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WotR Ch. 15:
Disaster at Cannae
Q. Fabius Maximus & The Road to Cannae
• After suffering major defeats at the Ticinus and Trebia
(218), and especially at Lake Trasimene (217), Q. Fabius
Maximus is appointed dictator
• Q. Fabius Maximus:
– known for advocating a policy of delaying rather than meeting
Hannibal and fighting head on
– this was not popular at Rome, but it was effective
– kept “running away” and burning crops to weaken Hannibal’s
army (scorched-earth policy)
– named “Cunctator” (“the Delayer”)
• In 216, L. Aemilius Paulus (patrician) & P. Terentius Varro
(plebeian) are consuls
1. Ticinus (218)
2. Trebia (218)
Hannibal
vs.
P. Cornelius Scipio
Hannibal
vs.
T. Sempronius
Longus
3. Trasimene (217)
Hannibal
vs.
C. Flaminius
Hannibal’s
Victories
in Italy
4. Cannae (216)
Hannibal
vs.
L. Aemilius Paulus &
P. Terentius Varro
15.1
Aemilius Paulus & Varro are Dispatched
Quīngentēsimō et duodēquadrāgēsimō annō
post urbem conditam L. Aemilius Paulus et P.
Terentius Varrō contrā Hannibalem mittuntur.
15.2.1
Varro ignores Fabius’ Warnings
Quamquam Quīntus Fabius Maximus ambō
cōnsulēs monuerat Hannibalem nōn aliter vincī
posse quam morā, Varrō tamen morae
impatiēns apud vīcum, quī Cannae appellātur, in
Apuliā pugnāvit;
Cannae – Opening Moves
Cannae – Annihilation of the Roman Army
Cannae
15.2.2-15.3
Disaster Ensues
ambō cōnsulēs victī sunt, atque Paulus
interēmptus est. In eā pugnā virī cōnsulārēs aut
praetōriī vīgintī, senātōrēs trīgintā captī aut
occīsī sunt; mīlitum quadrāgintā mīlia, equitum
tria mīlia et quingentī periērunt.
The Aftermath
“The morning after, as soon as it was light, [the
Carthaginians] pressed forward to collect the
spoil and to gaze on a carnage ghastly even to
enemies. There lay thousands upon thousands of
Romans, infantry and cavalry indiscriminately
mingled, as chance had brought them together in
battle or the ensuing rout.
The Aftermath
“Here and there amidst the slain a blood soaked
figure started up, whose wounds had begun to
throb with the chill of dawn, and was cut down
again by his enemies; some were found lying
there alive, with thighs and tendons slashed,
baring their necks and throats and begging their
conquerors to drain what was left of their blood.
The Aftermath
“Others were found with their heads buried in holes
they had dug in the ground. They had apparently
made these pits for themselves, heaping the dirt
over their faces to suffocate themselves.
The Aftermath
“But what was most astonishing was a Numidian
with mutilated nose and ears who was dragged
out alive from under a dead Roman; the Roman,
unable to hold a weapon in his hands, had died in
a frenzy of rage, while tearing at the Numidian
with his teeth.”
https://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=HSl67RtiKQI
Who’s to blame?
• Livy lays the blame for disaster
at Cannae squarely at Varro’s
feet (as do other sources)
• Varro is portrayed as hotheaded, impatient, and
discordant throughout his rise
to power and at Cannae
• He survives the battle by fleeing
What about Paulus?
• Portrays Aemilius Paulus as
(largely) free from blame and as
embodying Roman values of a
good leader:
Livy on Cannae
Paulus’ Final Words:
“God bless your courage, Cn.
Cornelius…but do not waste in
useless pity the little time you
have to escape the enemy’s
clutches. Go, take this official
message to the Senate: they
must see to the fortifications
of the city of Rome, and
secure them with troops,
before the victorious enemy
arrives. […] For myself, let me
breathe my last amidst my
men, the victims of this
massacre…” (AUC 22.49.9-11)
15.4-5
Roman Reactions & Reforms
In hīs tantīs malīs nēmō tamen pācis mentiōnem
facere dignātus est. Servī, quod numquam ante
factum erat, manūmissī et mīlitēs factī sunt.
Consequences of Cannae & Reforms
• about 70% of Roman men over the age of 17 (fighting age)
are killed
– a number slaves are freed and permitted to join the army
– criminals are freed in exchange for military service
• much of the patrician class (men) is killed
• mandated period of mourning for women after becoming
widows before dating/remarrying was shortened
• celebrations and festivals (Ceres) are canceled
• curfews are imposed
• army also undergoes tactical reforms
The Memory of Cannae
“So went the Battle of Cannae. Its fame rivals that of the
disaster at the Allia, and, while it was less critical in its
outcome (since the enemy stalled thereafter), it was, in
losses, even more serious and appalling. For while the rout
at the Allia meant the loss of the city, it still saved the army;
at Cannae the fleeing consul had with him barely 50 men,
and almost the entire army shared the fate of the other
consul who died there.” (AUC 22.50.1-3)
Livy on Cannae
News of the Defeat Reaches Rome
“[T]here it had been reported that
the army and its leaders were
completely annihilated, their
forces totally wiped out. At no
time ever was there such panic
and uproar within the walls of
Rome while the city was still
safe. […] A consul and his army
had been lost at Trasimene the
year before, and now it was not
a case of the blow being
followed by another blow, but
by a disaster many times
greater.” (AUC 22.54.7-9)
Livy on Cannae
Enduring Defeat
“There is surely no other nation
that would not have been
crushed by such an
overwhelming disaster. One
might think of comparing the
defeat of the Carthaginians in
the sea battle off the Aegates
Islands, which crushed their
resolve and made them
abandon Sicily and Sardinia and
accept tax-paying and tributary
status. [This disaster] can in no
respect be compared to
Cannae–except to say that [it
was] borne with less strength of
character than the Romans bore
theirs.” (AUC 22.54.11)
WotR Ch. 16:
1. Consequences and Reforms after Cannae
2. Movements in Spain
Defection of the Roman
Allies
Post eam pugnam multae
Ītaliae cīvitātēs, quae
Rōmānīs pāruerant, sē
ad Hannibalem
trānstulērunt.
16.1
Hannibal’s Proposition & the Romans’
Response
16.2
Ha nnibal Rōmānīs o btulit , ut captīvōs
redimerent; sed respōnsum est ā senātū, eōs
cīvēs nōn esse necessāriōs, quī, cum armātī
essent, capī potuissent.
16.3
Treatment of the Captives; the Golden Rings
Hōs omnēs captīvōs ille
posteā variīs suppliciīs
interfēcit, et trēs modiōs
aureōrum ānulōrum
Carthāginem mīsit, quōs
manibus equitum Rōmānōrum
et senātōrum dētrāxerat.
16.3
The Golden Rings
et trēs modiōs
aureōrum ānulōrum
Carthāginem mīsit, quōs
manibus equitum Rōmānōrum
et senātōrum dētrāxerat.
16.4
Roman Victories in Spain
Intereā in Hispaniā frāter Hannibalis, Hasdrubal,
quī ibi remānserat cum magnō exercitū, ā
duōbus Scīpiōnibus vincitur, perditque in pugnā
trīginta quīnque mīlia hominum.