Between The Wars-telamon

Between the Wars 240-219 BC & The Battle of Telamon

After the First Punic War • Carthage embroiled in Mercenary War – Hamilcar in charge; limited history, merciless

• Corsica and Sardinia are seized from Carthage while she is distracted and unable to fight back. • Carthage expands her empire in Spain under Hamilcar

The Gauls Again • The Romans expand northward into the Po Valley in the 240’s and 230’s.

The Gallic Response • Feeling threatened, the Boii of the Po ally with the Gaesatae of Transalpine Gaul. – Rome concedes Spain to Carthage

• Rome rallies her legions – Consul, Gaius Atilius Regulus (son of Marcus of 1st Punic War, brother to another Marcus, consul in 227 BC) is in Sardinia – Consul, Lucius Aemilius Papus with 2nd army on east coast of Italy near Venice. – Praetor (name unknown) with allied army in Etruria

March South • The Gauls march south, and the Praetor and most of his force were destroyed in an ambush near Clusium. • Papus appear near, the Gauls decide to go along the west coast homeward—Papus follows. • Regulus lands near Pisa and marches south.

The Battle of Telamon • Regulus’ scouts meet Gauls on a hill, Gauls think it’s Papus. – Regulus advances, Gauls realize it’s another army, not Papus.

• The Gallic army split, each half facing outwards, back to back to fight both Regulus and Papus at the same time

Forces • Roman – Generals Regulus and Papus – 70,000 combined infantry – 5,400 cavalry

• Gauls – Generals Concolitanus and Aneroestes – 50,000 infantry – 20,000 cavalry

Death of a Consul • Regulus dies on the main hill; his head is brought to the Gallic chiefs. – Romans take the hill

• Gaesatae take heavy casualties due to lack of armor (fighting naked) and the Roman javelins (pila). • The Romans press in and their cavalry turn the Gallic flank. – 40,000 Gauls killed, 10,000 taken prisoner including Concolitanus. Aneroestes escapes but commits suicide.