INVINCIBLE: Hannibal’s crushing victory over the Romans at Lake Trasimene in 217BC
On this day in 217BC, the Carthaginian General, Hannibal Barca, defeated the Romans at the Battle of Lake Trasimene, during the Second Punic War.
MARCH OVER THE ALPS
The First Punic War (264 to 241BC) ended with a Carthaginian defeat. The Second Punic War was sparked by the Carthaginian siege of the town of Seguntum (modern-day Sagunto) in the Iberian peninsula, in part to restore and expand Carthaginian power and influence in Iberia. Seguntum was a Roman ally. The already strained tensions were further increased and resulted in the Romans declaring war on Carthage.
The Second Punic War had been ongoing for a year when Hannibal crossed the Alps with his Carthaginian Army. He initially inflicted a spectacular defeat upon the Roman army at the Battle of Trebia. This resulted in his army swelling in size as the Gauls who lived in the area under Roman rule, saw Hannibal as an ally.
Having marched further into Roman territory, Hannibal had two options: march further along the east coast and face the Roman army commanded by the Consul, Gnaeus Servilius Geminus, or cross the Apennines mountain range and clash with the Roman Army under the command of the Consul, Gaius Flaminius. Hannibal decided to march on the latter.
