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BELLUM PUNICUM SECUNDUM (I)
Hannibal in Italia, 218-216 a.C.
Res gestae in liispania, 220-206 a.C.
Hasdrubal et Mago in Italia, 207-203 a.C.
Res gestae in Africa et circa Insulas, 218-215 a-C.
li. I'.
220.—The cause of the inevitable outbreak between the Ron.ans am) the Carthaginians was not long in coming. The river
Iberus had been tixed as dividing their spheres in Spain, but a violation of this understanding occurred by the Romans
entering into an alliance with .Saguntuin, which was in the Carthaginian sphere.
Hannibal, who was in command of the Carthaginians, marches into the territory of the Olcades beyond the Iberus,
plunders Carlcia and winters in New Carthage.
219. — In the .spring Hannibal makes war on the Vaccaei, and takes Hermandiea and Arbocala. The Olcades and the Hernianilieans
attack liini on his return near the Tagus.
He next turns to Sagunlum, which he captures after a siege of eight months. During the siege Hannibal undertakes
an expedition against the Oretani and the Carpetani.
The fall of Saguntum is followed by a demand from Rome for reparation. Tins is refused, and the Second Punic
war ensues.
218.—Hannibal, who was wintering at New Carthage, resolves on invading Italy from the north. He marches past the Iberus
to the coast, subdues tribes intervening between the Iberus and the Pyrenees, crosses the Pyrenees and camps at
Illiberis, then marches through Ruscino.
P. Cornelius Scipio reaches Mas.silia bj' sea on his way to Spain, and finds to his surprise that Hannibal has
already crossed the Pyrenees, and was on tlie point of forcing the pissage of the Rhone. Scipio encamps at the
nearest mouth of the Rhone.
Hannibal crosses the Rhone with a flanking movement twenty-five miles further up stream ; marches up the Rhone
to the junction of the Iser, with the Vocontii on the right and the Tricastini on the left ; then, passing through the
territory of tlie Tricorii, he crosses the Diiientia. He then ciosses the Alps, takes the capital of the Taurini, and
encamps at Victuniulae on the i-ight Inink of the Ticinus.
.Scipio from Massilia returns toCienua, and thence to Pisae. From here he hastens to the Padus river, crosses it and
encamps on the Ticinus, Hannibal having the riglit bank, Scipio the left.
In the fight here the I-iomans are defeated, and they retreat to Placentia. Haimibal follows them, and Scipio falls
back on the Tiebia. Hannibal in his pursuit takes Clastidium, which siurenders to him.
T. Sempronius (Jracchus, the other consul, who was carrying on war in .Sicily, was now ordered to join .Scipio. He
sends his troops by sea through Ariminum, and joins Scipio on the Treiiia. Sempronius risks a battle here, and the
Romans are utterly routed. The consuls, with the renniant of their armies, retreat to Placentia and thence to
Cremona.
During the winter Hannibal sacks Victunmlae. He has another engagement with Sempronius near Placentia, which
is indecisive. Hannibal tlien retires to the Ligurii ami Sempronius to Luca.
Sj/aiii.—Cnaeus Scipio reduces the coast from Emporiae to the Iberus, and defeats Hamio near Scissis. Hasdrubal
crosses the Iberus on sundry excursions and winters in Nova Carthago. .Scipio takes Atanadrum and the capital of
the Lacetani, and winters at Tarraco.
Siri/i/ ami /he Is/ami''.— Wliile Hannibal was still on his way to the Trebia a strong fleet is despatched from Carthage
to devastate south Italy. Most of their ships reach the Liparaean islamls in safety, but a few are driven by a storm
near to the Sicilian shoie and are captured by Hiero. Another large Carthaginian fleet is now seen appro;iching
LilybaeuMi. Tlie Rom.ms hastily man their fleet, engage the Carthaginians, and gain a considerable victory.
Shortly after tlie battle the consul, T. Sempronius, arrives at Lilybaeiun with a fleet. He immediately proceeds to
the island of Mclita, which is surrendered to him by the Carthaginian garrison. Returning then to Lilybaeum, he
takes measures for the security of the country and sails for the Liparae;in islands. He finds no Carthaginians there ;
but, hearing that they liad made a descent on the territory of Vibo, he detaches Se.x. Ponipilius with twenty-five
shii)s to protect the Italian coast, while he himself, with the rest of his fleet, hastens to Ariminum to help in checking
Hannibal's advance into Italj'.
217.— C. Flainiiiius, the consul, takes command of the Roman troops at Placentia. The consuls then assemble their armies at
Ariminum, and Flaminins mai'chcs to Arrctium.
Hannibal, from his winter quarters in Liguria, moves across the marshes of the Arnus towards Faesulae, and wastes
the country between Cortona and Lake Trasimenus.
Flaminins follows him and gives battle at Lake Trasimenus, near the mountains of Cortona, when his army is practicalh'
amiiliilated. The cavalry of Servilius, the other consul, coming in support, are also surprised and defeated.
Hannibal now marches through Umbria, is repulsed at Spoletium ; inarches to Anrona, in the territory of Picenum ;
lays waste the country round Pictutia ami Hadiia, and also round Arpi and Luceria in Apulia.
Q Fabius Cunctator now takes command of the Romans, marches through Tibur in Sabine territory to Praeneste, and
pushes on to .-Vrpi, where he comes upim the enemy.
Hannibal cros.ses over the Apennines intn Samnium : ravages Beneventum, takes Telesia ; marches through the
territory of AUifae, Caiatia and Calcs to the rn//i/(H.s Stellatis, and cimps on the Volturnus.
Fabius marches along the heights of .Mt. Ma.«sicus, and occupies Mt. Callicula and Casilinum.
Hannibal makes his way to Allifae, above which Fabius takes up a strong position.
Hannibal now devastates the couiiliy as far as the Paeligni ; Fabius marches on the heights between Rome and the
enemj- ; Hannibal then turns towarcls Apulia and icuclics (icruniuni, which he takes. Fabius forms a fortified camp
in the territory of Larinuni. Both armies winter about Ccrnnium.
Sj/ain.— Hasdiubal arrives at New Carthage with a large force. Thence he proceeils along the coast iiorthwaiils,
while his fleet coa.sts beside him. Cn. .Scii>io puts out with his fleet from Tarraco, meets the Carthaginian fleet off
the Iberus, and inflicts on them a severe defeat. Scipio then proceeds down the coast, takes Onusa, ravages the
country rouml New Caithage, captnrcs Longuntica ; then proceeds to tlie Pityus;ic Islaiuls, where he ravages
To /'tin .Vo/. :?7.
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