battle of Lake Trasimene

Lake Trasimene, battle of (217 bc). The battle, fought on 21 June 217 bc, was an ambush on a huge scale. Hannibal, with probably about 60, 000 men, trailed his coat before the Consul Flaminius, at Cortona, before disappearing into the narrow passage north of the lake. Flaminius, probably with about 25, 000 men, followed and was caught between the hills and the lake, either between Pieve Confini and Passignano or between the latter and Magione. Some 6, 000 Romans in the van managed to escape, only to be rounded up later, but the rest, including Flaminius, were annihilated.

Bibliography

• Lazenby, J. F., Hannibal's War (Warminster, 1978).
• Livy, 22. 4-7.
• Polybius, 3. 81-4

— John Lazenby