Lake Trasimene

June 24, 217 BC

Strategic Context
The 30,000 Carthaginians were faced with two Roman consular armies of 40,000 and
20,000 respectively, blocking his way to the capital. Hannibal has since led the
Carthaginians across the dangerous, snowy Appenine passes and then the exhausting
Arnus marshes. He has thus outflanked both consular armies and prevent any link up
between them. Flamimius, leader of the larger army, immediately marches south to seek
battle and obtain all the glory for defeating Hannibal.

Stakes
+ A Carthaginian victory would allow
Hannibal to march south and establish a No Image
base closer to the Roman capital.
+ A Roman victory would deny the Available
Carthaginians a secure base in Italy.

By Jonathan Webb,
 Lake Trasimene, 217 BC
Strength

Carthaginians Romans

Hannibal Tiberius Sempronius Longus

22,000 infantry 36,000 infantry

8,000 cavalry 4,000 cavalry

Well Severely cold

By Jonathan Webb,
The Roman advance guard vaguely spots the Carthaginian camp at the eastern end of the ravine and charges forward. It is
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Carthaginians Carthaginians
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(Hannibal)
22,000 infantry
8,000 cavalry

Romans
(Gaius Flaminius)
36,000 infantry
Romans
(Flaminius) 4,000 cavalry
 Lake Trasimene, 217 BC
Casualties & Aftermath
Carthaginians: Romans:

1,500 30,000
or or
5% 75%

Hannibal was able to ambush and destroy an entire Roman army at little cost but could
not exploit the victory. Hannibal marched south in the hopes of being joined by cities and
tribes he considered to be vassals but was disappointed. The Roman Senate was
shocked by the loss of another field army and consequently appointed Quintus Fabius as
Dictator. Fabius soon gained the nickname as the “Delayer” for his avoidance of Hannibal
and scorched earth tactics that gained Rome the time to create yet another field army,
87,000 strong; it met Hannibal at the Battle of Cannae.
By Jonathan Webb,
 The Art of Battle:
Animated Battle Maps
http://www.the-art-of-battle.350.com/
By Jonathan Webb,