For a short amount of time, the Romans were in disarray. Their army had been destroyed, the few survivors severely demoralized and the only remaining consul, Caius Varentius Varo, was completely discredited. Cannae was a utter catastrophe for the Romans. Yet another defeat for Rome and her people, at the hands of Hannibal and the Carthaginians.
According to some historians Rome declared a national day of mourning, as there was not a single person in Rome who was not either related or acquainted with a person who had died in the battle. Although, according to Livy, women were forbidden to appear outside - it being decided it was safer for them in their homes as Hannibal's next attack, now he had defeated most of Rome's armies, had to be Rome itself. Family mourning was to be checked and a silence to be imposed. So, in a way, we can classify what Livy says as a day of mourning. But it can also be seen as Rome preparing for an attack. Which can be backed up with Livy; he states that Fabius suggested guards to be posted at gates to prevent anyone from leaving the city.
Though historians argue that the Romans became so desperate that they resorted to human sacrifice, twice burying people alive at the Forum of Rome and abandoning an oversized baby in the Adriatic Sea. Though this can be disputed at the way the sacrifice the Carthaginians partook in before battle was looked at in disgust by the Romans as shown by Livy.
Lucius Caecilius Metellus, a military tribune, is known to have so much despaired in the Roman cause in the aftermath of the battle as to suggest that everything was lost, and called the other tribunes to sail overseas and hire themselves up into the service to some foreign prince, Scipio Africanus on hearing this gathered with his own followers and stormed into a meeting, where at sword-point he forced all present to swear that they would continue in faithful service to Rome for all time. Furthermore, the Roman survivors of Cannae were later reconstituted as two legions and assigned to Sicily for the remainder of the war as punishment for their humiliating desertion of the battlefield.
In addition to the physical loss of her army, Rome suffered a symbolic defeat of prestige. A gold ring was a token of membership in the upper classes of Roman society ; Hannibal had his men collect more than 200 of these rings from the corpses on the battlefield, and sent them to Carthage as proof of his victory.
Hannibal, having gained another victory, had defeated the equivalent of eight consular armies (sixteen legions plus an equal number of allies) within in just three campaign season , 20 months. Rome had lost one-fifth (150,000) of the entire population of citizens over seventeen years old. The moral effect of this victory was so great that most of Southern Italy joined Hannibal's cause. After the battle of Cannae the Hellenistic southern provinces of Arpi, Salapia, Herdonia, Uzentum including the cities of Capua and Tarentum all revoked their allegiance to Rome and pledged their loyalties to Hannibal. Polybius states 'How much more serious was the defeat of Cannae, than those which preceded it can be seen by the behaviour of Rome's allies; before that fateful day, their loyalty remained unshaken, now it began to waver for the simple reason that they despaired of Roman Power'
That same year, the Greek cities in Sicily were induced to the revolt , while the Macedonian King , Philip V, had pledged his support to Hannibal - therefore initiating the First Macedonian War against Rome. Hannibal also had an alliance with the newly appointed King Hieronymus of Syracuse.
Immediately after Cannae, Hannibal sent a delegation led by Carthalo to negotiate a peace treaty with the Senate on moderate terms. Yet despite the numerous failures Rome had Instead they doubled their efforts, declaring full mobilization of the male Roman population and raised new legions; enlisting landless peasants and going as far as to enlist slaves too. So firm were these measure that the term 'peace' was prohibited, mourning was limited to thirty days and public tears were prohibited - even to women.
The Romans, after experiencing the defeat at Cannae and losing at Trebia and Trasimene, had finally learned from their mistakes. For the remainder of the war in Italy, they would not assemble such large forces under one command against Hannibal. Instead using several independent armies; though still outnumbering the Carthaginian forces in numbers of armies and soldiers.
The Battle of Cannae played a major role in shaping the military structure and tactical organization of the Roman Republic army. At Cannae the Roman infantry assumed a formation similar to the Greek phalanx. This delivered them straight into Hannibal's trap, similar to Trebia and Trasimene. Since their inability to manoeuvre independently from the mass of the army made it impossible from them to encounter the encircling tactics often used by Hannibal and his forces.
However in the years following Cannae, striking reforms were introduced to address the problems faced at Cannae, Trasimene and Trebia.
In summary the Romans were devastated by the defeat at Cannae, after all many lives were lost and it was the biggest defeat Rome would ever face. But Rome refused to negotiate but resolved to prevail in the war. Rome realised its mistakes, and continued the war of Attrition. Because in the end Rome simply outlasted the Carthaginians - after every battle they lost a great deal of men yet they raised and even bigger army the next time round.
By using better tactics than those employed by Hannibal.
Yes.
It was the battle of Cannae (216 BC) against Hannibal in the Second Punic War. The estimated losses of Rome and her allies range from 56,000 to 78,000.
Even after Carthage had been destroyed, people still thought of him with fear. A defeat like Cannae was not lightly forgotten.
Hannibal and his Carthaginians were not able to break down the walls of Rome because they never got there. After the loss at Cannae, the Romans changed tactics by not meeting Hannibal in a direct battle, but by small harassing raids. As Hannibal's army was weakened, and no support was coming from Carthage, Hannibal was forced to retreat to the far southern part of Italy.Hannibal and his Carthaginians were not able to break down the walls of Rome because they never got there. After the loss at Cannae, the Romans changed tactics by not meeting Hannibal in a direct battle, but by small harassing raids. As Hannibal's army was weakened, and no support was coming from Carthage, Hannibal was forced to retreat to the far southern part of Italy.Hannibal and his Carthaginians were not able to break down the walls of Rome because they never got there. After the loss at Cannae, the Romans changed tactics by not meeting Hannibal in a direct battle, but by small harassing raids. As Hannibal's army was weakened, and no support was coming from Carthage, Hannibal was forced to retreat to the far southern part of Italy.Hannibal and his Carthaginians were not able to break down the walls of Rome because they never got there. After the loss at Cannae, the Romans changed tactics by not meeting Hannibal in a direct battle, but by small harassing raids. As Hannibal's army was weakened, and no support was coming from Carthage, Hannibal was forced to retreat to the far southern part of Italy.Hannibal and his Carthaginians were not able to break down the walls of Rome because they never got there. After the loss at Cannae, the Romans changed tactics by not meeting Hannibal in a direct battle, but by small harassing raids. As Hannibal's army was weakened, and no support was coming from Carthage, Hannibal was forced to retreat to the far southern part of Italy.Hannibal and his Carthaginians were not able to break down the walls of Rome because they never got there. After the loss at Cannae, the Romans changed tactics by not meeting Hannibal in a direct battle, but by small harassing raids. As Hannibal's army was weakened, and no support was coming from Carthage, Hannibal was forced to retreat to the far southern part of Italy.Hannibal and his Carthaginians were not able to break down the walls of Rome because they never got there. After the loss at Cannae, the Romans changed tactics by not meeting Hannibal in a direct battle, but by small harassing raids. As Hannibal's army was weakened, and no support was coming from Carthage, Hannibal was forced to retreat to the far southern part of Italy.Hannibal and his Carthaginians were not able to break down the walls of Rome because they never got there. After the loss at Cannae, the Romans changed tactics by not meeting Hannibal in a direct battle, but by small harassing raids. As Hannibal's army was weakened, and no support was coming from Carthage, Hannibal was forced to retreat to the far southern part of Italy.Hannibal and his Carthaginians were not able to break down the walls of Rome because they never got there. After the loss at Cannae, the Romans changed tactics by not meeting Hannibal in a direct battle, but by small harassing raids. As Hannibal's army was weakened, and no support was coming from Carthage, Hannibal was forced to retreat to the far southern part of Italy.
The Romans returned to their original strategy, rather than changing it. Quintus Fabius Maximus had chosen a strategy of attrition. This consisted in avoiding open battle with Hannibal and instead pursuing his with hit and run guerrilla tactics. The aim was to wear Hannibal down in the long run in recognition of the fact that Hannibal was liable to rout the Roman armies in an open battle. This strategy was unpopular with many Romans who saw it as cowardly and who hoped for a decisive victory that would end the war quickly. The magnitude of the rout at Cannae convinced these dissenters that a quick victory was out of the question and that the strategy of Quintus Fabius was wise. After Cannae there were no major battles between Rome and Hannibal. Instead, the Romans concentrated on defeating their allies in Southern Italy who switched to supporting Hannibal after the Cannae to deprive him of this support and on repressing revolts in Sicily. They succeeded in this. Hannibal was dealt a blow when his brother Hasdrubal was intercepted and his army was routed in central Italy. Hasdrubal was bringing reinforcements and siege machines from Spain to Hannibal in southern Italy. Without these reinforcements and machines Hannibal could not sustain his war effort. Moreover, Carthage refused to sent reinforcements with its navy. Hannibal ended up withdrawing to the easily defensible mountains of Calabria (the toe of Italy) and was stuck there for the last three years of his Italian campaign.
Because the Romans just want battle I dare you to copy and paste this!!
That Hannibal was a superior general to the Romans
The Battle of Cannae took place on August 2, 216 BC. It was a massive victory of Hannibal over the Romans.
Yes, the Battle of Cannae was one of Rome's greatest defeats.Yes, the Battle of Cannae was one of Rome's greatest defeats.Yes, the Battle of Cannae was one of Rome's greatest defeats.Yes, the Battle of Cannae was one of Rome's greatest defeats.Yes, the Battle of Cannae was one of Rome's greatest defeats.Yes, the Battle of Cannae was one of Rome's greatest defeats.Yes, the Battle of Cannae was one of Rome's greatest defeats.Yes, the Battle of Cannae was one of Rome's greatest defeats.Yes, the Battle of Cannae was one of Rome's greatest defeats.
It was the battle of Cannae (216 BC) against Hannibal in the Second Punic War. The estimated losses of Rome and her allies range from 56,000 to 78,000.
Even after Carthage had been destroyed, people still thought of him with fear. A defeat like Cannae was not lightly forgotten.
Hannibal and his Carthaginians were not able to break down the walls of Rome because they never got there. After the loss at Cannae, the Romans changed tactics by not meeting Hannibal in a direct battle, but by small harassing raids. As Hannibal's army was weakened, and no support was coming from Carthage, Hannibal was forced to retreat to the far southern part of Italy.Hannibal and his Carthaginians were not able to break down the walls of Rome because they never got there. After the loss at Cannae, the Romans changed tactics by not meeting Hannibal in a direct battle, but by small harassing raids. As Hannibal's army was weakened, and no support was coming from Carthage, Hannibal was forced to retreat to the far southern part of Italy.Hannibal and his Carthaginians were not able to break down the walls of Rome because they never got there. After the loss at Cannae, the Romans changed tactics by not meeting Hannibal in a direct battle, but by small harassing raids. As Hannibal's army was weakened, and no support was coming from Carthage, Hannibal was forced to retreat to the far southern part of Italy.Hannibal and his Carthaginians were not able to break down the walls of Rome because they never got there. After the loss at Cannae, the Romans changed tactics by not meeting Hannibal in a direct battle, but by small harassing raids. As Hannibal's army was weakened, and no support was coming from Carthage, Hannibal was forced to retreat to the far southern part of Italy.Hannibal and his Carthaginians were not able to break down the walls of Rome because they never got there. After the loss at Cannae, the Romans changed tactics by not meeting Hannibal in a direct battle, but by small harassing raids. As Hannibal's army was weakened, and no support was coming from Carthage, Hannibal was forced to retreat to the far southern part of Italy.Hannibal and his Carthaginians were not able to break down the walls of Rome because they never got there. After the loss at Cannae, the Romans changed tactics by not meeting Hannibal in a direct battle, but by small harassing raids. As Hannibal's army was weakened, and no support was coming from Carthage, Hannibal was forced to retreat to the far southern part of Italy.Hannibal and his Carthaginians were not able to break down the walls of Rome because they never got there. After the loss at Cannae, the Romans changed tactics by not meeting Hannibal in a direct battle, but by small harassing raids. As Hannibal's army was weakened, and no support was coming from Carthage, Hannibal was forced to retreat to the far southern part of Italy.Hannibal and his Carthaginians were not able to break down the walls of Rome because they never got there. After the loss at Cannae, the Romans changed tactics by not meeting Hannibal in a direct battle, but by small harassing raids. As Hannibal's army was weakened, and no support was coming from Carthage, Hannibal was forced to retreat to the far southern part of Italy.Hannibal and his Carthaginians were not able to break down the walls of Rome because they never got there. After the loss at Cannae, the Romans changed tactics by not meeting Hannibal in a direct battle, but by small harassing raids. As Hannibal's army was weakened, and no support was coming from Carthage, Hannibal was forced to retreat to the far southern part of Italy.
They did not rebel against the Romans because they were not subject to the Romans, just rivals. They invaded Italy in 218 BCE.
I would say the battle of Cannae (during the second punic war), where Hannibal's smaller force managed to surround and ultimately slaughtered the Romans.
The Romans returned to their original strategy, rather than changing it. Quintus Fabius Maximus had chosen a strategy of attrition. This consisted in avoiding open battle with Hannibal and instead pursuing his with hit and run guerrilla tactics. The aim was to wear Hannibal down in the long run in recognition of the fact that Hannibal was liable to rout the Roman armies in an open battle. This strategy was unpopular with many Romans who saw it as cowardly and who hoped for a decisive victory that would end the war quickly. The magnitude of the rout at Cannae convinced these dissenters that a quick victory was out of the question and that the strategy of Quintus Fabius was wise. After Cannae there were no major battles between Rome and Hannibal. Instead, the Romans concentrated on defeating their allies in Southern Italy who switched to supporting Hannibal after the Cannae to deprive him of this support and on repressing revolts in Sicily. They succeeded in this. Hannibal was dealt a blow when his brother Hasdrubal was intercepted and his army was routed in central Italy. Hasdrubal was bringing reinforcements and siege machines from Spain to Hannibal in southern Italy. Without these reinforcements and machines Hannibal could not sustain his war effort. Moreover, Carthage refused to sent reinforcements with its navy. Hannibal ended up withdrawing to the easily defensible mountains of Calabria (the toe of Italy) and was stuck there for the last three years of his Italian campaign.
Lake Trasimene 217 BCE Cannae 216 BCE
There were two reasons why the Romans were defeated at the battle of Cannae. One was the military brilliance of Hannibal. He was one of the greatest military geniuses of antiquity. This battle was one of the masterpieces of Hannibal's tactical cleverness. The other was the superiority of Hannibal's cavalry. The Roman cavalry was 1/3 of the size of the infantry. Hannibal's cavalry was 2/3 of its forces. With a superior cavalry, the cavalry could outflank the enemy and attack them from the rear, thus encircling the enemy as the infantry attacked at the front.
Hannibal essentially waged a guerrilla war on the Italian mainland against the Romans .