Sword and Shield, Punic War

[Pendekar]

Let's throw our view way back a bit shall we? I want to talk about one of my idol. guess who? he is Hanibal Barca, carthagian general, military genius who was known for his capability to defeat a total of 8 roman consular armies in the space of 2 years.

Hannibal Barca is the most famous of the three Carthaginian military leaders known as Hannibal, the guy who famously led his forces -- including elephants -- across the Alps and into Rome, where he terrorized Roman forces during the Second Punic War. The son of a general, Hannibal became the commander of the army in 221 B.C. and waged victorious campaigns across northwestern Iberia (modern Spain). Determined to have revenge on Rome for its victory in the First Punic War, Hannibal led his forces in a daring overland campaign in 218 B.C., rather than challenge Roman forces on the Mediterranean. By 211 B.C. he had marched on Rome and had early success, but found it difficult to maintain control and was forced to withdraw and negotiate peace. For the next ten years he failed in his attempts to recapture his earlier military glory, and he ended up taking his own life by swallowing poison.

 

[gf0012-aust]

Cannae is seen as a classic victory as an outcome - but one seriously has to acknowledge the fact that it was due to failed leadership (and split at that) between Paulus and Varro.

They were incompatible commanders. Paulus was cautious, Varro was eager and a headstrong fool. One could question whether if Varro was not in the command chain whether Hannibal would have had such a victory.

Certainly there is a question of doubt as to whether any other conflict with Roman Gernerals would have generated the same result.

 

[Hard Ball]

The most important battle in the second Punic war was the battle of the Merarus where Cladius Nero destroyed the army of Hamlicar Barca (Hannibal/s brother) which had come over the Alps to reinforce Hannibal. Before the Metarus Carthage was winning the war. Agter the Metarus they were loosing.

 

[driftder]

Do you mean the Battle of Metaurus (207 BC)? The details posted here can be found at this link: http://www.barca.fsnet.co.uk/metaurus-207bc.htm.

Battle of Metaurus (207 BC)
The combined Roman force met Hasdrubal at the River Metaurus on the Adriatic south of Ariminum.Nero's plan for a surprise attack in force was thwarted when Hasdrubal's scouts reported that the trumpets had sounded twice that morning at the consul's tent. Hasdrubal was also told that some of the soldiers and horses were dusty as if from a long march. Aware that he was facing both consuls and that he was outnumbered by the combined Roman armies, Hasdrubal attempted to march off secretly to the north but missed his way or was led astray by his guides and was brought to bay by the pursuing Romans.

Forced to give battle, Hasdrubal deployed his army of 30,000 so to take as much advantage of the local terrain as possible. His left wing rested on the river Metaurus along a stretch that was too deep to cross. Hasdrubal formed his Gauls along a ravine that covered their front. He placed his Ligurians in the center with his best troops, the Spanish, on his right wing. The Elephants were placed in front of his Ligurians and Spanish. There appears to have been little cavalry and their position is unknown.

Facing him was the Consul Livius with about the same of troops and Nero with his 7,000. Livius deployed his legions opposite the Ligurians and Spanish and Nero deployed facing the Gauls. The Romans appear to have been unaware of the ravine when they advanced.

Hasdrubal attacked with the elephants, followed by his right wing and centre. The battle was hard fought and hung in the balance. Meanwhile Nero found he could not get at the Gauls across the ravine. He therefore took 2,000 infantry and marched them across the Roman rear to fall on the Spanish flank. This decided the battle. About 20,000 Carthaginians were killed including Hasdrubal. Livius restrained his men from killing the fleeing Gauls so that they would tell people what happened. This was the decisive battle of the war.

Nero returned south and had Hasdrubal's head flung into Hannibal's camp as an announcement of his defeat. Hannibal's hope of support in Italy was dashed.

For someone who had achieve a Herculean feat of marching his army over the Italian Alps and defeated the Roman Armies, its quite astonishing to find that he can be disheartened by being cut off from his main base re-inforcements. There must be more then meet the eye.
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[Pendekar]

treachery perhaps?

isn't a standard tactics at that time if an infantry form up in the center while the cavalry form up on both flanks?

 

[VICTORA1]

Gentlemen,

While you are talking about the punic wars, maybe one of you may want to mention about the highest naval war casualty in one day in the history of naval warfare. The old record still stands.