Cannae Read online

  Polybius, account by

  author of Universal History, 3

  casualties at Cannae, 179–180

  consuls’ dispute over battle location, 82–83

  favorable treatment of Paullus by, 59

  Hannibal’s character, 18

  Hannibal’s confrontation with Romans at Ticinus, 23

  Hannibal’s hatred of Rome, 14

  on legions, 36–37

  Paullus’ attitude toward battle, 72

  Paullus’ death, 178

  Roman “scorched earth” tactic, 74

  Romans’ unusual formation, 135

  size of Roman army, 65–66, 71

  survey of men eligible for military service, 44–45

  on weaponry, 39, 148

  praefecti (prefects), 42, 44

  praetors, 43

  principes, 37–38, 40, 107–108, 110

  Punic armies, diversity of, 46–47

  Punic Wars, 2–4, 9–13, 15

  Pyrrhus, King, 196

  quincunx formation, 40

  Regulus. See Atilius Regulus

  Roman army

  comparison to Hannibal’s army, 54–55

  defeat at Ticinus, 22

  defeat at Trebia, 23

  lack of experience, 70–71

  objectives, 71–76

  preparation for battle, 90

  quincunx formation, 40

  “scorched earth” tactic, 73–76

  senators in army, 69

  size of, 66–71

  soldiers’ oath, 69

  training for, 68

  weaponry, 39, 50–51, 111, 147–151, 154–160

  Roman military system

  battle formation, 40–41

  centurions, 37, 44, 162

  cohorts, 42, 121

  comparison to Hannibal’s army, 54–55

  consuls, 41–42

  cornicen, 37

  decurions, 37, 44

  division of power, 44

  equipment, 36–39

  extraordinarii, 43, 83

  optiooptiones, 37, 113

  praefecti (prefects), 42, 44

  praetors, 43

  principes, 37–38, 40, 107–108, 110

  scutati, 50

  signifer, 37

  skirmishers (caetrati), 39, 50, 131

  strength, 44–45

  temporary militias, 35

  tesserarius, 37

  triarii, 37–39, 105, 108–111, 174

  turma, 44, 68

  weaknesses, 44–45

  See also alae; cavalry, Roman; infantry; legions; maniples; tribunes; velites

  Romans

  citizenship grades, 8

  consultation with oracle at Delphi, 194

  declaration of war on Carthage, 13

  military manpower source, 9

  navy, 17

  politics, 63–64

  principles of government, 27–28

  treaty with Hasdrubal, 12–13

  view of Punic power, 12

  Rommel, Erwin, 205

  Saguntum, 13

  Salinator, Marcus Livius, 59

  Sardinia, 11

  Schwartzkopf, Norman, 205

  Scipio, Publius Cornelius (father)

  command of Po valley troops, 22, 44, 58

  defeat by Hannibal at Ticinus, 22

  intent to confront Hannibal in Spain, 19

  wounding at Ticinius, 23

  Scipio, Publius Cornelius (son)

  arrest of Metellus and followers, 187

  assumption of command of survivors after Cannae, 187

  defeat of Hannibal at Zama, 203

  rescue of father at Ticinius, 23

  “scorched earth” tactic, 73–74

  scutati, 50

  Second Punic War, 2, 4, 10–13, 15

  Sempronius Longus, Titus, 19, 22–23, 44

  Senate

  casualties at Battle of Canae, 188

  decision to destroy Hannibal’s army, 71

  instructions for Roman army to wait for reinforcements, 78

  intent to invade Africa, 19

  military service, 69

  mobilization of Roman troops, 58, 65

  refusal to negotiate with Hannibal, 196–197

  surprise at Hannibal’s arrival in Italy, 21–22

  Servilius Geminus, Cnaeus

  at Battle of Cannae, 117, 162, 167, 175, 180

  at Gerunium, 67–68

  tracking Hannibal, 25, 27, 29, 32, 58, 77–78, 80

  shouting during battles, 146, 152

  Sicily, 9, 10

  signifer, 37

  skirmish combats, 127–130

  skirmishers, 39, 49, 50, 131

  Sosylus, 14

  Spanish troops

  cavalry, 119

  components of, 50

  deployment at Cannae, 119–125, 134, 138, 151–152, 169, 172, 175

  weapons, 154–155

  spears and javelins, 147–150

  swords and shields, 154–160

  Sybilline Books, 195

  Tarentum, 54, 201

  Telamon, Battle of, 65, 131, 144, 147, 164

  tesserarius, 37

  Third Punic War, 3

  Ticinus, Battle of, 23, 136, 202

  Trasimene, Battle of

  ambush of Roman troops, 26

  battleground selection, 92

  destruction of Germinus’ cavalry, 68

  legionaries’ persistence, 176

  Roman battle plan, 115

  Trebia, Battle of

  effect of terrain on battle, 92

  as first great Carthaginian victory, 23–24

  Gallic infantry in, 53

  Hannibal’s single line of foot, 123, 132

  infantry skirmishers at, 120

  light infantry as support for cavalry, 132

  Roman battle plan, 115

  triarii, 37–39, 105, 108–111, 174

  tribunes

  assumption of command by, 185

  organization of, 41, 44, 162

  responsibilities of, 126–127, 165

  soldiers’ oath, 69

  triplex acies, 107, 114

  Tuditanus, Publius Sempronius, 185

  turma, 44

  Universal History (Polybius), 4

  Varro, Caius Terentius

  character of, 60–64, 72–74

  commitment of troops to battle, 87, 89–93

  dispute with Paullus, 59

  election as co-leader of Roman army, 58, 70

  encirclement by Hannibal’s army, 166–173

  escape to Venusia, 180

  initial deployment of forces, 106–107, 115–120

  protection of infantry’s flank, 143

  rallying force at Venusia, 187

  re-forming force at Canusium, 194

  return to Rome, 195

  shift of forces across River Aufidius, 101–103

  Veith, G., 100

  velites

  conscripts, 39, 131

  encirclement by Hannibal’s army, 173

  equipment, 39

  experience, 132

  size, 40, 108–109

  as support troops, 134

  Venusia, 187

  Vestal Virgins, 194

  vexillum standard, 90

  Von Schlieffen, Alfred, 205

  weaponry, 39, 50–51, 111, 147–150, 154–160

  Zama, Battle of, 203