Battle of Herdonia
Part of the Second Punic War
Date 212 BC Location Herdonia (modern Ordonia, Foggia), Italy Result Decisive Carthaginian victory
Combatants
Carthage	Roman Republic
Commanders
Hannibal	Gnaeus Fulvius
Strength
20,000-30,000	18,000
Casualties
Minimal	16,000

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. Combatants Image:SPQR-Stone. ... Battles of the Second Punic War Created by Panairjdde with GMT (Generic Mapping Tools, gmt. ... 13241322456878448 8mur ;pgho[nthhjtrughtugo0gu08u8g-=i980u8595i oprjiojmn kjlkiuh8909n07rugre8yg789e0 789g8ryrvugu89werh8 h6n 7h g89g9r6r9wg90yghgp4ghb r yrhgr rng4y2[2u=y780945y54ut5486ut549tj450t87uh845vnnyh g98hhggggy785y49y5gtvnyht758027y4nvth7nt57858857yvbnv5ty589vt58940uv5bnvby[1 In the First Battle of Capua, Hannibal defeats the consuls Quintus Fulvius Flaccus and Appius Claudius, but the Roman army escapes, and soon reestablished the siege once again. ... Foggia, Italy, is an Apulian big town and provincial capital. ... Carthage (Greek: , from the Phoenician Kart-hadasht meaning new town, Arabic: ‎, Latin: ) refers both to an ancient city in North Africa located in modern day Tunis and to the civilization that developed within the citys sphere of influence. ... See also Roman Republic (18th century) and Roman Republic (19th century). ... Hannibal, the son of Hamilcar Barca, (247 BC – c. ... Combatants Image:SPQR-Stone. ... Sagunt (Spanish Sagunto; Latin Saguntum) is an ancient city in Hispania, in the modern fertile district of Camp de Morvedre in the province of Valencia in eastern Spain. ... Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Unknown Amellius, Praetor of Sicily Strength 35 Quinqueremes 20 Quinqueremes and Triremes Casualties 7 ships captured Unknown The naval battle of Lilybaeum was the first naval clash between the navies of Carthage and Rome in the 2nd Punic War. ... Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Hannibal Publius Cornelius Scipio the elder Strength 6,000 cavalry unknown Casualties small small The Battle of Ticinus was a battle of the Second Punic War fought between the Carthaginian forces of Hannibal and the Romans under Publius Cornelius Scipio in November 218 BC. It... Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Hannibal Tiberius Sempronius Longus Strength 10,000 cavalry, 28,000 infantry and thirty elephants 36,000-38,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry Casualties Unknown, but low 20,000 The Battle of the Trebia (or Trebbia) was the first major battle of the Second Punic... Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Hanno Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus Strength 10,000 infantry, 1,000 cavalry 20,000 infantry (2 Roman and 2 Allied Legions), 2,200 cavalry Casualties 6,000 killed and 2,000 captured unknown, light // Introduction The Battle of Cissa is part of the Second Punic... 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Minucius Rufus Quintus Fabius Maximus Hannibal Strength unknown unknown Casualties unknown unknown The Battle of Geronium was fought in 217 BC during the Second Punic War between Roman forces under M. Minucius Rufus and Hannibals Carthaginian army. ... For the 11th-century battle in the Byzantine conquest of the Mezzogiorno, see Battle of Cannae (1018). ... The First Battle of Nola was fought in 216 BC between the forces of Hannibal and a Roman force led by Marcus Claudius Marcellus. ... Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Hasdrubal Barca Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus, Publius Cornelius Scipio Strength 25,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry, 20 Elephants 30,000 infantry (2 Roman and 2 Allied Legions), 3,000 cavalry Casualties Severe Heavy The Battle of Dertosa, also known as the ‘’’Battle of Ibera’’’, was... The Second Battle of Nola was fought in 215 BC between Hannibals army and a Roman Army under Marcus Claudius Marcellus. ... Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Hasdrubal The Bald Titus Manlius Torquatus Strength 15,000 infantry, 1,500 cavalry +Sardinians (?) + Elephants (?) 20,000 infantry (2 Roman and 2 Allied Legions), 1,200 cavalry Casualties Most killed or captured unknown, // Introduction The battle of Cornus, or Caralis took place when a Carthaginian... The Third Battle of Nola was fought in 214 BC between Hannibal and Roman army led by Marcus Claudius Marcellus. ... Combatants Roman Republic Carthage Commanders Tiberius Gracchus Hanno Strength unknown unknown Casualties unknown unknown The Battle of Beneventum was fought in 214 BC near modern Benevento during the Second Punic War. ... The First Battle of Capua was fought in 212 BC between Hannibal and a Roman army. ... The Battle of the Silarus was fought in 212 BC between Hannibals army and a Roman force led by Praetor M. Centenius Penula. ... The Siege of Syracuse was fought from 214 BC to 212 BC between the rebellious city of Syracuse, and a Roman army under Marcellus sent to put down the citys rebellion. ... Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Hasdrubal Barca Publius Cornelius Scipio† Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus† Strength 35,000 foot, 3,000 Numidians, 7,500 Spanish tribals 30,000 foot, 3,000 Horse + 20,000 Celt-Iberian mercenaries Casualties unknown- approximately 22,000 // Introduction The Battle of the Upper Baetis was fought... The Second Battle of Capua was fought in 211 BC when the Romans besieged Capua. ... The Second Battle of Herdonia of the Second Punic War, was fought in 210 BC between Hannibals army and the Roman forces of Fulvius Centumalus. ... The Battle of Numistro was fought in 210 BC between Hannibals army and a Roman army led by Marcus Claudius Marcellus. ... The Battle of Asculum was fought in 209 BC between Hannibals Carthaginian army, and a Roman force. ... Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Hannibal Marcus Livius Strength 10,000 unknown Casualties hardly any nearly all the army Hanibals assult on Tarentum Hannibal leaves for Southern Italy:The Romans had long been awaiting the chance to strike at Capua the revolted capital of the Campania region in Southern Italy... The Battle of Baecula was Scipio Africanus’s first major field battle after he had taken command of Roman interests in Spain during the Second Punic War, in which he routed the Carthaginian army under the command of Hasdrubal Barca. ... The Battle of Grumentum was fought in 207 BC between Romans led by Gaius Claudius Nero, and Hannibals Carthaginian army. ... The Battle of the Metaurus was a pivotal battle in the ancient conflict between Rome and Carthage, fought in 207 BC near the Metaurus River in Italy. ... The Battle of Ilipa was a battle of the Second Punic War. ... Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Hannibal Sempronius Tuditanus The Battle of Crotona was fought in 204 BC between Hannibals Carthaginian army, and a Roman force led by Sempronius Tuditanus. ... The Battle of Bagbrades (also known as Campi Magni, Great Plains) was fought in 203 BC between a combined Carthaginian and Numidian force, and the Roman army of Scipio Africanus. ... The Battle of Cirta was a battle during the Second Punic War between the Roman Republic and Carthage. ... The Po Valley Raid was a engagement during the Second Punic War between the Roman Republic and Carthage. ... Combatants Roman Republic Carthaginian Commanders Scipio Africanus, Masinissa, Laeliu Hasdrubal, Syphax Casualties Unknown Rout of whole army The Battle of the Great plains Hasdrubal and Syphax had both succeded in escaping from their camps which the Roman general Scipio Africanus, and his Numidian allies Masinissa and Laeliu had destroyed. ... Combatants Carthage Roman Republic East Numidia Commanders Hannibal Scipio Africanus Masinissa Strength almost 58,000 infantry 6,000 cavalry 80 war elephants 34,000 Roman infantry 3,000 Roman cavalry 6,000 Numidian cavalry Casualties 20,000 killed 11,000 wounded 15,000 captured 1,500 killed 4,000 wounded... 13241322456878448 8mur ;pgho[nthhjtrughtugo0gu08u8g-=i980u8595i oprjiojmn kjlkiuh8909n07rugre8yg789e0 789g8ryrvugu89werh8 h6n 7h g89g9r6r9wg90yghgp4ghb r yrhgr rng4y2[2u=y780945y54ut5486ut549tj450t87uh845vnnyh g98hhggggy785y49y5gtvnyht758027y4nvth7nt57858857yvbnv5ty589vt58940uv5bnvby[1 In the First Battle of Capua, Hannibal defeats the consuls Quintus Fulvius Flaccus and Appius Claudius, but the Roman army escapes, and soon reestablished the siege once again. ... Combatants Image:SPQR-Stone. ... Hannibal, the son of Hamilcar Barca, (247 BC – c. ...

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. Campania is a region of Southern Italy, bordering on Lazio to the north-west, Molise to the north, Puglia to the north-east, Basilicata to the east, and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west. ... The Battle of the Silarus was fought in 212 BC between Hannibals army and a Roman force led by Praetor M. Centenius Penula. ... Capua is a city in the province of Caserta, (Campania, Italy) situated 25 km (16 mi) north of Napoli, on the northeastern edge of the Campanian plain. ... Cumae (Cuma, in Italian) is an ancient Greek settlement lying to the northwest of Naples in the Italian region of Campania. ... This article is about the Italian region. ...

The Roman consuls decided to march into Capua. The Romans started to make deliberate preparations to secure their supply lines. They fortified Casilinum, Casilinum (modern Capua), an ancient city of Campania, Italy, 3 m. ...

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. Hasdrubal Barca (d. ... Syphax was a king of the Masaesyles of western Numidia. ... Masinissa, King of Numidia Masinissa or Massinissa (c. ...

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 3,000 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. Combatants Roman Republic Carthage Commanders M. Minucius Rufus Quintus Fabius Maximus Hannibal Strength unknown unknown Casualties unknown unknown The Battle of Geronium was fought in 217 BC during the Second Punic War between Roman forces under M. Minucius Rufus and Hannibals Carthaginian army. ...

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. Roman senate decided to raise four 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 three battles and rapid marches (Cottrell, Leonard, Hannibal: Enemy of Rome, p.175).

See also

• Second Battle of Herdonia (210 BC)