Battle of Herdonia (212 BC)

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Battle of Herdonia

Date	212 BC
Location	Herdonia (modern Ordonia, Foggia), Italy
Result	Carthaginian victory

Combatants

Carthage

Roman Republic

Commanders

Hannibal

Gnaeus Fulvius

Strength

Around 20,000-30,000

18,000

Casualties

Minor

16,000

Second Punic War
Saguntum – Lilybaeum – Ticinus – Trebia – Cissa – Lake Trasimene – Ebro River – Cannae – 1st Nola – Dertosa – 2nd Nola – Cornus – 3rd Nola – 1st Capua – Silarus – 1st Herdonia – Syracuse – Upper Baetis – 2nd Capua – 2nd Herdonia – Numistro – Asculum – Tarentum – Baecula – Grumentum – Metaurus – Ilipa – Crotona – Utica – Bagbrades – Cirta – Po Valley – Great Plains – Zama

The first Battle of Herdonia was fought in 212 BC during the Second Punic War between Hannibal's Carthaginian army and Roman forces led by Praetor Gnaeus Fulvius Flaccus, brother of the consul. The Roman army was destroyed, leaving Apulia free of Romans for the year.

1 Strategic Situation
2 The Battle
3 Aftermath
4 See also

[edit] Strategic Situation

Hannibal had destroyed the Roman army in Campania under the command of Marcus Centenius in Battle of the Silarus. After completely wiping out the army in his greatest victory after Cannae, Hannibal chose not to remain in Capania to safeguard Capua. Nor did he march west towards Cumae to confront the consular armies of Flavius Flaccus and Appius Claudius. Hannibal marched east into Apulia.

The Roman consuls decided to march into Capua. The Romans started to make deliberate preparations to secure their supply lines. They fortified Casilinum, built forts on the Volturnes River to guard their supply lines. Preator Claudius Nero moved from Lucania to Suessula. In total 6 Roman and 6 allied legions were prepared to move against Capua.

In Spain, Hasdrubal Barca had moved to Africa to subdue Syphax, and in his efforts was being aided by a Numidian prince called Masinissa. The Scipio brothers had started to recruit and train Celtabrian mercenaries to build up their forces for launching a campaign against the Carthaginians.

[edit] The Battle

Fulvius and his army has had a rather easy time in Apulia. Fulvius was unaware of Hannibal's presence until he was within the immediate area of Herdonia. Fulvius is said to have become careless from his easy successes and and his army was also weighted down with plunder. Fulvius accepted battle on Hannibal's offer at the behest of his extremely eager soldiers. Hannibal's army probably outnumbered the Romans, which numbered 18,000 men.

Hannibal deployed his forces on the plain outside of his camp, while sending about 3 thousand light infantry to his extreme left flank to effect a surprise attack from the woodlands and farms located in that direction. Hannibal also sent out 2,000 Numidians to take control of the roads in the rear of Fulvius' army, thus cutting off all possible escape routes. It is surprising that Flaccus did not detect the movement of the Carthaginians, which is a tribute to the skill of Hannibal's commanders or a glaring example of Roman negligence. Hannibal's army, which still outnumbered the Romans after 5,000 soldiers had been detached from it, overwhelmed the Roman legions almost at once. Fulvius fled almost immediately with 200 troops as Hannibal's attacks came from in front, behind and to both sides. Roughly 2,000 Romans are said to have survived the battle. The battle resembles the trap Hannibal had set for the army of Minucis at the Battle of Geronium in 217 BC.

[edit] Aftermath

In the span of a few weeks, Hannibal had wiped out 6 Roman legions in Campania and Apulia. After this battle, Hannibal marched south towards Tarentum, where the Romans were besieged in the citadel while the city had fallen to Carthaginian allies in 213 BC. Romam senate decided to raise 4 new legions to send to Apulia. The consuls moved near Capua, intent on blockading the city totally. Reason for Hannibal's retirement has been a source of puzzlement for some authors. They have speculated that Hannibal had retired to rest his army and give the wounded a chance to recover after 3 battles and rapid marches (Cottrell, Leonard, Hannibal: Enemy of Rome, p.175).