The Battle of Cannae, fought on August 2, 216 BCE, remains one of the most significant and devastating battles in ancient military history. It was the defining moment in the Second Punic War, a conflict between the Roman Republic and the Carthaginian Empire. This battle showcased the brilliance of the Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca and marked a crushing defeat for the Roman army. The tactics employed during this battle revolutionized warfare and have been studied by military leaders throughout history.
Background to the Battle
The Second Punic War (218-201 BCE) was fought between Rome and Carthage, two dominant powers in the Mediterranean world. The war began when Hannibal, the Carthaginian general, famously crossed the Alps with his army, including war elephants, and invaded Italy. Hannibal’s early victories, including the Battle of Trebia (218 BCE) and the Battle of Lake Trasimene (217 BCE), caused great alarm in Rome. The Romans, however, remained determined to repel the Carthaginian threat.
In 216 BCE, after Hannibal’s earlier successes, the Roman Senate decided to raise a large army to confront him once and for all. They gathered one of the largest forces ever assembled by Rome—approximately 80,000 men—under the command of two consuls, Gaius Terentius Varro and Lucius Aemilius Paullus. These two consuls had differing approaches, with Varro being aggressive and eager for battle, while Paullus advocated caution.
Hannibal, commanding a significantly smaller army of about 50,000 men, including cavalry and infantry, had already proven his tactical genius. His forces consisted of a mix of Carthaginian soldiers, mercenaries, and allied troops from various regions, including Numidian cavalry.
The Battle
The Battle of Cannae took place in the Apulian plains in southern Italy. Hannibal, aware that he was outnumbered, sought to use superior tactics to destroy the Roman army. His plan was based on the principle of encirclement—a strategy that would allow him to use his smaller force effectively and decisively.
Hannibal arranged his troops in a double-envelopment formation. His infantry was placed in the center in a concave formation, with his cavalry on the flanks. The Roman army, having been drawn into the open field, was unaware of Hannibal’s tactical genius. The Romans, eager to defeat Hannibal and avenge their previous defeats, marched into the battle with their usual tight and disciplined formation. shutdown123