Hannibal - The Second Punic War

Hannibal - The Second Punic War

Battle of CannaeBattle of Zama

Consequences of the Second Punic War

Battle of Cannae: Prelude

216 BC: Hannibal attacked Roman supply lines

Gauis Terrentius Varro was elected consul

Found Hannibal at the Audifus River

Hannibal declared for battle – It was refused

Hannibal sent his cavalry to a small roman camp harassing the water-bearing soldiers

According to Polybius, “Hannibal's cavalry boldly rode up to the edge of the Roman encampment, causing havoc and thoroughly disrupting the supply of water to the Roman camp”.

Battle of Cannae: Summary 216BC: Near town of Cannae in

Apulia in southeast Italy Greatest tactical feats in military

history Roman Commanders:

› Lucius Aemilius Paullus› Gaius Terrentius Varro

Roman’s methods of fighting and their equipment were highly sophisticated

Rome led ≈80,000 Hannibal led ≈40,000 Hannibal’s men came from

different regions:

Carthage

Infantry:• Libyans• Iberians• Gaetulian• Gauls

Cavalry:• Numidian• Spanish• Gallic

• Liby – Phoenician

The Battle of Cannae: Collision Romans densely packed their

infantry in the centre and the cavalry on the wings

Consuls planned to use the infantry to quickly break the Carthaginian lines

Hannibal placed his cavalry and most veteran infantry on the wings and his lighter infantry in the centre.

Hannibal formed their line into a bow

Hannibal had his centre ranks slowly retreat – Leading the Romans into a trap

The Carthaginian Cavalry destroyed the Roman cavalry on the left › Then advanced behind

the Roman allied cavalry on the right and assaulted them from the rear

Roman Allied Cavalry

Numidian Cavalry

African Infantry

Spanish and Gaulish Infantry

African InfantryNumidian Cavalry

Roman Cavalry Destroyed

The Battle of Cannae: Destruction

Romans were drawn in

Carthaginian Cavalry return and assaulted the Romans from behind› Completely surrounded

the Romans Trapped and Compressed

› Many Romans did not have space to raise their weapons

Polybius notes: ‘70,000 Romans and their

allies were killed, 10,000 captured’

Numidia Cavalry

African Infantry

African Infantry

Spanish and Gaulish Cavalry

Battle of Cannae: Aftermath Hannibal refuses to march to Rome He lacked equipment

and supplies Hanno, leader of the Carthaginian senate, refuses to assist

Hannibal with reinforcements Roman elected a new commander: Marcus Claudius Marcellus Marcellus was able to restrain Hannibal in three separate

battles in Nola 212BC: Hannibal decided to take the Roman port, Tarentum,

to wait for Hasdrubal with reinforcements 208BC: Marcellus gets ambushed by the Numidian Cavalry 207BC: Rome ambushed Hasdrubal at Metaurus River

before reaching Hannibal 205BC: Scipio was elected consul Scipio retook control of Spain and prepared for an invasion of

North Africa

Battle of Zama: Prelude Romans decided to attack Carthage› Forcing Carthaginians to recall

Hannibal Scipio was elected Consul

› He Proposed to end war by invading Carthage

He landed on Utica with 7,000 men – Defeated Carthage army in 203BC (The Battle of the Great Plains)

Scipio offered a new treaty to Carthage:› Carthage would lose its

overseas empire› Carthage was to reduce its

fleet and pay a war indemnity.

› Masinissa was to be allowed to expand Numidia into parts of Africa. 

203BC: Carthage senate recalled Hannibal back› Romans fleet were cutting

supply lines in the Gulf of Tunis

The Battle of Zama: Summary 100 Miles south from

Carthage Marked the final and

decisive end of the Second Punic War

Romans were led by Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus › Allied with Berber

Numidian forces Hannibal had a force of

≈50,000 Men› Outnumbering Romans by

≈10,000 Hannibal requested a

meeting with Scipio› Offered all the cities

and a promise to never attack again – Scipio refused

The Battle of Zama Hannibal sent his elephants Scipio anticipated this move and

created open lanes for attack › Some panicked, ramming into

Hannibal’s front line› Some was lured and killed

Scipio sent his cavalry to push Hannibal aside – Forcing the infantry to the centre

Regular legionaries began to push back the front of Hannibal's force

The Roman cavalry routes the Carthaginian cavalry off the field

The Battle of Zama Scipio attacks Hannibal's first and

second line of infantry and forces them to retreat

Both armies extended their lines to prevent being flanked Scipio failed to encircle

Hannibal Roman and Numidian cavalry

broke off its pursuit - Returned to attack Hannibal's infantry= Trapped!

Carthaginian soon broke off – Second Punic was soon to be over

Scipio used much of the same tactic at Zama as Hannibal at Cannae

The Battle of Zama: Aftermath ≈20,000 Hannibal’s men killed & ≈20,000 imprisoned After 16 years of war - Rome was victorious Scipio defeating Hannibal led to being the world’s

greatest general Hannibal managed to escape the slaughter

› Escaped to Hadrumentum with a small escort He advised Carthage to accept good terms with Rome – the

war, at this time, was futile

Polybius notes: “Hannibal, escaping with a few horsemen, did not draw

rein until he arrived safely at Hadrumentum. He had done in the battle all that was to be expected of a

good and experienced general.”

Consequence of the Second Punic War

Ended in Roman victory Scipio became the world’s greatest general Carthage was forced to surrender and accept Scipio’s terms:

1. Carthaginian territory outside of Africa were to be surrendered; along with navy and elephant fleet

2. Carthage agreed to not engage in warfare without the permission of Rome

3. Pay Rome 10,000 talents for the next 50 years

4. Lost resources had to be provided to Rome  Hannibal became a businessman for several years committed

suicide to avoid capture.

References http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/te

xt?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0234%3Abook%3D15%3Achapter%3D18

http://www.roman-empire.net/army/zama.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Zama

http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/mediterranean/2ndPunic.html

http://www.unrv.com/empire/result-of-second-punic-war.php