209 BC

Events

By place

Roman Republic

• The Romans under Fabius Maximus Cunctator capture Tarentum (modern Taranto), which the Carthaginian general Hannibal has held for three years.
• The Battle of Asculum is fought between Hannibal's Carthaginian army and a Roman force led by Marcus Claudius Marcellus. The battle is indecisive.
• From his headquarters at Tarraco (Tarragona), Publius Cornelius Scipio, the Roman commander in Spain, launches a combined military and naval assault on the Carthaginian headquarters at Carthago Nova (modern-day Cartagena). He successfully besieges and captures the city. In capturing this city, Scipio gains access to copious stores and supplies, Spanish hostages, the local silver mines, a splendid harbour and a base for an advance farther south.

Seleucid Empire

• The King of the Parthians, Arsaces II, is attacked by the Seleucid king Antiochus III, who takes Hecatompylos (southeast of the Caspian Sea), the Arsacid capital and Syrinx in Hyrcania. Antiochus III defeats Arsaces II in a battle at Mount Labus and then forces Arsaces II to enter into an alliance with the Seleucids.

Greece

• As strategos of the Achaeans, the Greek general Philopoemen is responsible for turning the Achaean League into an aggressive military power. He builds up the League's military capability. The Achaean League's army and cavalry under Philopoemen then defeat the Aetolians on the Elean frontier.

Mongolia

• Mete Khan inherits Teoman's Hun confederations and founds the Xiongnu Empire. The beginning of his rule is accepted as the formation of the first systematic Turkic army. Mete's forces push into Northern China, threatening the Qin Empire and forcing them to further fortify the Great Wall.

Births

Deaths