The Battle of Cannae

(216 BC)

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Present day site of the battle of Cannae
Image Source: Warry, John. Warfare in the Classical World. St. Martins's Press: New York, 1980. Page: 123.

The battle of Cannae was fought in 216 BC. Cannae is located on the south bank of the River Aufidus in Apulia. The two Roman generals Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Gaius Terentius Varro had 48,000 infantry and 6,000 cavalry. The Carthaginian leader, Hannibal, had 35,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry. Hannibal allowed his forces to fall back and spread out, until the Romans had pushed deep into the middle. This allowed Hannibal to bring his rear guard, mostly Numidians, around and surround Rome. The Roman army was convinced that the Numidians were retreating and abandoning Carthage. The Romans were defeated soundly and without mercy. It was the largest defeat in the history of Rome, and it put the Roman citizens in a state of emergency. Approximately 54,000 Romans were killed. Hannibal surrounded Rome, but could not take it, because he could not break through the walls.

 
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