585. Livy Book XXII and XXlll (The War with Hannibal). Hannibal crosses the Arno River. Flaminius was certain that he could bring a swift end to Hannibal’s intentions. Hannibal did his homework. He learned of the arrogance of Flaminius. He intended to put it to good use. The other consul, Servilius, was more than willing to cooperate. Flaminius’ advisors urged him to wait for the arrival of Servilius but Flaminius was sure that he had Hannibal right where he wanted him.
Hannibal puts his main army in view of Flaminius. The rest of his army was hidden. Flaminius attacks. He falls into a trap. The battle raged for three hours. Flaminius is killed. Romans panic. 15,000 dead, 10,000 scattered. Hannibal lost 2,500 killed.
In Rome the Praetor Marcus Pomponius announced, “We have been beaten in a great battle.” Families were in anguish over fate of family members in the army. Praetors held 24 hour Senate meeting to make plans to meet the crisis. More bad news follows during the Senate marathon.- those reinforcements that the Romans had sent to reinforce Flaminius were also destroyed.
The Senate decides to appoint a Dictator ( a 6 month position during the Republic). There was a legal problem- Servilius, the surviving Consul was needed to nominate the Dictator. But there was no way he could leave the field of battle. Quintius Fabius Maximus was the first Dictator appointed ‘acting’ dictator. His Master of Horse (second in Command) was Marcus Minucius Rufus. Maximus assumed command of the army on one of the darkest days of the war. The defense of Italy had failed. The war had not been kept out of Italy.
Maximus in contrast to Flaminius performed his religious duties with care. He summoned the Senate to decide what to do. The Senate decided to hold a new levy of soldiers. Undefended town were ordered to take cover. People in open land were ordered to leave. All unused crops were to be destroyed.
Needless to say the policy of Maximus was not popular. He knew this but understood what they did not that Rome needed a breathing space. He also knew that Hannibal could not be left unopposed. He successfully blocked passes and made movement difficult for Hannibal. Hannibal hoping to collect on his recent destruction of a Roman army hoped to destroy another. He offered Maximus battle. Maximus held his troops in check.
It is clear that Hannibal’s troops were more adaptable than Roman troops. Perhaps knowledge of this helped to generate the plan Maximus formed to deal with Hannibal.
Gnaeus Scipio who had been left in Spain by his brother Publius achieves success against Carthaginians. Soon Publius arrives in Spain.
In Italy it appears that Hannibal quickly realized that Maximus had formulated a long term plan to deal with Hannibal. This put dampers on Hannibal’s desire for rapid and decisive engagements. Hannibal also knew that Maximus was heavily criticized at Rome. Hannibal was ever ready to try any device to lure Maximus to take the offense. Hannibal learned that Maximus owned a large estate near by. Hannibal proceeds to lay waste all surrounding land but that of Maximus. Hannibal hoped to use this t spread the idea Maximus was somehow in a secret pact with Hannibal. Maximus, no dolt, realized Hannibal’s plan, sold his land and used the money to pay for the exchange of soldiers captured by Hannibal.
Minucius, Maximus’ second in command, declared in a note sent to the Senate that he had achieved great success against Hannibal. Everyone was elated except Maximus. He doubted the accuracy of the letter. A Tribune fumed that Maximus seemed to be looking for ways to drag the war on for his own benefit. Minucius publicly criticized Maximus. It is suggested in the Senate to make the Master of Horse and Dictator of equal authority. Minucius claimed that Maximus was prolonging the war. He was protecting his property at the expense of others. No one of substance would make such a proposal. But Marcus Terentius Varro did propose the measure. He saw that it had popular support and hoped thereby to launch his own career. The motion passed.
Maximus probably added to his own unpopularity when he refused to allow Minucius to have command of the army on alternate days. So Maximus split the army. Good news for Hannibal for he knew that it would be far more difficult for Maximus to carry out his long term plan. Minucius was a loose cannon.
Hannibal soon lures Minucius into a trap. His destruction was prevented by Maximus. Livy says that after this Minucius became loyal to Maximus. Maybe but Maximus was a politician (I do not mean this in a negative way) he may have had means now to force Minucius to look at matters in another light. Regardless Maximus now commands a recombined army.
The election of Maximus by popular vote was an adjustment which served in a way as a test of the Republic to see if Roman government could adjust to situations which it had never met before. The surviving consul after Trasimene could not be in Rome to publicly announce his nominee. Thus the Senate decided to have Maximus elected Dictator by popular vote.
At this time, 216 B.C., a Carthaginian spy was captured. He had worked undetected for two years.
The Senate not with ease kept up normal activities required to keep society functional. The elections this year were bitter. Varro sought popular support. By leading members of the Senate he was opposed. He fired back that Senate wanted the war and were actually instrumental in importing Hannibal to Italy. They were using the war to maintain power. Only one consul was elected- Varro. He presided over election of the other consul. Those families which were the major force in the Senate realized that the candidates they had backed were not strong enough to defeat Varro. So they asked Lucius Aemilius Paullus to run. He did not want to but they convinced that the political crisis required his candidacy. He ran, he won. The size of the army was increased to 87,200 at this time.
Hiero, loyal king of Syracuse sent supplies to Romans and art.
Varro spoke publicly against the quality of Senatorial leadership. He did this several times. Hannibal’s spies must have been elated by the words. Paullus, however, spoke only once. He questioned Varro’s good sense. I like Paullus. Maximus advised Paullus to stick to his, Maximus’, strategy. Maximus knew that Hannibal’s main weakness was his difficult in getting supplies and reinforcements in a foreign land. Paullus agreed but told Maximus that even as Dictator he had great difficulty in getting his plan put into action.. “True glory” said Maximus “will belong to the man who despises glory.”
The Consuls argue. The army moves to Cannae. The Romans suffer their greatest defeat in their long history. They lost in one day 45,500 infantry, 2,700 cavalry, 2 quaestors, 29 military tribunes and numerous ex-consuls. Livy describes the bloody field in chapter 51.. It is beyond imagination.
The news devastated Rome. Two armies (both consular armies) destroyed. A Praetor summoned the Senate in the Curia Hostilia. Maximus kept a cool head. (Where do people like this come from?) He convinced the Senate to reconnoiter the countryside, calm the city and no one can leave the city. Then the Senate was recalled to make plans for defense.
Ironically, Paullus who was opposed to the battle was killed in that conflict; Varro who was rash almost beyond belief, in fact to promote his own career, he had put his own country at risk. In Varro’s report, 10,000 soldiers survive. News soon arrives that Hiero in Sicily was under attack. Marcus Claudius Marcellus was sent to take command of Varro’s forces. A Dictator was selected by the Senate, a levy was held and slaves were offered freedom if they agree to serve in the army.
Those soldiers who had been captured by Hannibal asked the Senate to pay the ransom which Hannibal required for their release. Titus Manlius Torquatus made reply- they had weapons, they should have fought and died. No ransom was paid. Much wailing in the city. Many Senators with their vote condemned their own relatives. Some allies now desert Rome. In spite of how many Senators must have felt about Varro, the entire Senate met him at the city gates of Rome and thanked him for not despairing of the state. Noble sentiment desperately need in time of crisis.
XXlll. Capua falls to Hannibal. Or perhaps turned itself over to him. Livy states that Hanno continued opposition to the war back in Carthage. He asked if after the Romans have been crushed so heavily if they have yet to ask for peace. Livy adds very little. It would be nice to know more.
Money is tight for Romans. A city asked for help. Rome simply did not have the money which would be required to launch any kind of campaign. In Sicily the Roman commander had to ask the King of Syracuse (Hiero) for a loan. In Sardinia the citizens donated money.
Numbers in the Senate were way down. Not because of lack of interest. Natural death, war casualties took a heavy toll. A Dictator was appointed to raise the number. 170 new Senators were enrolled. It is important to realize that the Senate was a source of expertise on foreign affairs, finance, military commands and a think tank on a major scale.
Lucius Postumius was elected consul. He and almost his entire army were annihilated in Gaul. Shops were closed. Depression set in. Senate met and it was decided that the Aediles would go about the city and order shops to reopen.
In 216 BC there was Roman success in Spain. Carthage was having difficulty in subduing Spanish tribes. The Carthaginian commander in Spain, Hasdrubal, was ordered by Carthage to proceed to Italy. He remarked that he could not. If he left all of Spain would soon be in Roman hands.
When the Romans learned that Hasdrubal was ordered to Italy, they made the Ebro River their base of operations. Orders were clear- Hasdrubal must be prevented from crossing the Ebro no matter what the cost. Scipios achieve success in Spain. A number of Spanish tribes move to the Roman side. As a result Hasdrubal could not go to Italy.
In Italy matters worsened. Roman support was ebbing. Romans lost some key supporters. Hiero, ruler of Syracuse died. His son wanted to support Carthaginians. Thus the durable support of Sicily was lost.
The situation in Italy was critical. The Carthaginians ordered Mago to Italy to reinforce Hannibal. Roman success in Spain caused him to be sent to Spain instead.
The war now draws the attention of Philip of Macedon, a king with extensive dominions. He decided to support Hannibal. Ambassadors are sent to Hannibal. These were captured by the Romans. But Laevinus, the Roman commander of the east coast was convinced by Xenophanes, one of the Ambassadors that they were attempting to avoid Carthaginian forces. Laevinus sends them on to Rome. Instead they head for Hannibal and offer an alliance. This was the offer. Philip would help Hannibal with his fleet and then after Romans were crushed, Hannibal would help Philip expand in Greece. This was a crucial juncture in the war. With Philip’s help Rome and her allies could face irreversible disaster.
Xenophanes, the representative of Philip and three Carthaginian representatives, Gisgo, Bostar and Mago left to make final arrangements with Philip. All are captured. Xenophanes used the same lie as last time. However Romans wondered what an Ambassador of Philip was doing with Carthaginian representatives. Laevinus wisely sent all these to Rome in separate ships. Later letters were found which helped to expose the deal. This whole affair must have caused great concern to the Roman Senate.
Sardinia is on the verge of revolt. Carthaginian agents had been working hard to bring over the island. Romans send T. Manlius Torquatus to Sardinia. At the same time the Carthaginians were sending Hasdrubal to Sardinia.
Campania was primed by Hannibal to revolt from Rome. Romans are alert and the crisis is averted.
The Senate after hearing what the Ambassadors/ documents had to say made the momentous decision to go on the offensive and thus keep Philip out of Italy. Philip is made aware that the Romans know his plan. He sends a second Embassy. Treaty is concluded. But by this time, winter has set in, no campaign can be launched by Philip until after winter storms are over. This war was postponed because of the capture of one ship. Luck? Or did the Romans have a spy network in place?
Romans are completely successful in Sardinia. No quarter was given.
A Roman naval commander was ravaging Carthaginian coast. Moved to Sardinia and participated in action regarding Sardinia. Marcellus was successful against Hannibal at Nola. Soon Laevinus was sent to Brundisium to make preparations for invasion of Macedonia. The Scipios did well in Spain. When low on money, the Senate borrowed money and the Scipios’ success in Spain continued.
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