Battle of Cannae become the biggest battle of the Second Punic War, which lasted from 218 to 201 BCThis fight is literally put the Roman republic to the brink of collapse.The world might not know so majestic Empire, which it became later.But first things first.
battle
Background The first phase of the Second Punic War, the Carthaginian general Hannibal was able to win a number of victories: the Ticino Trebbia.It was not the greatest battles of antiquity.Rome knew and lost the battle and more majestic.However, now the republic literally stood on the brink of collapse.This greatly improved the situation of Carthage, and provided him with the strategic initiative in the conflict.In the spring of 217 BCtroops of the North African state came to Italy in the next battle on the Trasimeno defeated 40,000th formation of Roman legionnaires.However, Hannibal did not dare to attack Rome, as in danger of losing the walls of a well-protected city of its own army.It was decided to isolate the north of Rome (which has already been done), and from the south.On the southern coast of Italy and headed commander.
pitched battle
There Carthaginians occupied the small fortress in Apullii.Actually, here and there was a 2 August 216 BCBattle of Cannae.Hannibal arranged his army in the fortress of the same name that came reeling from the previous attacks by the Roman armies under the command of the consul Varro.The numeric value for the day of battle was clearly on the side of the latter.Against 80 thousand well-armed Roman soldiers Hannibal could muster only 50 thousand soldiers under his command.Battle of Cannae threatened with complete defeat of the Carthaginians, that would mean for their defeat in the war.Hannibal built its troops before the battle very original.He gave up a strong saturation of the central part of his constructions, but arranged a formidable force on the wings of his army.When the battle ensued, the central force drew off the attention of the main Roman order at a specific time.This enabled the powerful wings gannibalovskoy army to overthrow the flanks of the Romans, consisting of light cavalry.After this first phase of the battle the Carthaginians actually surrounded the Roman infantry, inflicting blows from the flanks and rear.Battle of Cannae developed the scenario, think Hannibal.Originally built by the army in a crescent smaller amount could go to the rear of the Italian legionnaires, after which the latter were broken.
Results
battle Battle of Cannae was a complete rout large Roman army.According to some ancient evidence Italians lost about 50 thousand killed and thousands more were taken prisoner by the Carthaginians.Only a few managed to escape.The troops of Hannibal, by contrast, had relatively small losses: about 8,000 killed.However, according to a large number of modern historians, Hannibal has not been able to use in future the fruits of this great victory.Though he was able to defeat the Roman army in open battle, but he still did not have the strength to take the protected city.For several years the republic has managed to recover from a crushing defeat, and gradually tip the balance of the war on their side.
