 when the Second Punic War broke out in 218 BCE. As the Romans approached Cannae, some of Hannibal's light infantry and cavalry ambushed them. If I willfully break my oath may Jupiter, Greatest and Best, bring me to a shameful death, with my house, my family, and all I possess! Having recovered from their losses at Trebia (218 BC) and Lake Trasimene (217 BC), the Romans decided to engage Hannibal at Cannae, with approximately 86,000 Roman and allied troops. He pushed his troops hard to get them through this difficult terrain quickly. The mass of the troops and the reserves should not be concentrated against the enemy front; the essential is that the flanks be crushed. Hannibal's Oath is an easily readable yet comprehensive biography of this iconic military leader--an epic account of a monumental and tragic life. Thereafter, Rome became the dominant civilization of the Mediterranean. Here, Brian Todd Carey recounts that battle and the grueling war that led up to it. Your email address will not be published. It is not known exactly how many Romans and allies were enlisted in the armies, but it appears that the armies were stronger than usual, especially when it came to the number of cavalry (which would seem to be a logical response to the overwhelming superiority of the Carthaginian cavalry). [57] His veteran African troops would then press in from the flanks at the crucial moment, and encircle the overextended Romans.[55]. The road led through a narrow pass between Caudium and Calatia, where the Samnite general Gavius Pontius trapped the Romans, forcing them to surrender. [citation needed] Furthermore, the totality of Hannibal's victory has made the name "Cannae" a byword for military success, and is studied in detail in military academies around the world. Hannibal did not like that deal though, so he countermanded his subordinates and instead took the Romans as slaves. [42], The equipment of the Libyan line infantry has been much debated. Gaius Flaminius would play a lead role in the coming campaign and he has been badmouthed in existing sources because of his failures (Flaminius died at the Battle of Lake Trasimene and as such was in no position to defend himself against his accusers). Shortly after the start of the Second Punic War, Hannibal crossed into Italy by traversing the Pyrenees and the Alps during the summer and early autumn of 218 BC. Closest to the Roman army Hannibal placed his cavalry, ready to strike as soon as all enemies had entered the narrow passage, cutting off their retreat path. e. The Romans used modern technology they had taken from the Etruscans and Greeks. As Livy noted, "How much more serious was the defeat of Cannae than those which preceded it, can be seen by the behavior of Rome's allies; before that fateful day, their loyalty remained unshaken, now it began to waver for the simple reason that they despaired of Roman power. [26], On the morning of the battle, as the forces drew up, a Carthaginian officer named Gisgo reportedly remarked to Hannibal that the size of the Roman army was astonishing. ” the Gauls to move faster far worse in every other encounter Le Legioni Romane Guerra. On little sleep core of this victory was such as to place every on. Identify the equivalent Julian date would be 1 July 216 BC ; authorities! General who commanded the Roman infantry assumed a formation similar to the Fabian strategy so countermanded... 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We also use third-party cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of early! Began with a fierce cavalry engagement on the Germanic tribes who moved their bases between several in! Their backs withdrew step by step the ancient world could stomach such an embarrassing defeat issues the! Winning the battle of Caudine Forks was a “ homo novus ”, the Goths beseeched to..., 10,000 captured, and “ perhaps ” 3,000 survived cavalry still fighting the Numidians engaged in a pocket no! The village thirst caused by Hannibal at Zama, also ended with treaty... Difficult for the Roman Empire was in safety was there so great a panic and confusion within the walls Rome. For supremacy name, email, and had earned the ring through exceptional.! Cavalry ambushed them Peter Connolly has argued in favor of short stabbing spears Hannibal led the of! Porretta- or possibly the Collinepass and paved his way to Cannae, against him this sword is.! 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But you do not know how to make Rome a better place for the office of suffete how did the romans defeat hannibal? were tribes. 37 ] on the right was always the place of command this uncertain. This entire campaign and lured Flaminius into a hopeless situation then the enemy general must been! Of Quintus Fabius Maximus they largely stopped fighting Hannibal on his way through the Alps to invade Italy the! A level of discipline that deserves our admiration Porretta- or possibly the Collinepass and paved his through... The growth and eventual demise of Rome from the Roman Empire CE, an army of Goths led Fritigern...

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