Second Punic War

The Second Punic War was fought between Carthage and Rome from 218 to 204 BC. It was the second of three major wars fought between the Phoenician city Carthage, and Rome (then still confined to the Italian Penninsula).

Background

After Carthage lost Sicily to Rome in the First Punic War, Carthage moved to compensate for the loss by extending her territory in Spain. This was began by [Hamilcar Barca]?, and continued by his son-in-law Hadrusbal? and then his son Hannibal. According to Roman tradition, Hannibal had sworn hatred to Rome, and he certainly did not take a conciliatory attitude when the Romans berated him for crossing the river Esbro, which they were by treaty required to stay south of. So Rome declared war on Carthage.

The Beginning

Hannibal took a combined army of 40000 North Africans and Iberians across southern France and crossed the Alps over the winter. His invasion of Italy came as a surprise to the Romans, for he had constructed no fleet, and it was believed his army could not possibly make it through the mountains. Indeed, it sustained very heavy casualties, including all but one of his 37 war elephants. Nevertheless, that spring he came into North Italy with a still formidable force of 26000 men. The Romans tried to attack him while he was still unready, but he defeated them in a skirmish at the river Ticinus?, and then again at the Trebia?, where both the Roman consuls were killed along with a quarter of their forces. The Romans then pulled out, leaving Hannibal in command of North Italy. His support from the Gallic tribes and Italian cities was not what he had hoped for, but even so, he was able to strengthen his army to a force of 50000 men.

The next year the Romans elected [Gaius Flaminius]? consul in hopes that he could defeat Hannibal, and he set up an ambush at Arretium?. However, Hannibal was warned of the attack and so by-passed the army, allowing him a free march on Rome. Flaminius had to pursue him but found himself ambushed at lake Trasimene?, and was utterly defeated. However Hannibal, despite the urgings of his generals, did not proceed to besiege Rome, as he lacked siege equipment and he had no supply base in central Italy. Instead he proceeded to the non-Italian south in hopes of stirring up rebellion.

Meanwhile the veteran Fabius Maximus had been appointed Roman dictator, and he decided that it would be best to try and avoid any further field battles, instead trying to cut off Hannibal's supplies by devastating the countryside and harassing his army. Such operations are now called Fabian tactics after him, and earned him the nickname of the Cunctator (delayer), but were hated at Rome, and the following year he was replaced by two consuls who promised to end the war quickly. These jointly fielded the largest Roman army ever, which met Hannibal at Cannae (216). The Romans outnumbered the Carthaginians 50000 to at most 40000, but by allowing his center to retreat Hannibal was able to encircle their forces, and completely annihilated them. It is said that under a hundred Romans escaped.

The Middle Campaign

Hannibal inflicted crushing defeat after crushing defeat on the Romans. His army was so successful on the battlefield that the Romans eventually gave up facing him and instead fielded enough armies so that they could reconquer any territory that Hannibal abandoned. Meanwhile, Roman forces under a general named Publius Scipio attacked Iberia, and were able to expel his brother Hadrusbal's forces. These attempted to cross the alps to joing Hannibal, but now the legions were ready for the trick, and Hadrusbal was killed in the ensuing battle.

End

Returning from the conquest of Iberia, Scipio had immense popularity, and moved to attack Carthage herself. Upon discovering that Scipio was coming to Africa, the senate of Carthage ordered Hannibal to come to the city's defense. Roughly 1/3 of his army was Carthaginian, 1/3 was Iberian, and 1/3 was Gallic from northern Italia. Hannibal had to leave his Gallic and Iberian contingents in Italia, experienced troops all, to sail back to Carthage. Hannibal mounted a hastey defense, but was defeated by Scipio's more experienced army at Zama.

Results

Hannibal escaped/was exiled to the east and ended up in Syria. Rome feared him until the day he died, even though the fear was probably unwarranted. Carthage was reduced to a client state, needing to seek Rome's approval in any external matters, etc. Rome kept the territory it conquered in Iberia. For his military victory in Africa, Scipio became known as Scipio Africanus.

Carthage was later destroyed in the third punic war.