Hannibal Battle Of Lake Trasimene 4xxv

Lake Trasimene June 24, 217 BC Strategic Context The 30,000 Carthaginians were faced with two Roman consular armies of 40,000 and 20,000 respectively, blocking his way to the capital. Hannibal has since led the Carthaginians across the dangerous, snowy Appenine passes and then the exhausting Arnus marshes. He has thus outflanked both consular armies and prevent any link up between them. Flamimius, 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.

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By Jonathan Webb,

Lake Trasimene, 217 BC Strength Carthaginians

Romans

Hannibal

Tiberius Sempronius Longus

22,000 infantry 8,000 cavalry

36,000 infantry 4,000 cavalry

Well

Severely cold By Jonathan Webb,

The Roman advance guard vaguely spots the Carthaginian camp at the eastern end of the ravine and charges forward. It is Flaminius The Romans deploys orders do not the his recover long force column in from column the forward initial formation, inshock the hopes heavy and panic of infantry surprising and acting are the slaughtered as Carthaginian an advance along camp. guard with their and now that Hannibal springs the trap; the main Carthaginian force charges downhill with a thunderous cry. The cavalry sweep cavalry Hannibal commander, meanwhile theFlaminius. rearguard. waits Only Hannibal forthe theadvance Roman deploys column guard aninfantry infantry and to be some unit completely lucky inRoman plain infantry astride view of are the anyone able laketo and entering scatter for into thedaily around theas Roman rear to cut off any retreat and then the smash the flanks. The Roman soldiers arethe blind to the disaster ravine morning the mountains. to mist serve unfolding toas shroud around bait and them the his Roman andremaining can barely soldiers’ form force ranks vision. uphill to even outfight. of sight to serve as the ambush.

Carthaginians (Hannibal)

Carthaginians (Hannibal)

22,000 infantry 8,000 cavalry

Romans (Gaius Flaminius) Romans (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,

The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps http://www.the-art-of-battle.350.com/ By Jonathan Webb,