Second Punic War, continued ...
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Carthaginian zenith (212–211 BC)
Italy (212–211 BC)
The climax of Carthaginian expansion was reached when the largest Greek city in Italy, Tarentum, switched sides in 212 BC.
The Battle of Tarentum (212 BC) was a carefully planned coup by Hannibal and members of the city's democratic faction.
There were two separate successful assaults on the gates of the city.
This enabled the Carthaginian army, which had approached unobserved behind a screen of marauding Numidian horsemen, to enter the city by surprise and take all but the citadel where the Romans and their supporting faction were able to rally.
The Carthaginians failed to take the citadel, but subsequent fortifications around this Roman stronghold put the city under Carthaginian control.
However, the harbour was blocked and warships had to be transported overland to be launched at sea.
The Battle of Capua (212 BC) was a stalemate.
The Romans decided to end the siege of Capua.
As a result, the Capuan cavalry was reinforced with half of the available Numidian cavalry of 2,000.
In the Battle of Beneventum (212 BC), Hanno the Elder was again defeated, this time by Quintus Fulvius Flaccus, who also captured his camp.
In the following Battle of the Silarus, in the same year, the Romans under Marcus Centenius were ambushed and lost all but 1,000 of their 16,000 effectives.
Also, in 212 BC, the Battle of Herdonia resulted in another Roman defeat, with only 2,000 Romans out of a force of 18,000 surviving a direct attack by Hannibal's numerically superior forces, combined with an ambush that cut off the Roman line of retreat.
During the Roman Siege of Capua (211 BC), Hannibal again tried to regain use of his main harbour as in the previous year, by luring the Romans into a pitched battle.
He was unsuccessful, and was also unable to lift the siege by assaulting the besiegers' defences.
So he tried a strategem of staging a march towards Rome, hoping in this way to compel the enemy to abandon the siege and rush to defend their home city.
However, only part of the besieging force left for Rome and, under continued siege, Capua fell to Rome soon afterwards.
Hannibal fought another pitched battle near Rome.
In the spring of 212, Marcellus stormed the walls of Syracuse in a surprise night assault and conquered several districts inside the city.
Himilco's army was crippled by the plague and the Romans defeated the Syracusan counter-attacks.
Himilco and Hippocrates died soon thereafter of the disease.
Bomilcar exited Syracuse's harbor without being troubled by the Romans and re-appeared with 130 quinqueremes and 700 supply ships to lift the siege for good.
Poor weather prevented him from arriving before being intercepted by 100 ships under Marcellus.
Before battle could be joined at Cape Pacyhnus, Bomilcar decided to flee, ordering the supply ships to return home while the Carthaginian battle fleet sailed to Tarentum.
Syracuse fell soon after and Archimedes was killed by a Roman soldier.
In 211 BC, Hannibal sent a force of Numidian cavalry to Sicily, which was led by the skilled Liby-Phoenician officer Mottones, who inflicted heavy losses on Marcellus' army through hit-and-run attacks.
Agrigentum's Carthaginian garrison under Hanno engaged Marcellus at the river Himera and were crushed.
TO BE CONTINUED …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Punic_War
MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Re: MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Battle of Tarentum (212 BC)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Battle of Tarentum in March 212 BC was a military engagement in the Second Punic War.
Prelude
The Romans had been waiting for a chance to strike at Capua, the capital of Campania in southern Italy, after it revolted against them following their defeat by the Carthaginian Hannibal at Cannae in 216 BC.
Hannibal had made the city his winter headquarters, and his proximity deterred the Romans.
In 212 BC, however, Hannibal was called south to Tarentum, giving the Romans a chance to strike.
Hannibal hoped for a success big enough to risk the loss of Capua.
His eyes had long been set on the city of Tarentum, the richest in the whole of southern Italy.
Tarentum's dislike of Rome
Hannibal had been in communication with a party of Tarentine citizens who were unhappy with Roman rule.
A previous attempt had been made by the people of Tarentum to rid themselves of the Romans.
However, it was thwarted by the precautions that the Roman commander of Brundisium had taken.
He took effectual means for the defence of the city and sent some of the possible malcontents to Rome to serve as hostages for the good behaviour of the rest of the population.
These hostages were later caught trying to escape, several of whom were then convicted by the quaestores parricidii and sentenced to be flung from the Tarpeian Rock.
This act infuriated the people of Tarentum, who renewed their communications with Hannibal.
TO BE CONTINUED …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of ... m_(212_BC)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Battle of Tarentum in March 212 BC was a military engagement in the Second Punic War.
Prelude
The Romans had been waiting for a chance to strike at Capua, the capital of Campania in southern Italy, after it revolted against them following their defeat by the Carthaginian Hannibal at Cannae in 216 BC.
Hannibal had made the city his winter headquarters, and his proximity deterred the Romans.
In 212 BC, however, Hannibal was called south to Tarentum, giving the Romans a chance to strike.
Hannibal hoped for a success big enough to risk the loss of Capua.
His eyes had long been set on the city of Tarentum, the richest in the whole of southern Italy.
Tarentum's dislike of Rome
Hannibal had been in communication with a party of Tarentine citizens who were unhappy with Roman rule.
A previous attempt had been made by the people of Tarentum to rid themselves of the Romans.
However, it was thwarted by the precautions that the Roman commander of Brundisium had taken.
He took effectual means for the defence of the city and sent some of the possible malcontents to Rome to serve as hostages for the good behaviour of the rest of the population.
These hostages were later caught trying to escape, several of whom were then convicted by the quaestores parricidii and sentenced to be flung from the Tarpeian Rock.
This act infuriated the people of Tarentum, who renewed their communications with Hannibal.
TO BE CONTINUED …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of ... m_(212_BC)
Re: MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Battle of Tarentum (212 BC), concluded ...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hannibal's assault
Marcus Livius, the governor of the city, was a good soldier but is said to be a man of indolent and luxurious habits.
On the night appointed by Hannibal for the attack he was feasting with friends and retired to rest, heavy with food and wine.
In the middle of the night he was awakened when the conspirators blew the alarm on some Roman trumpets and found Hannibal and 10,000 of his soldiers already within the city.
Many of the Roman soldiers were asleep or drunk and were cut down by the Carthaginians as they stumbled out into the streets.
Hannibal kept control of his troops to the extent that there was no general looting.
Committed to respecting Tarentine freedom, Hannibal asked the Tarentines to mark houses where Tarentines lived.
Only those houses not so marked and thus belonging to Romans were looted.
Marcus Livius managed to bring his surviving troops to the citadel where they held off the Carthaginians for the duration of the war.
However, the city was lost.
All the Greek towns in Southern Italy with the exception of Rhegium were now under Hannibal's control.
Aftermath
Southern Italy provided Hannibal with a powerful foothold on the peninsula.
However, when he heard news that the Romans were besieging Capua he turned his army around and only days after capturing Tarentum he was outside Capua.
In the First Battle of Capua the besieging armies were temporarily driven off.
At this point in history Hannibal looked invincible, having allies in southern Gaul, and owning Southern Italy and Iberia.
Cities in Sicily such as Syracuse had revolted as well.
Hannibal was also promised the support (which never came) of the powerful army of King Philip V of Macedon across the Adriatic.
However, Hannibal's successes were not enduring.
The Romans soon re-established their siege of Capua, and took the city following the Second Battle of Capua the next year.
In 209 BC, Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus recaptured Tarentum through treachery.
In the following years, Scipio Africanus rose to prominence in Rome's military campaigns, and by copying Hannibal's tactics, eventually gained victory over Carthage.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of ... m_(212_BC)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hannibal's assault
Marcus Livius, the governor of the city, was a good soldier but is said to be a man of indolent and luxurious habits.
On the night appointed by Hannibal for the attack he was feasting with friends and retired to rest, heavy with food and wine.
In the middle of the night he was awakened when the conspirators blew the alarm on some Roman trumpets and found Hannibal and 10,000 of his soldiers already within the city.
Many of the Roman soldiers were asleep or drunk and were cut down by the Carthaginians as they stumbled out into the streets.
Hannibal kept control of his troops to the extent that there was no general looting.
Committed to respecting Tarentine freedom, Hannibal asked the Tarentines to mark houses where Tarentines lived.
Only those houses not so marked and thus belonging to Romans were looted.
Marcus Livius managed to bring his surviving troops to the citadel where they held off the Carthaginians for the duration of the war.
However, the city was lost.
All the Greek towns in Southern Italy with the exception of Rhegium were now under Hannibal's control.
Aftermath
Southern Italy provided Hannibal with a powerful foothold on the peninsula.
However, when he heard news that the Romans were besieging Capua he turned his army around and only days after capturing Tarentum he was outside Capua.
In the First Battle of Capua the besieging armies were temporarily driven off.
At this point in history Hannibal looked invincible, having allies in southern Gaul, and owning Southern Italy and Iberia.
Cities in Sicily such as Syracuse had revolted as well.
Hannibal was also promised the support (which never came) of the powerful army of King Philip V of Macedon across the Adriatic.
However, Hannibal's successes were not enduring.
The Romans soon re-established their siege of Capua, and took the city following the Second Battle of Capua the next year.
In 209 BC, Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus recaptured Tarentum through treachery.
In the following years, Scipio Africanus rose to prominence in Rome's military campaigns, and by copying Hannibal's tactics, eventually gained victory over Carthage.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of ... m_(212_BC)
Re: MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Battle of Capua
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The First Battle of Capua was fought in 212 BC between Hannibal and two Roman consular armies.
The Roman force was led by two consuls, Quintus Fulvius Flaccus and Appius Claudius Pulcher.
The Roman force was defeated, but managed to escape.
Hannibal temporarily managed to raise the siege of Capua.
A tactical Carthaginian victory, but ultimately it did not help the Capuans.
Strategic situation
In Italy, the Romans had fielded at least four armies.
The Consular armies were poised to attack Capua, while an army under Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus was active in Lucania.
Legions were also stationed in Rome, Samnium, and northern Italy.
Romans had retaken Arpi, Casilinum, and Sussela from the Carthaginians.
Hannibal had enjoyed considerable success, as Thurii, Metapontum, and Heraclea had fallen under Carthaginian control.
Hanno, son of Bomilcar, was active in Bruttium.
All of Magna Graecia except Rhegium and Tarentum was allied to Carthage.
Hannibal was in southern Italy, trying to gain control of the citadel of Tarentum after the city had fallen to him in 213 BC.
In Iberia, the Romans and Carthaginians were deadlocked, with neither side gaining any decisive advantage.
In fact, the situation was favourable enough for Hasdrubal Barca to move to Africa and crush the rebellion of Syphax without the Scipios gaining any advantages in Iberia.
In Sicily, the Siege of Syracuse continued.
On the whole, the Romans under Marcus Claudius Marcellus had gained the upper hand.
The Carthaginians had not recovered from the ravages of pestilence which had decimated their army.
TO BE CONTINUED …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Capua
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The First Battle of Capua was fought in 212 BC between Hannibal and two Roman consular armies.
The Roman force was led by two consuls, Quintus Fulvius Flaccus and Appius Claudius Pulcher.
The Roman force was defeated, but managed to escape.
Hannibal temporarily managed to raise the siege of Capua.
A tactical Carthaginian victory, but ultimately it did not help the Capuans.
Strategic situation
In Italy, the Romans had fielded at least four armies.
The Consular armies were poised to attack Capua, while an army under Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus was active in Lucania.
Legions were also stationed in Rome, Samnium, and northern Italy.
Romans had retaken Arpi, Casilinum, and Sussela from the Carthaginians.
Hannibal had enjoyed considerable success, as Thurii, Metapontum, and Heraclea had fallen under Carthaginian control.
Hanno, son of Bomilcar, was active in Bruttium.
All of Magna Graecia except Rhegium and Tarentum was allied to Carthage.
Hannibal was in southern Italy, trying to gain control of the citadel of Tarentum after the city had fallen to him in 213 BC.
In Iberia, the Romans and Carthaginians were deadlocked, with neither side gaining any decisive advantage.
In fact, the situation was favourable enough for Hasdrubal Barca to move to Africa and crush the rebellion of Syphax without the Scipios gaining any advantages in Iberia.
In Sicily, the Siege of Syracuse continued.
On the whole, the Romans under Marcus Claudius Marcellus had gained the upper hand.
The Carthaginians had not recovered from the ravages of pestilence which had decimated their army.
TO BE CONTINUED …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Capua
Re: MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Battle of Capua, continued ...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prelude
Capua had defected to Hannibal after the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC.
Hannibal had made Capua his winter quarter in 215 BC and had conducted his campaigns against Nola and Casilinum from there.
The Romans had recaptured Casilinum, crucial for attacking Capua, in 214 BC.
Since then they had conducted annual raids during harvest time to prevent the Capuans from gathering provisions.
In 212 BC, the elected consuls, Appius Claudius and Quintus Fulvius Flaccus, resolved to besiege Capua.
The Roman army of eight legions (four Roman and four allied) encamped near Capua in the spring of 212 BC.
This had prompted the Capuans to appeal to Hannibal for aid.
In response to their appeal, Hanno and his army moved north from Bruttium and collected provisions for Capua then encamped near Beneventum.
The Capuan authorities were slow in providing the carts for carrying provisions.
The Romans under Fulvius Flaccus attacked Hanno's camp while most of his men were foraging and captured it after initial setbacks.
Hanno retired to Bruttium, leaving the Romans in command of the situation.
The Capuans again sent an appeal for help to Hannibal.
In response, Hannibal sent 2,000 Numidian cavalry under Boaster and Hanno as reinforcements to Capua.
The Romans called on Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus to join their armies around Capua with his force, but he was ambushed in Lucania, and with his death his army dispersed.
TO BE CONTINUED …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Capua
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prelude
Capua had defected to Hannibal after the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC.
Hannibal had made Capua his winter quarter in 215 BC and had conducted his campaigns against Nola and Casilinum from there.
The Romans had recaptured Casilinum, crucial for attacking Capua, in 214 BC.
Since then they had conducted annual raids during harvest time to prevent the Capuans from gathering provisions.
In 212 BC, the elected consuls, Appius Claudius and Quintus Fulvius Flaccus, resolved to besiege Capua.
The Roman army of eight legions (four Roman and four allied) encamped near Capua in the spring of 212 BC.
This had prompted the Capuans to appeal to Hannibal for aid.
In response to their appeal, Hanno and his army moved north from Bruttium and collected provisions for Capua then encamped near Beneventum.
The Capuan authorities were slow in providing the carts for carrying provisions.
The Romans under Fulvius Flaccus attacked Hanno's camp while most of his men were foraging and captured it after initial setbacks.
Hanno retired to Bruttium, leaving the Romans in command of the situation.
The Capuans again sent an appeal for help to Hannibal.
In response, Hannibal sent 2,000 Numidian cavalry under Boaster and Hanno as reinforcements to Capua.
The Romans called on Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus to join their armies around Capua with his force, but he was ambushed in Lucania, and with his death his army dispersed.
TO BE CONTINUED …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Capua
Re: MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Battle of Capua, concluded ...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Battle
The Numidians, along with the Capuan cavalry, raided the Roman camp, winning several skirmishes and causing casualties among the Romans.
The Romans were waiting for Gracchus to reinforce them with additional cavalry and did not start any general action against Capua.
However, before the expected reinforcements arrived, Hannibal and his army moved into Campania, and encamped on Mount Tifata on the eastern side of Capua.
After three days he offered battle, and the Romans accepted the challenge.
The battle was a long drawn out affair with neither side gaining any decisive advantage, but again the Numidians gained considerable success against the Roman cavalry.
However, seeing horsemen approaching from the south, both armies broke off action and retired to their respective camps.
The horsemen turned out to be the cavalry of Gracchus, under the command of Cornelius, a junior officer, coming to join the consular armies.
Aftermath
Although the Battle of Capua did not produce a decisive result, the Roman consuls decided to split their armies and withdraw from Campania altogether.
Whether this was a result of casualties or part of a deliberate strategy, it resulted in Fulvius Flaccus moving towards Cumae, while Appius Claudius moved into Lucania.
Hannibal entered Capua, and then set off in pursuit of Claudius.
Appius Claudius and part of his army managed to slip past Hannibal, but a Roman army under Marcus Centenius Paenula was wiped out in the Battle of the Silarus.
Hannibal, having raised the siege of Capua, moved to attack Brundisium.
The Roman consuls decided to besiege Capua again in the absence of Hannibal.
Neither side gained any decisive strategic advantage from this battle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Capua
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Battle
The Numidians, along with the Capuan cavalry, raided the Roman camp, winning several skirmishes and causing casualties among the Romans.
The Romans were waiting for Gracchus to reinforce them with additional cavalry and did not start any general action against Capua.
However, before the expected reinforcements arrived, Hannibal and his army moved into Campania, and encamped on Mount Tifata on the eastern side of Capua.
After three days he offered battle, and the Romans accepted the challenge.
The battle was a long drawn out affair with neither side gaining any decisive advantage, but again the Numidians gained considerable success against the Roman cavalry.
However, seeing horsemen approaching from the south, both armies broke off action and retired to their respective camps.
The horsemen turned out to be the cavalry of Gracchus, under the command of Cornelius, a junior officer, coming to join the consular armies.
Aftermath
Although the Battle of Capua did not produce a decisive result, the Roman consuls decided to split their armies and withdraw from Campania altogether.
Whether this was a result of casualties or part of a deliberate strategy, it resulted in Fulvius Flaccus moving towards Cumae, while Appius Claudius moved into Lucania.
Hannibal entered Capua, and then set off in pursuit of Claudius.
Appius Claudius and part of his army managed to slip past Hannibal, but a Roman army under Marcus Centenius Paenula was wiped out in the Battle of the Silarus.
Hannibal, having raised the siege of Capua, moved to attack Brundisium.
The Roman consuls decided to besiege Capua again in the absence of Hannibal.
Neither side gained any decisive strategic advantage from this battle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Capua
Re: MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Battle of the Silarus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Battle of the Silarus was fought in 212 BC between Hannibal's army and a Roman force led by centurion Marcus Centenius Penula.
The Carthaginians were victorious, destroying the entire Roman army and killing 15,000 Roman soldiers in the process.
Prelude
Hannibal had lifted the siege of Capua after mauling two Roman consular armies in the Battle of Capua.
The Roman consuls had split their forces, with Flavius Flaccus moving towards Cumae, while Appius Claudius Pulcher marched towards Lucania.
It is not sure why they had done so, because their forces still outnumbered Hannibal's army, even with the losses suffered in the battle.
Hannibal decided to follow Claudius.
Claudius managed to evade the pursuit of Hannibal, but a centurion, Marcus Centenius Penula, had appealed to the Roman Senate for independent command against Hannibal, claiming that with his knowledge of Campania he could best the Carthaginians.
His appeal was granted and 4,000 citizen soldiers and 4,000 allies were detached to serve under him, possibly from the army of Gracchus which was stationed in Lucania.
To this force another 8,000 volunteers from Campania, Lucania, and Samnium were added.
While Appius Claudius and his consular army marched west to join his fellow consul, Centenius set off to attack Hannibal in Lucania.
Hannibal learned of the Romans' approach and halted his pursuit of Claudius.
Prior to the battle, Hannibal had his cavalry secure all roads in the area to stop any Roman retreat.
Battle
The opposing columns spotted their enemies and immediately drew up into battle lines.
The poorly equipped Romans held off Hannibal's veterans for two hours until Centenius was killed in action.
The Roman army collapsed into a rout and 15,000 Roman soldiers were killed in the battle and pursuit, with only 1,000 escaping the Carthaginian cavalry blockade.
Aftermath
After the battle, Hannibal did not pursue the army of Claudius.
Instead, he marched east into Apulia, where a Roman army under Praetor Gnaeus Flavius Flaccus was operating against towns allied to Carthage.
The Roman consular armies, free of Hannibal, united and resumed their harassment of Capua.
Hanno the Elder remained in Bruttium.
Casualties
Out of 16,000 Romans, only 1,000 survived.
These survivors were sent to join the disgraced legions of Cannae survivors after they had been rounded up.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Silarus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Battle of the Silarus was fought in 212 BC between Hannibal's army and a Roman force led by centurion Marcus Centenius Penula.
The Carthaginians were victorious, destroying the entire Roman army and killing 15,000 Roman soldiers in the process.
Prelude
Hannibal had lifted the siege of Capua after mauling two Roman consular armies in the Battle of Capua.
The Roman consuls had split their forces, with Flavius Flaccus moving towards Cumae, while Appius Claudius Pulcher marched towards Lucania.
It is not sure why they had done so, because their forces still outnumbered Hannibal's army, even with the losses suffered in the battle.
Hannibal decided to follow Claudius.
Claudius managed to evade the pursuit of Hannibal, but a centurion, Marcus Centenius Penula, had appealed to the Roman Senate for independent command against Hannibal, claiming that with his knowledge of Campania he could best the Carthaginians.
His appeal was granted and 4,000 citizen soldiers and 4,000 allies were detached to serve under him, possibly from the army of Gracchus which was stationed in Lucania.
To this force another 8,000 volunteers from Campania, Lucania, and Samnium were added.
While Appius Claudius and his consular army marched west to join his fellow consul, Centenius set off to attack Hannibal in Lucania.
Hannibal learned of the Romans' approach and halted his pursuit of Claudius.
Prior to the battle, Hannibal had his cavalry secure all roads in the area to stop any Roman retreat.
Battle
The opposing columns spotted their enemies and immediately drew up into battle lines.
The poorly equipped Romans held off Hannibal's veterans for two hours until Centenius was killed in action.
The Roman army collapsed into a rout and 15,000 Roman soldiers were killed in the battle and pursuit, with only 1,000 escaping the Carthaginian cavalry blockade.
Aftermath
After the battle, Hannibal did not pursue the army of Claudius.
Instead, he marched east into Apulia, where a Roman army under Praetor Gnaeus Flavius Flaccus was operating against towns allied to Carthage.
The Roman consular armies, free of Hannibal, united and resumed their harassment of Capua.
Hanno the Elder remained in Bruttium.
Casualties
Out of 16,000 Romans, only 1,000 survived.
These survivors were sent to join the disgraced legions of Cannae survivors after they had been rounded up.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Silarus
Re: MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Battle of Herdonia (212 BC)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The first Battle of Herdonia was fought in 212 BC during the Second Punic War between Hannibal's Carthaginian army and Roman forces led by Praetor Gnaeus Fulvius Flaccus, brother of the consul.
The Roman army was destroyed, leaving Apulia free of Romans for the year.
Prelude
In 212 BC, Hannibal destroyed the Roman army in Campania under the command of Marcus Centenius in the Battle of the Silarus.
He then received news from Apulian envoys of a Roman army under Flaccus that was easy prey owing to its low discipline and lack of awareness.
Sensing an opportunity for another quick victory, Hannibal marched east into Apulia.[1]
Battle
Fulvius and his army had had a rather easy time in Apulia, and the Romans were unaware of Hannibal's presence until he was within the immediate area of Herdonia.
Fulvius is said to have become careless from his easy successes and his army was also weighted down with loot.
Fulvius accepted battle on Hannibal's offer at the behest of his extremely eager soldiers.
The Romans had about 18,000 men available.
Hannibal deployed his forces on the plain outside his camp, while sending about 3,000 light infantry to his extreme left flank to effect a surprise attack from the woodlands and farms located in that direction.
Hannibal also sent out 2,000 Numidian cavalry to take control of the roads in the rear of Fulvius' army, thus cutting off all escape routes.
Flaccus did not detect the deployments of the Carthaginians.
Hannibal's army overwhelmed the Roman legions almost at once.
Fulvius immediately fled the field with 200 cavalry as Hannibal's attacks came from the front, behind, and to both sides.
Roughly 2,000 Romans are said to have survived the battle.
Aftermath
In the span of a few weeks, Hannibal had killed 31,000 Roman and allied soldiers in two battles in Campania and Apulia.
After the Herdonia battle, Hannibal marched south towards Tarentum, where the Romans were besieged in the citadel while the town had fallen to Carthaginian allies earlier in 212 BC.
The Roman senate decided to raise four new legions to send to Apulia.
The Roman consuls then marched nearer to Capua, intent on blockading the city totally.
The reason for Hannibal's retreat south has been a source of puzzlement for some authors.
They have speculated that Hannibal had retired to rest his army and give the wounded a chance to recover after three hard-fought battles and rapid marches.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of ... a_(212_BC)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The first Battle of Herdonia was fought in 212 BC during the Second Punic War between Hannibal's Carthaginian army and Roman forces led by Praetor Gnaeus Fulvius Flaccus, brother of the consul.
The Roman army was destroyed, leaving Apulia free of Romans for the year.
Prelude
In 212 BC, Hannibal destroyed the Roman army in Campania under the command of Marcus Centenius in the Battle of the Silarus.
He then received news from Apulian envoys of a Roman army under Flaccus that was easy prey owing to its low discipline and lack of awareness.
Sensing an opportunity for another quick victory, Hannibal marched east into Apulia.[1]
Battle
Fulvius and his army had had a rather easy time in Apulia, and the Romans were unaware of Hannibal's presence until he was within the immediate area of Herdonia.
Fulvius is said to have become careless from his easy successes and his army was also weighted down with loot.
Fulvius accepted battle on Hannibal's offer at the behest of his extremely eager soldiers.
The Romans had about 18,000 men available.
Hannibal deployed his forces on the plain outside his camp, while sending about 3,000 light infantry to his extreme left flank to effect a surprise attack from the woodlands and farms located in that direction.
Hannibal also sent out 2,000 Numidian cavalry to take control of the roads in the rear of Fulvius' army, thus cutting off all escape routes.
Flaccus did not detect the deployments of the Carthaginians.
Hannibal's army overwhelmed the Roman legions almost at once.
Fulvius immediately fled the field with 200 cavalry as Hannibal's attacks came from the front, behind, and to both sides.
Roughly 2,000 Romans are said to have survived the battle.
Aftermath
In the span of a few weeks, Hannibal had killed 31,000 Roman and allied soldiers in two battles in Campania and Apulia.
After the Herdonia battle, Hannibal marched south towards Tarentum, where the Romans were besieged in the citadel while the town had fallen to Carthaginian allies earlier in 212 BC.
The Roman senate decided to raise four new legions to send to Apulia.
The Roman consuls then marched nearer to Capua, intent on blockading the city totally.
The reason for Hannibal's retreat south has been a source of puzzlement for some authors.
They have speculated that Hannibal had retired to rest his army and give the wounded a chance to recover after three hard-fought battles and rapid marches.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of ... a_(212_BC)
Re: MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Siege of Capua (211 BC)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Siege of Capua was fought in 211 BC, when the Romans besieged Capua.
It is described by Polybius at 9.4-7, and by Livy at 26.4-6.
Capua had defected to Hannibal after the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC.
Hannibal had made Capua his winter quarter in 215 BC and had conducted his campaigns against Nola and Casilinum from there.
The Romans had attempted to march on Capua several times since its defection but were thwarted by the return of Hannibal's army rushing to its defence; the latest attempt had cost them some 16,000 men at the Battle of Herdonia in 212 BC.
By 211 BC, Hannibal was busy in the south of Italia and the Romans were ready to try again, banking on taking it before Hannibal's army could return to Capua.
Hannibal feared that if he approached Capua, the Romans would simply withdraw, as they had done on other occasions, only to return to lay siege again once he had left.
He thus tried to break the siege by marching on Rome itself, hoping that the threat would force the Roman army to break off the siege and march back to Rome to defend it.
Once the Roman army was in the open, he would then turn to engage it in a pitched battle and defeat them once again, freeing Capua from the threat.
However, Hannibal found the defences of Rome too formidable for an assault and as he had only planned this movement as a feint, he lacked both the supplies and equipment for a siege.
The Roman besiegers of Capua, knowing this, ignored his march on Rome and refused to break off their siege.
His feint having failed, Hannibal was forced to retreat south and Capua unrelieved fell to the Romans shortly afterwards.
In the aftermath Capua was severely punished by Rome: its magistrates and communal organization were abolished, the inhabitants who weren't killed lost their civic rights, and its territory was declared ager publicus (Roman state domain).
Parts of it were sold in 205 BC and 199 BC, another part was divided among the citizens of the new colonies of Volturnum and Liternum, established near the coast in 194 BC, but the greater portion of it was reserved to be let by the state.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Capua_(211_BC)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Siege of Capua was fought in 211 BC, when the Romans besieged Capua.
It is described by Polybius at 9.4-7, and by Livy at 26.4-6.
Capua had defected to Hannibal after the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC.
Hannibal had made Capua his winter quarter in 215 BC and had conducted his campaigns against Nola and Casilinum from there.
The Romans had attempted to march on Capua several times since its defection but were thwarted by the return of Hannibal's army rushing to its defence; the latest attempt had cost them some 16,000 men at the Battle of Herdonia in 212 BC.
By 211 BC, Hannibal was busy in the south of Italia and the Romans were ready to try again, banking on taking it before Hannibal's army could return to Capua.
Hannibal feared that if he approached Capua, the Romans would simply withdraw, as they had done on other occasions, only to return to lay siege again once he had left.
He thus tried to break the siege by marching on Rome itself, hoping that the threat would force the Roman army to break off the siege and march back to Rome to defend it.
Once the Roman army was in the open, he would then turn to engage it in a pitched battle and defeat them once again, freeing Capua from the threat.
However, Hannibal found the defences of Rome too formidable for an assault and as he had only planned this movement as a feint, he lacked both the supplies and equipment for a siege.
The Roman besiegers of Capua, knowing this, ignored his march on Rome and refused to break off their siege.
His feint having failed, Hannibal was forced to retreat south and Capua unrelieved fell to the Romans shortly afterwards.
In the aftermath Capua was severely punished by Rome: its magistrates and communal organization were abolished, the inhabitants who weren't killed lost their civic rights, and its territory was declared ager publicus (Roman state domain).
Parts of it were sold in 205 BC and 199 BC, another part was divided among the citizens of the new colonies of Volturnum and Liternum, established near the coast in 194 BC, but the greater portion of it was reserved to be let by the state.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Capua_(211_BC)
Re: MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Second Punic War, continued ...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carthaginian zenith (212–211 BC)
Greece (211 BC)
In 211 BC, Rome countered the Macedonian threat with a Greek alliance of the Aetolians, Elis, Sparta, Messenia and Attalus I of Pergamon, as well as two Roman clients, the Illyrians Pleuratus and Scerdilaidas.
The tide turns (210–209 BC)
Spain (210–209 BC)
In 210 BC, Scipio Africanus arrived in Spain with a proconsular imperium and more reinforcements that increased the strength of his army to 28,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry.
In a brilliant assault in 209 BC, Scipio succeeded in capturing lightly-defended Cartago Nova, which was the centre of Carthaginian power in Spain.
Scipio had the population slaughtered to maximize terror and a vast booty of gold, silver and siege artillery was taken.
He liberated many Spanish hostages kept by the Carthaginians to ensure the loyalty of the Spanish tribes to their domination.
These hostages would prove disloyal to the Romans.
TO BE CONTINUED …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Punic_War
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carthaginian zenith (212–211 BC)
Greece (211 BC)
In 211 BC, Rome countered the Macedonian threat with a Greek alliance of the Aetolians, Elis, Sparta, Messenia and Attalus I of Pergamon, as well as two Roman clients, the Illyrians Pleuratus and Scerdilaidas.
The tide turns (210–209 BC)
Spain (210–209 BC)
In 210 BC, Scipio Africanus arrived in Spain with a proconsular imperium and more reinforcements that increased the strength of his army to 28,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry.
In a brilliant assault in 209 BC, Scipio succeeded in capturing lightly-defended Cartago Nova, which was the centre of Carthaginian power in Spain.
Scipio had the population slaughtered to maximize terror and a vast booty of gold, silver and siege artillery was taken.
He liberated many Spanish hostages kept by the Carthaginians to ensure the loyalty of the Spanish tribes to their domination.
These hostages would prove disloyal to the Romans.
TO BE CONTINUED …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Punic_War