After general Hasdrubal the Fair was assassinated
by a Celtic slave, 26-year old Hannibal was elected as the new Carthaginian commander. The young general immediately made plans to
invade Rome, but he couldn't begin the campaign before strengthening Carthage's control over
the Iberian peninsula. So Hannibal went to work... He launched two highly successful campaigns
in 221 and 220 BC, extending Carthaginian influence beyond the Tagus river. But while on the return route to New Carthage,
Hannibal was taken by surprise, by a coalition of Iberian tribes. Led by the Carpetani tribe, the Iberians assembled
a large army. They blocked Hannibal's path and fortified
their position against the Tagus river, then waited for the Carthaginian general to attack. Here, Hannibal showed his military genius
for the first time. Instead of attacking the Iberians head-on,
he erected his own fortified camp and waited. By day's end his scouts found a river crossing
to the south-east. During wee hours of the night, Hannibal ordered
a small contingent to stay in the camp and keep all campfires burning, creating the illusion that the whole Carthaginian army was still encamped. Meanwhile, he led his army on a swift flanking
maneuver further up the river. By sunrise the next day Hannibal was behind
the Iberian position, feigning retreat towards New Carthage. Thinking that the Carthaginians were retreating,
Iberians rushed to intercept them. But once they were midstream Hannibal sprung
his trap and unleashed his cavalry. Iberian infantrymen, chest-deep in the fast
flowing river, couldn't offer much resistance and were cut down with ease by the Carthaginian
cavalry charge. Those who managed to cross were trampled by
the elephants. By now the Iberian army lost all cohesion
and the mass of tribal warriors started fleeing. Hannibal ordered his army to pursue them across
the river, completely routing the enemy. On the Tagus river, Hannibal had his first
major victory. But Rome took notice. Wanting to stop Hannibal's expansion, the
Romans made their presence felt. Already allied with the wealthy and powerful
city of Saguntum, Rome declared it their protectorate - an act that Hannibal percieved as a violation
of the treaty signed by the two great powers in 225 BC, which divided the Iberian peninsula
along the Ebro river into Carthaginian and Roman spheres of influence. A sworn enemy of Rome, it didn't take long
before Hannibal acted. He marched on Saguntum and besieged the city. In 219 BC, Carthaginian army reached the outskirts
of Saguntum. The city was heavily fortified, situated atop
steep slopes and cliffs, high above the surrounding plain. Saguntines requested aid from Rome, but the
Romans were busy fighting the Illyrians. Nevertheless, with provisions stockpiled Saguntum
was prepared. Besieging it would not be easy. Hannibal installed a blockade around the entire
city and placed most of his forces at the western end. Saguntines
stubbornly kept pushing every Carthaginian assault back, but the siege went on for months,
and the many assaults gradually wore down portions of the wall. Eventually, the defenders had to abandon their outer defenses and form up behind the inner wall. Slowly and relentlessly, Hannibal's army made
progress, and after 8 brutal months the Saguntines made their last stand at the citadel. Soon after, the city fell. Inhabitants that survived the siege were either
killed or sold into slavery. After the fall of Saguntum, Rome demanded
justice for what THEY perceived was the violation of the treaty and, claiming that Saguntum
was in the Roman sphere of influence according to the treaty, they asked Carthage to hand
over Hannibal to Rome, so he can be punished. But the Carthaginian senate stood by their
general, and by the end of the year, the Second Punic war began. Hannibal wintered in New Carthage, preparing
for the upcoming campaign. He placed his brother Hasdrubal in charge
of Iberia with 15,000 troops and 21 elephants, along with a fleet of ships to protect the
coastline. To break possible tribal allegiances, around
15,000 Iberian infantry were swapped for 15,000 African infantry who were more reliable, sending
the Iberians to Carthage and Lybia to bolster defenses against a possible
Roman landing. And in the spring of 218 BC, with the full
support from the senate, Hannibal marched out of New Carthage with 54,000 infantry and 8,000 cavalry, dividing his army into three columns. But beyond the Ebro, tribes allied to Rome
were hostile to the Carthaginians and it took Hannibal about 2 months to pacify the region. He placed around 10,000 troops under the command
of Hanno, ordering him to establish a line of defense on the Ebro against possible incursions
into Carthaginian territory. With 38,000 infantry, 7,000 cavalry and 37
elephants left at his disposal, Hannibal crossed the mountains and encamped on the other side
of the Pyrenees.Meanwhile, the Romans divided their forces. Their plan was to send consul Publius Cornelius
Scipio to intercept Hannibal in Iberia. Simultaneously, consul Tiberius Sempronius
Longus sailed to Sicily, with the intent of attacking Carthage itself if Scipio managed
to stop Hannibal's advance. Additional Roman forces were left to guard
the recently conquered Gallic lands in the Po valley, a region the Romans called Cisalpine
Gaul. Back at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains,
Hannibal laid the groundwork for the invasion. Rather than fighting his way towards Rome,
he did everything to avoid conflict with the Gallic tribes, mostly paying them for free
passage through their territory, promising that his only interest is to fight Rome. Moreover, Carthaginian messengers returning
from the Po valley assured Hannibal that the Gallic tribes there would welcome him, and
that they already began hostilities against Rome in anticipation of his arrival. This was welcomed news for Hannibal because
he knew the Po valley could provide more manpower and act as a staging point for operations
into Roman territory. As Hannibal approached the river Rhône,
Scipio's army disembarked at Massalia to resupply while on their way to Iberia. The Roman general knew that Hannibal crossed
the Pyrenees, but he wrongly estimated that the Carthaginian general was still far from
the Rhône. In truth, Hannibal's army was only 4-days
march away from Massalia. Hannibal rested his army for 3 days in hostile territory and began preparations to cross the Rhône. With the Roman army just 4 days away, Hannibal
wanted to avoid a set-piece battle with the Gauls, eager to press on towards the Italian
peninsula as soon as possible. But on the opposite riverbank, encamped was
the army of the Cavares tribe, a Roman ally. They gathered all their boats and built a
barrier on the riverbank in preparation to contest the Carthaginian crossing. But Hannibal devised a cunning plan. On the third night, under the cover of darkness,
he sent a flanking detachment under the command of Hanno, son of Bomilcar. Some 40km (25mi) north, Hanno crossed the
river and rested his troops for 1 day. On the second night after leaving the Carthaginian
camp, Hanno's detachment again moved during the night, eventually deploying behind the
Cavares camp at dawn. The trap was set. Early next morning Hanno used smoke to signal
Hannibal to start crossing the Rhône. As the Carthaginian vessels were lowered into
the massive river, Cavares army formed a line on the opposite riverbank. Hannibal was one of the first to cross, to
the roars and cheers from his men on the western bank. As the Carthaginians started disembarking
on the eastern riverbank, Hanno sent a part of his force to loot and destroy the Cavares
camp, while he proceeded to charge at the Gauls near the river. The Cavares were stunned by the flanking maneuver
and they began fleeing the field in panic, unable to cope with
Hannibal's perfectly synchronized attacks. With the Gauls scattered, the battle was soon
over and the Carthaginians hastily proceeded to cross the river. Most of Hannibal's troops crossed the Rhône by the end of the day, while it took another day to get the elephants across the river. While the Carthaginian army gathered on the
eastern bank, friendly Gallic messengers from the tribes in the Po valley arrived, warning
Hannibal that a Roman fleet is anchored nearby. Hannibal sent his scouts to locate Scipio's
army and incredibly, not long after, his Numidian scouts stumbled into a Roman-Gallic scouting
party. Both generals now knew of each other's whereabouts. Scipio quickly moved north to confront Hannibal,
but by the time Romans reached the crossing point a few days later, only an empty Carthaginian
camp was left behind - Hannibal had no time to waste, he had to reach the Alps before
the winter. But as Hannibal's army began their journey
over the Alps, trouble was brewing in Iberia. Scipio placed his brother Gnaeus Cornelius
Scipio Calvus in charge of leading the army into Iberia, while he headed back to the Po
valley to assume command of Roman troops there and prepare for the Carthaginian invasion. Scipio Calvus, now in charge of the invasion
force, disembarked at Emporiae. The Greek trading cities and the Iberian tribes
in the region welcomed the Romans. But even prior to the arrival of Roman troops,
the Carthaginians began to lose control over the conquered region, as Hanno's force wasn't
large enough to conduct offensive operations. What's worse, Hanno only learned about the
Roman arrival when Scipio Calvus was well on his way towards the Ebro river. He sent word to Hasdrubal who began marching
north with 8,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry. But, instead of waiting for Hasdrubal, Hanno
marched out with 10,000 troops to meet the 20,000-strong Roman army. Unsurprisingly, Scipio Calvus easily crushed
the Carthaginians, killing 6,000 and capturing 2,000 troops along with Hanno himself. Once Hasdrubal arrived, he didn't have enough
troops to meet the Romans in battle, so he launched fast moving raids along the coast. Carthaginian raiders killed many Roman sailors
as they were foraging, reducing the effectiveness of the Roman fleet by half. Nevertheless, Rome now had full control over
Iberia north of the Ebro river - a serious blow to the Carthaginian war effort. Moreover, northern Iberia would become a base
of operations for Roman incursions into Carthaginian territory south of the Ebro river. Meanwhile, having marched his forces over
the Alps, Hannibal would soon turn the Italian peninsula into a war zone, in a campaign that would elevate him to a general of legendary status... It is the year 218 BC. As Roman legions under consul Tiberius Sempronius
Longus sail south to invade Carthage itself, Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus is consolidating
Rome's position in Iberia, while his brother, consul Publius Cornelius Scipio rushes back to the Po Valley to take command of the Roman army there and stop Hannibal. Both sides are confident of victory. Although the Carthaginians are faced with serious setbacks in Iberia, in Gaul Hannibal speeds up his approach to the Alps when he befriends the Allobroges tribe by adjudicating in a dispute between two royal brothers over
who should rule. The seemingly grateful new ruler of the tribe,
Brancus the elder, provides the Carthaginians with supplies, warm clothes, food, and guides. And so begins Hannibal's perilous journey through the Alps. But as the ascend begins, Brancus' "friendly"
guides turn home. Here, Hannibal shows he is as skillful in
mind games as he is in generalship. Sensing an ambush, he sends scouts ahead who
report that the tribesmen are indeed mustering their forces just ahead on higher ground near
their settlement, waiting to attack the passing Carthaginian column. With a select group of experienced troops
Hannibal sneaks up to a position overlooking the tribal settlement and plans his next move. As night falls he signals his army to proceed
marching. Spotting the movement, tribal sentries raise
the alarm and, just as Hannibal had hoped, an attack begins on the Carthaginian column. Expecting the impending attack, Carthaginian
troops below stand fast on the precipice. A swarm of tribal warriors smashes into their
solid defensive line, the initial push throwing many over the cliff's edge. But the Carthaginians hold their ground and
the tribesmen soon realize that they have fallen into a trap. Hannibal rushes downhill while Carthaginian troops from below simultaneously begin pushing uphill. Many tribesmen are cut down in a matter of
minutes, their morale broken by the lightning fast Carthaginian counter attack. With the enemy driven off, Hannibal and his
men turn their attention towards the village. They storm the tribal settlement and seize
all of their winter provisions. At dawn, the Carthaginian march resumes. Over the following three days the marching
column continues unopposed. But all that changes on the fourth day as
the Carthaginians enter a narrow gorge where they are met by several tribal chiefs who
offer friendship, hostages and guides. Suspecting that the Gallic tribes from these
parts are no friendlier, Hannibal accepts their offer but takes precautions by secretly
moving the vulnerable baggage train and cavalry to the front of the column, and positions
his heavy infantry in the rear. As the Carthaginian march continues through
the extremely narrow pass, the 200m vertical cliffs ominously tower over them. And they are not alone... the Gallic warriors
are watching from above. Having set up an ambush further up the gorge,
the tribesmen bide their time, shadowing Hannibal's army for two days. But suddenly, at a very narrow point in the
gorge the Carthaginian column gets blocked from the front, as the tribesmen unleash their
attack. Rocks and projectiles rain down from the cliffs
above onto the Carthaginians below, killing many in the process. Animals panic and trample over soldiers who
hopelessly look for cover. The main Gallic force appears behind the Carthaginian
column and charges their rear, expecting weakest resistance there as they hope to loot and
destroy their supply train. But again, Hannibal proves he is one step
ahead of his opponents, as the heavy Carthaginian infantry he previously placed in the rear
pushes back the Gallic charge and inflicts heavy losses on the enemy, forcing them to
retreat after a brief battle. Hannibal then urges his men to push foward
out of the killing zone, as the barrage of rocks from above continues. It is not until one day later that the Carthaginians finally reach safety on the other side of the gorge. The last of the Allobroges attacks is beaten
off but the remorseless fighting against the Gallic tribes took its' toll on Hannibal's
army. To make matters worse, the weather soon turns
as winter comes early. Hannibal's troops find themselves battling
heavy snowstorms. Traversing through rocky gorges and steep
mountain slopes, many are swallowed by treacherous voids lurking just under the snowfall. Men, animals and wagons slip and slither on
the ice towards precipitous ravines and treacherous chasms. Finally, nine days into the march, the Carthaginians
set up camp just below the top of the pass as they wait for stragglers to catch up. Two days later Hannibal rallies his troops
at the top and points to the panorama of Italy below. There, he vows to his men: "You will have
the capital of Italy, the citadel of Rome, in the hollow of your hands", and with that
they begin descending towards the Po Valley. But the slopes on the way down are far steeper
and largely covered in ice. The treacherous terrain claims the lives of
many more troops and animals. Adding to the hardship, a collapsed stretch
of road forces the Carthaginian column to stop for three days amidst freezing conditions,
while the road is repaired. But finally, after braving these horrific
conditions the Carthaginians reach the foot of the Alps. Having lost nearly half of his army, Hannibal
takes stock of his troops who suffered terribly during the crossing. Of the 45,000 that set off through the Alps
just 16 days ago, only 26,000 made it to the other side. There, the Roman army awaits... In late 218 BC, Hannibal marched his forces over the Alps. But before he can confront the Romans he first
tackles his three immediate priorities: He resupplies and rests his exhausted men. Begins rebuilding his army by recruiting
new contingents of Gallic troops from the Po valley, as his current army is only barely
equal in size to a single Roman consular army. And as soon as his troops are rested he
quickly moves to secure the loyalty of Gallic tribes. Aware that loyalty, or at least compliance,
cannot be guaranteed by flattery and gifts alone, Hannibal asserts his authority by making
an example of the Taurini tribe, who resisted the Carthaginian advance. After a three-day siege, he orders his troops
to storm the main town of the Taurini. All of the inhabitants, men, women and
children... are massacred. This calculated display of ruthlessness serves
to show the Gallic tribes what is the price of hostility to the Carthaginian cause. Meanwhile, on the waves off the coast of Sicily,
the Carthaginians strike the first blow. In preparation for a full scale invasion to
take back the important port cities that they once held, their ships begin raiding strategic
islands around Sicily. In the west, the operation is successful. But further east, while raiding the Vulcan
islands, few Carthaginian ships are blown off course in a terrible storm. Not far from the Straits of Messina they are
eventually spotted and attacked by the Syracusian navy. The Roman ally captures three Carthaginian
ships and their crews. Under torture, the seamen reveal details about the Carthaginian plan to attack Sicily. The Syracusian King informs his allies
of this, and the Roman praetor in Sicily reacts promptly. The Romans learned that the Carthaginians
have a larger fleet in the area, but that their ships are not packed with many soldiers. The Roman praetor decides to exploit this by packing each of his ships with twice as many legionaries - effectively enabling each
Roman ship crew to fight off two Carthaginian ships. With look out posts set up along the shore,
the Roman ambush is set. The Carthaginians close in unpposed. But as they approach their intended target,
the Romans go on the offensive. They direct their ships towards one part of
the Carthaginian fleet, rushing to board the enemy. In this 1 v 1 situation, the more numerous
Roman crews overwhelm the Carthaginian ships and quickly pick them off one by one. Eventually the Carthaginian naval attack is
defeated and their attempt to gain a foothold on the island of Sicily in 218 BC fails. By this time, Consul Tiberius Sempronius Longus
arrives and launches a counter offensive along the south coast of Sicily and manages to capture
Malta. He then turns back to intercept Carthaginian
ships that are raiding the Vulcan islands, Vibo and Bruttium. But Longus' mission is cut short by news
that Hannibal arrived in the Po Valley, and he gets summoned to bring his legions back
north to help Scipio. Meanwhile, Scipio is eager to meet Hannibal
in battle. With his 17 year old son at his side, also
named Publius - who will later become known as Scipio Africanus - Scipio crosses the
river Po at Placentia and promptly continues west along the northern bank of the Po. Under his command are mostly less experienced
troops, but Scipio is confident of defeating Hannibal. After all, in Scipio's view
he challenged Hannibal on the Rhone, and the Carthaginian general ran away. Hannibal on the other hand is quite surprised
to learn that Scipio made it back to the Po valley so quickly. He thinks that Scipio returned with his entire
army, but he has no way of knowing that in fact Scipio's troops continued on to Iberia. Thinking that the Romans now have two whole
armies in the Po valley, the Carthaginian general fears that this force is now strong
enough to deter Gallic tribes from joining him, and he wants a victory... fast. Hannibal knows that the Gallic tribes will
not rally to his banner if he doesn't seem confident of defeating Rome. Not wasting any time, he marches his army
downstream along the northern bank of the Po river to meet Scipio. Still unaware of each other's exact whereabouts,
the two generals send scouting parties well ahead of their respective armies as they march
towards each other. Each army's scouts soon report the enemy's
presence, and both Hannibal and Scipio proceed with caution. The Romans build a pontoon bridge over the
Ticinus river and set up camp on the western bank. Meanwhile, some 15km west the Carthaginian
column also stops and encamps for the night on the flat plain. A day later, both Hannibal and Scipio ride
out in force to scout the area in person, each of them eager to gain a crucial early
victory, which would inspire the rest of their troops and win support of the Gallic tribes. Hannibal rides with the bulk of his horsemen,
while Scipio has all of his cavalry and a small force of velites with him. As the two contingents move through the flat
plain they soon spot each other because of the clouds of dust thrown up by the hooves
of their horses. Both generals decide to deploy their troops
for battle. Hannibal arrays his close order Spanish cavalry
in the front and forms the Numidian light cavalry in two groups behind the first line. Scipio places his velites in the front, aiming
to soften up Hannibal's cavalry with javelin throws. Gallic allies form the second line, while
the Roman cavalry is in reserve. As both contingents begin closing the distance,
Hannibal sees that the Roman cavalry is fewer in number and makes a split second decision
not to engage in skirmishing with the Roman velites. Instead he orders a full-blooded charge against
the Roman front line. Scipio quickly responds by leading his cavalry
forward, as the velites withdraw through the gaps to form a second line, without even managing a single javelin volley due to the onrushing Carthaginians. Few moments late the cavalry clashes in the
center. A fierce bloody-static melee develops, unlike
the usual mobile cavalry encounters of the time. The horses panic in the chaotic close-quarters
fighting, and many horsemen dismount in order to fight more effectively on foot. For a while the fighting seems indecisive,
but this was another ruse by Hannibal. He waits until most of the Roman cavalry is fully commited and then sends his Numidians on a flanking maneuver. This catches the Romans totally by surprise. Velites on the flanks spot the envelopement
and some of them panic and flee. The fast Numidian cavalry quickly flows around
the Roman flanks and tramples over the scattered light infantry. And then the noose begins to tighten around
the Roman contingent. In the melee Scipio is struck down from his
horse. Carthaginian troops close in to finish off
the wounded general, but at the final moment he is rescued. One early account of his rescue holds that
a Ligurian slave saved the Roman consul, but the more popular version claims that his 17 year old son Publius charged to rescue his father with a small group of Roman cavalry
that clustered around the consul, before retreating back towards the Roman camp. As word of Hannibals victory spreads, Gallic
tribes send emissaries to pledge their support. But despite their promises the Gauls deliver
little in the way of reinforcements and supplies during this early stage of the war. This forces Hannibal, who's army goes critically
low on food in late 218 BC, to send a cavalry contingent to capture a Roman grain depot
at Clastidium, guarded by a Roman garrison. Luckily for Hannibal, the garrison commander
is from Brundisium in southern Italy, and when confronted he willingly surrenders the
depot and, in return for 400 gold pieces, joins the Carthaginian ranks together with
the entire garrison. These troops become the first of the "Italian allies" to defect and join Hannibal. Meanwhile, the Roman army retreats to Placentia
where they plan to wait for Sempronius and his consular army. Although the defeat at the river Ticinus is
far from a major loss, it nevertheless reinforces the apprehension with which the Romans would
view Hannibal from now on, and it sets a psychological tone which would be felt in the much larger
battles to come. After the defeat at Ticinus, the Roman senate
looks to save face by blaming Gallic allies for being "ineffective". Taking comfort in the fact that Hannibal has
yet to face the vaunted Roman infantry, Longus' Longus' arrival to northern Italy restores confidence. Hannibal now faces armies of both Roman consuls. It's early December 218 BC. Publius Scipio's life still hangs in the balance
due to wounds he sustained at Ticinus. But, ironically, his troubles are only just
starting. His defeat at Ticinus has major consequences
for Rome: It directly caused the garrison at Clastidium
to surrender the town's massive grain depot. This strips his army of food reserves and
disrupts his supply lines, making any advance into enemy territory a risky venture. At the same time, Hannibal finally replenishes his own reserves, which were dwindling eversince he descended from the Alps, right until the
clash at Ticinus, just a few days ago. The damage to Roman prestige raises the danger
of further defections. What's worse, Gallic tribes are flocking to
join Hannibal, enthused by his ability to defeat the Romans and his softer administrative
touch. Scipio has no option but to retreat, realizing
he is deep in hostile territory. He marches to Placentia and makes camp across
the Po river. Hannibal pursuits and catches up two days
later. Learning of his arrival, over 2000 Gauls allied
to Rome rise up in the camp and attack Roman soldiers, killing many in their sleep. Before sunrise they cross the Trebia to join
Hannibal, bringing with them the severed heads of slain Romans. Using the Gallic defection as propaganda,
Hannibal makes sure to spread the word that Rome's allies are joining him en masse, thereby
boosting his popularity among the tribes. Scipio again moves south, not wanting to risk
being caught in the open. A day later he reaches the hills and sets
up camp in a strong position, with hills protecting his flanks from cavalry attacks. Then, he settles in and waits for reinforcements. By mid-December, the two consuls join forces. Discussing how to confront Hannibal, Scipio
argues against taking the field, stressing that Longus' troops lack experience and need
additional training, having been raised less than a year ago. Longus disagrees and sets up camp a few kilometres
north from Scipio's position. Just as eager to fight as Longus, Hannibal
maintains his camp on the flat plain and surveys the potential battlefield west of the Trebia
river. Meanwhile, he sends a raiding party to ravage
the area along the river, suspecting that Gallic tribes living there, who pledged allegiance
to him, are now negotiating with the Romans. It's unclear if the Gauls intended to betray
Hannibal, but with their villages now being raided some of the tribesmen appeal to the
Romans for help. Longus promptly sends 1000 velites across
the river to attack the raiders. With Hannibal's troops scattered across the
area and encumbered by plunder, Roman troops start picking off small groups of Carthaginians,
quickly routing the raiders. Seeing this, troops on duty outside Hannibal's
camp rush to the aid of the retreating raiding party. The fighting is fierce, as both sides want
to prove their superiority. But the Roman velites are soon forced into
a fighting retreat. The skirmish escalates rapidly, spreading
across a large area. More and more troops from each side join in. Pockets of clashes develop as neither side
is able to shore up its' ranks. It becomes apparent that the chaotic skirmish
might turn into a full-scale battle that neither commander will be able to control. Hannibal takes the initiative. He stops sending more troops into the fray,
trying to avoid a battle that he did not plan and can do little to influence. He then audaciously rides out in person and
rallies the scattered troops. He pulls them back and arrays them in a line
outside the camp. The Romans advance, but Hannibal restrains
his men from advancing on the enemy. The Romans too halt their advance, refusing
to attack the well positioned Carthaginians who can now be supported from the camp with
projectiles and fresh troops. The day draws to a close. Hannibal demonstrates his shrewdness by not
commiting to an uncertain battle. And by restraining his troops he exibits what
he would become so famous for - his extraordinary ability to excersize control over his army. Romans retire towards their camp, satisfied
at scoring a victory against Hannibal's troops, their morale and confidence partially restored. Longus, who is described by sources as having
an aggressive temperament, shows his eagerness to do battle as soon as possible. He won't have to wait long... At dawn, Roman guards sound the alarm. The Carthaginians are attacking the camp! Awoken to projectils flying over the palisades,
Roman troops are ordered to get ready for battle. On empty stomatchs, the men rush to form up
in front of their tents, in frigid conditions. Longus sends all 4000 of his cavalry against
the Numidians, closely followed by 6000 velites. But the Numidians soon break off. As the fighting moves north, the fast cavalrymen
engage in hit and run attacks. Longus marches out with the rest of his army
to meet the enemy. Heavy infantry forms into three columns - each
some 3.5km long. They lag behind the cavalry and velites, but
make steady progress. Numidians continue to avoid a direct confrontation
with the Roman cavalry and velites. Meanwhile, Hannibal gathers his officers to
lay out his plans. He offers words of encouragement and orders
them to ready the men for battle. Well rested and well fed, Carthaginian troops
take to the field. To the east, the skirmish continues. Numidians find themselves backed against the
Trebia. They start crossing the river as they continue
to pull back, pursued by the Romans. Arriving with the infantry and eager for battle,
Longus orders the army to deploy on the western bank. The three columns begin crossing, chest deep
in the freezing water. Meanwhile, Hannibal sends 8000 infantry forward
to support the Numidian retreat and to provide a screen for his own deployment. He then moves his main line about 1km towards
the approaching Romans. Across the field, Longus' army takes several
hours to deploy. After fording the cold Trebia, his men are
hungry, soaked, and standing in the near-freezing temperature. The Roman consul places his velites in the
front, forms his veteran infantry in the center, with Gallic and allied infantry on either
side, and cavalry on the flanks. Hannibal deploys his infantry in a thin line. Gallic allies in the center, with Spanish
and Lybian infantry on either side. Elephants flank the infantry, while the Numidian
and Gallic cavalry is further wide. Around noon, Longus orders his entire line
to advance, confident in the clear numerical advantage of his heavy infantry. The Romans advance in good order. The flat plain, free of any obstacles seems
an ideal battleground for their style of warfare. Meanwhile, Hannibal holds the line, letting
the the enemy come to him. Skirmishes get into range and begin exchanging
projectiles. With Balearic slingers in their ranks, combining
with javelinmen, the Carthaginians quickly gain the upper hand against the Roman velites,
who used up many of their javelins while pursuing the Numidian cavalry earlier in the day. Skirmishers from both sides withdraw through
the gaps, as the main lines of infantry close in. The heavier, more compact Roman infantry pushes
the Carthaginian line back, causing heavy casualties to Hannibal's Gallic infantry in
the center. On the flanks, Hannibal orders his cavalry
to push forward. Some of the Roman horses become frightened
by Hannibal's elephants, causing disruption within the ranks. But groups of Roman velites, specially trained
to deal with elephants, mix with the cavalry and attack the terrifying beasts, wounding
and killing many. Eventually, the Numidians manage to overwhelm
and advance against the Roman cavalry. But despite Roman flanks being pushed back,
the Carthaginian center is crumbling. Veteran legionaries are hacking through the
Gallic infantry. Without any reinforcements available, it seems
that Hannibal cannot stop the onslaught. But... what the Romans don't know is that,
while surveying the field on the eve of battle, Hannibal personally picked 2000 elite troops
and positioned them in a dry river bed, hidden from view. Now, they emerge from the ravine with perfect
timing, just as the Numidians finally rout the Roman cavalry, poised to encircle the
enemy. Hard pressed from the front by elephants,
Carthaginian infantry and skirmishers, the wings of the Roman infantry buckle as the
Numidians attack their rear. Meanwhile, Hannibal's center collapses as
the veteran Roman heavy infantry cuts right through the Carthaginian line, still unaffected
by the encirclement thanks to their discipline and organization. However, realizing the battle is lost, the
legionaries retreat back across the river to Placentia, maintain their battle formation. Roman casualties are heavy, likely around
28,000 dead or wounded, while the Carthaginian losses are much lower, between 3000 and 5000. Losing most of his elephants (possibly all
but one) is the only major loss for Hannibal at Trebia. In just a matter of weeks Hannibal outperformed
both Roman consuls with superior planning, near-perfect coordination and control of his
troops. News of the defeat rocks the Roman Senate
and causes widespread panic among the population. The damage to Roman prestige persuades many
more Gauls to join Hannibal. Additional attacks on Roman outposts and towns
cause further disruption, before cold weather finally forces armies of both sides into winter
quarters. But, as Hannibal's devastating campaign in
Italy gains momentum, a seemingly minor event in Iberia could threaten the Carthaginian
war effort in the long run. Early in 217 BC, the Roman Senate is still
reeling from the defeat at Trebia. But, determined to strike back at Hannibal,
they look to other theatres to try and shift the balance of war. The Roman army that was initially sent to
stop the Carthaginian general from reaching Italy is now in Iberia with new objectives,
under the command of Gnaeus Scipio… After first arriving in Iberia, in early autumn
of 218 BC, Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus defeated and captured Hanno, along with thousands
of Carthaginian troops. He also seized the rich baggage train that
Hannibal left behind when he marched into the Pyrenese mountains, while on his way to
Italy. But despite this victory, Gnaeus lost many
of his ship crews during Hasdrubal Barca’s raid into the Roman enclave, which crippled
his fleet. Luckily for the Romans, Hasdrubal was outnumbered
2:1 and he retreated soon after this minor victory, as he could not mount a full scale
offensive. Both generals use the winter months to regroup
and plan for the coming year. The Roman general’s main objective is to
prevent Iberian reinforcements from reaching Hannibal by land. His second objective is to put pressure on
Carthaginian holdings in Iberia by any means. From his base at Tarraco, Gnaeus spends months consolidating his position. He reaches out to various tribes to establish
friendly relations through diplomacy and trade, and looks to broker alliances by offering
the tribes protection against the Carthaginians. It doesn’t take too long to persuade many
locals to join the Roman cause, because just as most Gauls in Italy hate the Romans, so
too the tribes of northern Iberia despise the Carthaginians. And although many communities are still apprehansive
about confronting Carthage, especially those on the border, tribes further north of the
Ebro eagerly ally themselves to Rome. Gnaeus also strenghtens ties with the Greek
cities, especially Massilia, a very prosperous city that commits to sending her experienced
fleet to help the Romans. And as promised, Gnaeus detaches garrisons
to defend his allies over the coming months. He also garrisons the Ebro river, anticipating
an invasion by Hasdrubal Barca in the spring, and arranges the purchase of food and supplies
from the locals. In addition he distributes the plunder taken
from Hannibal’s baggage train to his army, which boosts his popularity with the troops. Across the Ebro, Hasdrubal Barca posts garrisons
along the river to ward off Roman raids and marches back to his winter quarters in New Carthage. Hasdrubal currently has 15,000 troops at his disposal. But, the manpower reserves and the riches
of Carthaginian Iberia, give Hasdrubal enough muscle to quickly respond to the Roman threat. He spends the winter months resting his army,
raising funds for new recruits and stockpiling provisions for the upcoming campaign. Ships are repaired and additional ships are
brought in, along with new ship crews, recruited mainly from the Turdetani tribes in southern
Iberia. By spring of 217BC Hasdrubal musters a large enough army to mount an offensive against Gnaeus. Carthaginians march out of New Carthage. Hasdrubal personally leads the ground forces,
while he puts the fleet of 40 ships under the command of Himilco. The fleet sails along the coast, closely keeping
pace with the army on land, under whos protection the crews can beach their ships every night
to rest. While Hasdrubal initially had 15,000 troops
after Hannibal departed from Iberia, it is unknown how many new troops he recruited for
the campaign of 217 BC. But, considering that Gnaeus received reports from his scouts of the approaching Carthaginians, and yet didn’t follow his first instinct
to face them in battle, it is safe to assume that the size of Hasdrubal’s army was exceedingly
strong, which dissuaded the Roman general from giving battle. Furthermore, Hasdrubal could potentially tap
into his vast manpower pool, while Gnaeus won’t be receiving any reinforcements for
at least a year, another reason for the Roman general to remain cautious. Gnaeus decides to march out of Tarraco and
take up a defensive position on the Ebro, with his ships following closeby. Aware that the Carthaginian fleet can flank
him and cut his supply lines, he hand-picks his best troops from the legions and loads
them into 35 ships, some of which came from Massilia with their experienced and reputable
crews. With his fleet guarding his flank, the Roman
general reaches within 15km of the Ebro. Gnaeus’ plan is to concentrate his efforts
on the sea. He temporarily stops and sends two Massilian
ships to scout ahead. With his army vastly outnumbered, he recognizes
that if Hasdrubal successfully surrounds or besieges his position, the superior Carthaginian fleet could cut off Roman seaborne supply lines. Therefore his plan is to deal a knock out
blow or at least cripple the Carthaginian fleet. Massilian scouts soon return with reports
that the Carthaginians are encamped at the mouth of the Ebro, their ships still beached
and unmanned since the night before. Looking to seize the fortunate opportunity,
Gnaeus gives his ships the signal to attack immediately, hoping to catch the enemy off
guard. They make haste towards the Ebro, formed in
two lines. The higher quality Massilian ships are in
the front, their crews leading the way, while the Roman ships are formed up behind them. However, Carthaginian scouts along the coast
spot the enemy fleet and sound the alarm. Hasdrubal draws up his land forces on the
beach and orders Himilco to embark his crews and put to sea straight away. The Carthaginians, although caught by surprise,
have confidence in their ships. Hasdrubal’s troops cheer on the crews as
they close the distance to meet the Romans. Two Massilian ships are intercepted. Himilco’s men rush to board the enemy vessels. On the right flank, Carthaginian ships double
up on the Romans. As they board the enemy, Himilco’s crews
begin overwhelming the Massilians and Romans on the right. Meanwhile, chaotic fighting spreads in the centre as the Romans latch onto several enemy vessels. Gnaeus’ men are firmly on the back foot
and losing ground. The Carthaginians outpaced and outmaneuvered
his fleet. But, the battle-hardened Roman troops in the
centre hold their ground. Disciplined and organized, they slowly manage
to turn the tide by sheer brute force. The legionaries begin pushing the Carthaginians
back. In the chaotic fighting they manage to sink one Carthaginian ship, together with its’ entire crew. Then another. Some of Himilco’s men begin to waver. Four more ships in the center are crippled
and left adrift with their oars shattered. Seeing the gaping hole in their line, panic
among some of Himilco’s crews turns into a hasty disorganized retreat toward the shore. Hasdrubal can only watch as the Romans vigorously
pursuit his fleet. His troops can do little to help the retreating
ships. Ironically, having his army deployed on the
beach offered a clear and safe escape route for the ships, which may have motivated some
of the crews to flee, rather than fight and risk death. This would certainly explain the sudden collapse
of morale amongst Himilco’s men. The Carthaginian fleet finally reaches the
shore. Crews beach their ships and hastily disembark,
abandoning their vessels in search for safety within Hasdrubal’s army. But the Romans aren’t done yet. They boldly continue towards the shore, despite
the risk of running their ships aground or being attacked by Hasdrubal’s troops. To the average observer it must’ve seemed
like madness to come so close to the shore. But Gnaeus is willing to take the risk! His ships rush in, quicky latching onto Carthaginian
vessels that are still seaworthy, and begin towing them away. Seeming stunned, the Carthaginians fail to
react in time. By the time they realise what has happened,
the Romans sail downstream, having captured TWENTY FIVE of their ships. At first, the defeat at the Ebro seemingly
changed little. Over the coming months Hasdrubal, with his
army intact, puts pressure on the tribes to rise against Rome, stretching Gnaeus to the
limit. But the Carthaginian general is also forced
to deal with revolts in southern Iberia. Both sides spend over a year quelling revolts
and regrouping. For the Romans, after a series of defeats
suffered against Hannibal in Italy, news of Gnaeus' success is much welcomed by the Senate. Encouraged, they make plans to send reinforcements
to Iberia under the command of Gnaeus' brother Publius, who's term as consul ended a few
months ago. Fully recovered from his wounds, within a
year Publius would arrive with 20-30 ships and 8,000 troops, along with food and supplies. However, it is Gnaeus’ perserverence at
the Ebro that would prove to be the turning point of the war in Iberia. For the next 10 years the Carthaginian Iberian
coast would be undefended. Exposed to Roman raids, Carthage will have
to divert a lot of manpower to defend its’ Iberian towns and countryside. And over the coming years, Scripio brothers
will pose a serious threat to the Carthaginian war effort...
I love it when a plan comes together. - Hannibal
Did Hannibal just stop there? I am confused.
I remember Vin Diesel was making and starting in a Hannibal movie, what happened to that?
More Roman propaganda attempting to justify the destruction of Carthage! BOOOOO!
The Carthaginians gave as good as they got IMHO.