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The Punic Wars
Initial Battles
Hannibal was now (early 217) in Italy. This was the first crucial test of his war strategy: he proclaimed the liberty of the Gauls, those Germanic tribes who had settled in northern Italy and who had not been long under Roman rule. Few rallied to Hannibal's call. This did not dismay him, for he knew that he would have to prove his ability to defend them before they would risk Rome's wrath.
The Romans were now thoroughly alarmed. Hannibal had escaped from one trap after another and was earning for himself a reputation among the Romans for almost superhuman cunning. So the Senate sent both consuls north to meet the Carthaginian.
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| Trebbia River |
Each Roman consul had at his command an army of 20,000, and Hannibal was outnumbered
almost two to one. Moreover, the Romans took up a position along the
Trebbia River.
Hannibal did not dare to cross the river in the face of superior forces, but neither did
he have the luxury of long maneuvering. He had to win victories, quickly and decisively,
if the political side of his strategy was going to work.
Hannibal again out-foxed the Romans. He tricked them into crossing the Trebbia by sending skirmishers across the river. As soon as the Romans attacked, these began retreating, luring the Romans across the river. It was winter, it was raining and the river was chest-high, so the Romans emerged on the other side half-frozen. Hannibal had attacked early in the morning and the Roman commander did not give his men time to eat. The Carthaginians, on the other hand, had eaten well, been warmed by their fires, and had oiled their bodies to protect from the cold.
Moreover, Hannibal had taken a thousand hand-picked cavalry and a thousand hand-picked infantry and had hidden them in the brush. After the battle was deeply engaged, Hannibal sprang his trap and the concealed troops appeared behind the Roman position.. The result was a stunning victory for Hannibal. Of the 40,000 Roman soldiers, barely 10,000 were able to return to Rome. A number of Gallic tribes now came over to Hannibal. Both aspects of his strategy were working.
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| Lake Trasimene |
The Romans quickly fielded another army, for the heart of Roman strength was in central
and southern Italy. This second army met Hannibal at
Lake Trasimene
(217). Once again Hannibal outfoxed them, destroying another consular army.
In a single year, Hannibal had destroyed two full Roman armies. But the political side of his equation was not in fact working. The Italian allies did not leave the side of the Romans. Many of the Italian cities had made war with Rome and been defeated. They knew Rome's strength and would not lightly test it. Roman armies were still in the field and Rome itself was unconquered. Hannibal still had to prove himself.
Hannibal was concerned. If the Romans were to play a waiting game, refusing to meet him in open battle, then his plans would go awry. Everything depended on risking the fortunes of war.
Roman politics played directly into his hands. Roman consuls were elected annually. A consulship was the pinnacle of a great man's political career, and the crowning glory was to fight some great battle during one's tenure of office. The temptation of Hannibal was too great to resist.
The consuls for the year 216 campaigned on the promise of sure victory. The previous consuls had been fools, had played to Hannibal's strengths. They had a plan that would nullify the fox, bring him to open battle where the strength of Roman arms would overwhelm him.
Which was precisely what Hannibal wanted.