584. Livy, The War With Hannibal. Book XXI. Translation by Aubrey De Selincourt.- Summary

584.   Book XXI.  Livy, The War With Hannibal.  Translation by Aubrey De Selincourt.
Livy wrote an extensive history of Rome.  The portion which deals with the 2nd Punic War or 2nd Carthaginian War or the War against Hannibal begins with Book XXI.
I read these books on the Hannibalic Wars because I was curious to see if the leaders of the Roman Republic faced opposition to the war itself, challenges to the handling of the war and charges of mismanagement.  The war was protracted, difficult and full of peril.  Did matters flow smoothly?  Was agreement on policy universal and united?  How did politics and the pursuit of office fit into the war with Carthage?
XXI.  Livy states at the outset that this was a most memorable war. Both Rome and her allies and the Carthaginians were at their peak of power.  Both had learned each others tactics in the Ist Punic War (264-242 BC).
Livy records, whether true or not that Hannibal’s father lead 9 year old Hannibal to the altar and had him swear eternal hatred toward Rome. After the Ist Punic War which Carthage lost Hamilcar, the father of Hannibal spent 9 years expanding Carthaginian territory in Spain. Livy states that this expansion was intended to lead to greater enterprises.  However, Hamilcar died prematurely.  Hannibal was too young to command.  He did become commander a few years later when the Carthaginian command in Spain was murdered.  There was opposition to the by members of the home government in Carthage but it apparently led nowhere. Before Hannibal became the commander, the Romans negotiated and reconfirmed the Ebro as border north of which was off limits to Carthage.  A city south of this river, Saguntum was to remain neutral. This was designed to function as a buffer state.
Hannibal as new commander forms a design on Saguntum.  To deflect suspicion that his target was Saguntum Hannibal made war with neighbors of the city.  Soon Saguntum grew suspicious and sent an Embassy to Rome.  An Embassy is sent by the Romans to Spain.  To the surprise of Rome, Hannibal attacks Saguntum.  The Roman Senate debates courses of action.  There are three choices:
1.  attack Hannibal in Spain
2.  Await the return of the Embassy
3.  Assign one consul to lead an army to Spain and the other to Africa.
Interestingly the Senate decided to wait for the return of the Embassy.  Hannibal besieges the city and Saguntum responds with vigor.  With enough vigor that Hannibal is wounded during the siege.  In the meantime the Roman Embassy returns.  Hannibal stalls the Embassy to give himself time to heal and push on with the siege. The Roman Embassy realizes that a stall is in play and sails on to Carthage.  Hannibal sends a message to stall them there.  Hanno, a Carthaginian, believes that the war Hannibal is creating is a major blunder for Carthage.  He is ignored.  During this time negotiations eat up a great deal of time.  While shuttling back and forth Hannibal tightens up the siege of Saguntum.  Siege grows more and more vicious.
Just about the time that the Roman Embassy returned to Rome, Saguntum falls.  Romans were shocked, ashamed and angry.  Roman prestige hit new lows.
The Roman Senate acts.  Publius Cornelius Scipio (this is the father of the famous Scipio), one of the consuls, is sent to Spain.  Tiberius Sempronius Longus was ordered to Africa.  There were at this time 6 legions with 4,000 soldiers each, allies numbered at 40,000, 4,400 cavalry and 220 warships.  The assembled Romans declare war.  Roman Senate sends a delegation to Carthage. No agreement can be reached.  War is declared.
Rome seeks allies in Spain.  Why should we depend upon you when you allowed Saguntum to be destroyed? Roman envoys were mocked by Gauls (southern France) when asked to stop Hannibal from marching through France.  Hannibal had already payed a large sum to pass through unhindered.
Hannibal leaves Hasdrubal, brother, in charge of Spain.  He heads for Italy.  An advance army had already been sent to secure his route through Italy.  The Gauls in northern Italy revolt against Rome.  Now Rome must fight Carthage and the Gauls. Scipio sends his brother Gnaeus with part of the army into Spain to prevent reinforcements.  He raises new army combined with his own to confront Hannibal in northern Italy. Hannibal is so intent on entering Italy with speed that he refuses to be slowed down by troops of Scipio sent to engage him.  Hannibal crosses the Alps. Scipio was 3 days late with his army to engage with full force.
Gauls supply Hannibal with needs at base of the Alps. Publius Scipio hurries to engage Hannibal before he has time to recoup. He meets Hannibal at the Ticinus River.  P. Scipio was wounded and saved by his son. Scipio crosses south of the Ticinus River and waits for Sempronius.  Remember that he had been sent to Africa.  When Hannibal gave the slip to the Roman army Sempronius was hastily recalled and sent north. At the Trebia River, Hannibal defeats the combined Roman army.  Everything which could go wrong did.  Rash advance, cold weather, swollen river, food supplies failed, Roman army became divided.  However, some comfort may have been derived from the fact that Hannibal’s army was too exhausted to prevent Scipio from crossing the river.
Elections are held in Rome.  New consuls: Gnaeus Servilius and Gaius Flaminius.  The country side was so chaotic that supplies had to brought by boat on the Po River.
Gnaeus Scipio meets Carthaginian commander north of the Ebro and defeats.  He and the other Carthaginian commander withdraw south of the Ebro. (Carthaginians north of the Ebro must have sent chills down the spines of Romans.  North of the Ebro meant that it was even easier to send reinforcements to Hannibal.)
Flaminius, the new consul, had circumvented to authority of the Senate on a number of occasions.  He was adept at seeking and using the weight of popular authority. Knowing that he was disliked by members of the Senate, he worried that his political enemies would find a way to prevent him from taking command of the army.  To do so meant that he had to neglect his religious duties, deceive the Senate and secretly sneak out to take command. The Senate voted to have him come back to Rome, but he refused.