Hannibals army suffered around 6,000 killed and 10,000 wounded. A stirring account of the most influential battle in history for millennia, carthages triumph over rome at cannae in 216 b. Polybius, histories, book 3, the consequences of the battle of book 1. Generals often positioned themselves with the cavalry. The ghosts of cannae is at once a book about a specific battle the massive defeat of a huge but inexperienced roman army in southern italy by hannibal in 216 bc and also an interpretation of the larger course of the second punic war, as well as an assessment of the historical impact of romes storied rivalry with carthage. No general since has matched hannibals most unexpected, innovative, and brutal military victory. Schlieffen battle at cannae mommsen history of rome. Rather, it is history done in a coffeetable book style. Yet the author argues that no matter how brilliant tactician hannibal was, he seriously misjudged the roman resilience and resources. The battle of cannae happened two years into the second punic war, it was preceded by a number of stunning victories for hannibal. Sep 02, 20 cannae 50,000 roman soldiers, 8000 carthaginians that is indeed a lot of blood. The army of carthage, under hannibal, defeated a larger roman army.
The german capture of the city, their encirclement by soviet forces shortly afterwards, and the hardfought but futile attempts to relieve them, saw bitter attritional fighting and extremes of human misery inflicted on both sides. Polybius, histories, book 3, the slaughter at cannae. It took place on 2 august 216 bc in cannae, apulia, in southeast italy. For the allied invasion of germany, writes the author, eisenhower envisioned a huge cannaelike maneuver, employing a double envelopment of the. The battle of cannae or is a major battle of the second punic war that took place on 2 august 216 bc in apulia, in southeast italy. Cannae is rightly regarded as one of the greatest battles of military history. This second book in the series takes off where hannibal enemy of rome ends. The history and legacy of ancient romes most decisive. And the place where the battle would take place, the plain between the river aufidus, todays ofanto, and the hill where the citadel of cannae was located, was actually ideal for the romans. The book was not an eyewitness account of the battle though hannibals own narrative was thought to exist.
Oconnell, one of the most admired names in military history, tells the whole story of cannae for the first time, giving us a stirring account. More soldiers died at cannae than on the first day of the battle of the somme on the western front on 1st july 1916, by far and away the deadliest day in the history of british warfare. Jul 19, 2019 various accounts of the battle of cannae show that 50,00070,000 of the romans, with 3,5004,500 taken prisoner. Mar 24, 2020 the battle of cannae 2 august 216 bce was the decisive victory of the carthaginian army over roman forces at cannae, southeast italy, during the second punic war 218202 bce. Page 4 new perspectives on the battle of cannae hannibal. The army of carthage, under hannibal, decisively defeated a larger army of the roman republic, under the consuls lucius aemilius paullus and gaius terentius varro. Is there a modern equivalent to the battle of cannae. Various accounts of the battle of cannae show that 50,00070,000 of the romans, with 3,5004,500 taken prisoner. The battle of cannae was the bloodiest battle the ancient world had ever seen.
As terentius, owing to his inexperience, was of the contrary. It chronicles the campaign and battle that was romes most famous and most descive defeats in the year history. Thus through all that winter and spring the two armies remained encamped facing each other. It includes a historical analysis of the three wars rome fought with carthage, along with battle maps and pictures of important people, places, and events.
The ghosts of romes loss at the battle of cannae ancient rome is often thought of as consistently victorious but its defeat at the hands of carthage in 216 b. Feb 28, 2020 the battle of cannes is considered the main reason why romans changed their usage of cavalry in battle. The romans were crushed by the african, gallic, and celtiberian troops of hannibal, with. The battle of cannae goodreads meet your next favorite book. On a hot and dusty summers day in 216 bc, the forces of the carthaginian general hannibal faced the roman army in a dramatic encounter at cannae. Sep 21, 2015 yozan explaining his new theories on the battle of cannae to the mayor of the city of barletta, the honorable pasquale cascella. Good groundwork and history at the beginning leading to the battle at cannae.
Carthage must be destroyed book 2 of the soldier of the republic series. Hannibals victory was one the greatest tactical feats in military. Battle of cannae project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. One of the most talked about battles in military historical circles is the battle of cannae between rome and carthage on august 2, 216 b. Cavalry was a minority component in early legions well less than 10% and its usage was overall related to exploration, escort, disturb and to the pursuit of the enemies at the end of the battle. The ghosts of cannae is at once a book about a specific battle the massive defeat of a huge but inexperienced roman army in southern italy by hannibal in 216 bc and also an interpretation of the larger course of the second punic war, as well as an assessment. Sep 25, 2003 on a hot and dusty summers day in 216 bc, the forces of the carthaginian general hannibal faced the roman army in a dramatic encounter at cannae. The army of carthage, under hannibal, surrounded and decisively defeated a larger army of the roman republic under the consuls lucius aemilius paullus and gaius terentius varro.
At cannae the romans confronted hannibal with an army of 80,000 infantry and 6,000. The romans were crushed by the african, gallic, and celtiberian troops of hannibal, with recorded roman losses ranging from 55,000 according to roman historian livy to 70,000 according to greek historian polybius. Slaughter at the battle of cannae warfare history network. Although the romans eventually recovered and carthage lost the war, the battle of cannae became romans point of reference for all later military catastrophes. Gregory dalys enthralling study considers the reasons that led the two armies to the field of battle, and why each followed. Founded in 2006, historum is a history forum dedicated to history discussions and historical events. The ghosts of cannae is at once a book about a specific battle the massive defeat of a huge but inexperienced roman army in southern italy by hannibal in 216 bc but also an interpretation of the larger course of the second punic war, as well as an assessment of the historical impact of romes storied rivalry with carthage. A stirring account of the most influential battle in history. Dalys put considerable effort into his research and what we have here is a. A wideranging account of the battle that sets it in the larger context of the punic wars.
Book 03 from the union of italy to the subjugation of carthage and the greek states. The battle of cannae is rightly regarded as one of the greatest battles of military history. The book has dozens of pictures and great maps of the battlefield. Massively outnumbered, the carthaginians nevertheless won an astonishing victory one that left more than 50,000 men dead. They were hastily raised and sent into battle before they could be seasoned. The ghosts of cannae is at once a book about a specific battle the massive defeat of a huge but inexperienced roman army in southern italy by hannibal. Hannibal full audio book by jacob abbott 18031879 there are certain names which are familiar, as names, to all mankind. Yozan at memorial column on the hill of cannae with the battleground of 216 bce behind him. But when the season for the new harvest was come, hannibal began to move from the camp at geronium. Sep 27, 2016 the battle of cannae was a major battle of the second punic war that took place on 2 august 216 bc in apulia, in southeast italy. Battle of cannae, august 216 bce, battle fought near the ancient village of cannae, in southern apulia modern puglia, southeastern italy, between the forces of rome and carthage during the second punic war. This is a concise history of the battle of cannae fought in 216 bc.
Hannibal and the darkest hour of the roman republic, by robert l. Rome and the battle of cannae october 3, 2015 october 28, 2010 by patrick shrier one of the most talked about battles in military historical circles is the battle of cannae between rome and carthage on august 2, 216 b. Feb 28, 2020 the book by gregory daly, cannae, is really the best ive read on the subject and gives you a very good interpretation of the battle, and what it would have looked like for the soldiers taking part. The book by gregory daly, cannae, is really the best ive read on the subject and gives you a very good interpretation of the battle, and what it would have looked like for the soldiers taking part. Studying history human origins mesopotamia egypt persia israel greece hellenistic world rome late antiquity christian origins. The battle of cannae internet history sourcebooks project. One flaw of the legions present at cannae was a lack of training.
Having come over the alps the poorer for the crossing hannibal needed time to rest and to try and recruit men to. The battle of stalingrad was the turning point of world war ii. The ghosts of cannae is a study of that battlethe worse defeat in roman. Cannae, over the last twentytwo centuries of human history since it entered the annals of warfare as the socalled perfect victory and as a byword for annihilation, has been attempted on many occasions by generals and admirals alike in the mutu. Hannibal full audio book the battle of cannae youtube. The army of carthage, under hannibal, decisively defeated a larger. Read the battle of cannae online free 30day trial scribd. For the allied invasion of germany, writes the author, eisenhower envisioned a huge cannae like maneuver, employing a double envelopment of the ruhr, and george patton likened the polish army in 1939 to the unfortunate roman consular army at cannae. Another that makes it so significant is that hannibal, the carthaginian cdr, managed to defeat a roman. The battle of cannae was a key engagement of the second punic war between the roman. Aemilius, seeing that the district round was flat and treeless, was opposed to attacking the enemy there as they were superior in cavalry, his advice being to lure them on by advancing into a country where the battle would be decided rather by the infantry. Hannibals stratagem has become a model of the perfectly fought battle and is studied in detail at military academies around the world.
The romans were led by the consuls lucius aemilius paullus and gaius terentius varro. Sep 25, 2019 the battle of cannae happened two years into the second punic war, it was preceded by a number of stunning victories for hannibal. However, on the large sweeping plains near cannae, he would meet a very different challenge. The prisoners taken in the battle are stated to have amounted to 3000 infantry and 1500 cavalry. Dec 26, 2012 hannibal full audio book by jacob abbott 18031879 there are certain names which are familiar, as names, to all mankind. Having come over the alps the poorer for the crossing hannibal needed time to rest and to try and recruit men to replace those who had deserted during the crossing. In summary the book is worth reading as an account of cannae and the second punic war. Battle of cannae simple english wikipedia, the free. Yozan explaining his new theories on the battle of cannae to the mayor of the city of barletta, the honorable pasquale cascella.
Hannibal faced them with 40,000 foot and 10,000 horse. Dalys put considerable effort into his research and what we have here is a very definitive book on the battle of cannae. But it would be a much better book if the author had left out all the poppsychology, hyperbolic language, and efforts to find some continuing influence and relevance for the study of the battle. Western commanders have been trying to replicate it since it happened over two millennia ago. Booklist oconnell is able to put himself and his reader on the ground at cannae. It is known that approximately 14,000 were able to cut their way out and reach the town of canusium. We often read that it was a mistake for varro to opt for a plain because hannibals more numerous cavalry would be able to maneuver and this would help. Cannae 50,000 roman soldiers, 8000 carthaginians that is indeed a lot of blood.
The experience of battle in the second punic war by. New perspectives on the battle of cannae hannibal and. Cannae is significant because in military circles it is considered to represent the perfect battle of encirclement if not the perfect battle period. Feb 26, 2019 cannae, over the last twentytwo centuries of human history since it entered the annals of warfare as the socalled perfect victory and as a byword for annihilation, has been attempted on many occasions by generals and admirals alike in the mutu. The battle of cannae was a major battle of the second punic war that took place on 2 august 216 bc in apulia, in southeast italy. Rome is reeling from hannibals successes in crossing the alps and defeating every legion it comes up against, leading to the twin disasters of lake trasimene and cannae.
Gregory dalys book goes into considerable details on how this event took places, forces and commanders involved and layout of the battle, location, formations and conditions. It is regarded both as one of the greatest tactical feats in. Battle of cannae in the second punic war thoughtco. Hannibals stratagem has become a model of the perfectly fought battle and is studied in detail at. The battle of cannae is rightly regarded as one of the greatest battl.
Hannibals greatest victory phoenix press isnt a fullblown history of cannae and the second punic war. The perfect battlecannae 216 bce kmc writes the essays. The history and legacy of ancient romes most decisive military defeat by charles river editors sep 11, 2015 4. At cannae the romans confronted hannibal with an army of 80,000 infantry and 6,000 cavalry. Western commanders have been trying to replicate it since it happened over two.