Transcript Romans - The Art of Battle

Lake Trasimene
June 24, 217 BC
Strategic Context
The 30,000 Carthaginians are faced with two Roman consular armies of 40,000 and
20,000 respectively, blocking their way to the capital. Hannibal Barca leads the
Carthaginians across the dangerous, snowy Appenine passes and then the exhausting
Arnus marshes. He thus outflanks both consular armies and prevents any link up
between them. Gaius Flaminius, leader of the larger army, immediately marches south to
seek battle and obtain all the glory for defeating Hannibal.
Stakes
+ A Carthaginian victory would allow
Hannibal to march south and establish a
base closer to the Roman capital.
+ A Roman victory would deny the
Carthaginians a secure base in Italy.
No Image
Available
By Jonathan Webb, 2008 ©
Lake Trasimene, 217 BC
Strength
Carthaginians
Romans
Hannibal
Gaius Flaminius
22,000 infantry
8,000 cavalry
36,000 infantry
4,000 cavalry
Well
Well
By Jonathan Webb, 2008 ©
The Roman advance guard vaguely spots the Carthaginian camp at the eastern end of the ravine and charges forward. It is now that Hannibal
Flaminius
The
Romans
deploys
orders
do not
the
his
recover
long
forcecolumn
from
in column
the
forward
initial
formation,
inshock
the hopes
heavy
and panic
of
infantry
surprising
andacting
are slaughtered
theasCarthaginian
an advance
alongguard
camp.
with their
and
Hannibal
cavalry
commander,
meanwhile
as the
springs the trap; the main Carthaginian force charges downhill with a thunderous cry. The cavalry sweep around the Roman rear to cut off any
rearguard.
waits
Flaminius.
for the
Only
Hannibal
Roman
advance
deploys
column
guard
to
anbe
infantry
completely
and
some
unitThe
inlucky
astride
plaininfantry
view
the lake
ofare
are
anyone
and
able
for
to
the
scatter
daily
the
into
morning
ravine
thearound
mountains.
to
mist
serve
to shroud
as
and
Roman
his
retreat and
then
the the
infantry
smash the
Roman
flanks.
Roman
soldiers
blind
toentering
the
disaster
unfolding
them
andbait
canthe
barely
form
remaining
soldiers’
vision.
force
ranks to even
fight. uphill out of sight to serve as the ambush.
Carthaginians
(Hannibal Barca)
22,000 infantry
8,000 cavalry
N
Romans
(Flaminius)
Carthaginians
(Hannibal)
Romans
(Gaius Flaminius)
36,000 infantry
4,000 cavalry
Lake Trasimene, 217 BC
Casualties & Aftermath
Carthaginians:
Romans:
1,500
30,000
or
or
5%
75%
Hannibal was able to ambush and destroy an entire Roman army at little cost but could
not exploit the victory. Hannibal marched south in the hopes of being joined by cities and
tribes he considered to be vassals but was disappointed. The Roman Senate was
shocked by the loss of another field army and consequently appointed Quintus Fabius as
Dictator. Fabius soon gained the nickname as the “Delayer” for his avoidance of Hannibal
and scorched earth tactics that gained Rome the time to create yet another field army,
87,000 strong; it met Hannibal at the Battle of Cannae.
By Jonathan Webb, 2008 ©
The Art of Battle:
Animated Battle Maps
http://www.theartofbattle.com
By Jonathan Webb, 2008 ©