List of battles of the Second Punic War
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

This is an incomplete list of battles of the Second Punic War, showing the battles on the Italian peninsula and some in Africa, in
Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...
and
Hispania Hispania ( la, Hispānia , ; nearly identically pronounced in Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, and Italian) was the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula and its provinces. Under the Roman Republic, Hispania was divided into two provinces: Hisp ...
.


List

*218 BC **Summer: Battle of Lilybaeum – A Roman fleet of 20 quinqueremes defeated a Carthaginian fleet of 35 galleys. ** Capture of Malta – Roman army under Tiberius Sempronius Longus conquers the Carthaginian-held island of
Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
. **August – Hannibal conquered Catalonia. **September- Hannibal defeated the Gaul Volcae tribe in the
Battle of Rhone Crossing The Battle of the Rhône Crossing was a battle during the Second Punic War in September of 218 BC. Hannibal marched on the Alps, Italian Alps, and an army of Gauls, Gallic Volcae attacked the Carthage, Carthaginian army on the east bank of the Rh ...
. **October: Hannibal's army defeated Gauls in two battles while crossing the Alps. **November: Battle of the TicinusHannibal defeated the Romans under Publius Cornelius Scipio the Elder in a small cavalry skirmish. **December: Battle of the Trebia – Hannibal defeated the Romans under Tiberius Sempronius Longus, who had foolishly attacked. **Late year:
Battle of Cissa The Battle of Cissa was part of the Second Punic War. It was fought in the fall of 218 BC, near the Celtic town of Tarraco in north-eastern Iberia. A Roman army under Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus defeated an outnumbered Carthaginian army un ...
Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus (died 211 BC) was a Roman general and statesman during the third century BC. He played a major part in the Second Punic War establishing Roman Rule in the east of the Iberian Peninsula and tying up several Carthagini ...
defeated Hanno. Iberia north of the
Ebro , name_etymology = , image = Zaragoza shel.JPG , image_size = , image_caption = The Ebro River in Zaragoza , map = SpainEbroBasin.png , map_size = , map_caption = The Ebro ...
River came under Roman control. *217 BC **Spring:
Battle of Ebro River The Battle of Ebro River was a naval battle fought near the mouth of Ebro River in the spring of 217 BC between a Carthaginian fleet of approximately 40 quinqueremes, under the command of Himilco, and a Roman fleet of 35 ships, under Gnaeus Co ...
– A Roman fleet, aided by ships from
Massilia Massalia (Greek: Μασσαλία; Latin: Massilia; modern Marseille) was an ancient Greek colony founded ca. 600 BC on the Mediterranean coast of present-day France, east of the river Rhône, by Ionian Greek settlers from Phocaea, in Western An ...
, surprised and defeated the Iberian contingent of the Carthaginian fleet. **21 June:
Battle of Lake Trasimene The Battle of Lake Trasimene was fought when a Carthaginian force under Hannibal ambushed a Roman army commanded by Gaius Flaminius on 21 June 217 BC, during the Second Punic War. It took place on the north shore of Lake Trasimene, to th ...
– In an ambush, Hannibal destroyed the Roman army of Gaius Flaminius, who was killed. **September:
Battle of Ager Falernus The Battle of Ager Falernus was a skirmish during the Second Punic War between the armies of Rome and Carthage. After winning the Battle of Lake Trasimene in Italy in 217 BC, the army commanded by Hannibal marched south and reached Campania. The ...
– Hannibal was trapped by
Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, surnamed Cunctator ( 280 – 203 BC), was a Roman statesman and general of the third century BC. He was consul five times (233, 228, 215, 214, and 209 BC) and was appointed dictator in 221 and 217 BC. He was ...
in Ager Falernus, but he managed to escape. **Autumn:
Battle of Geronium The Battle of Geronium (or "Gerunium") took place during the Second Punic War; and it consisted of both a large skirmish and a battle, which took place in the summer and autumn of 217 BC respectively. After winning the Battle of Ager Falernus, ...
– Hannibal trapped and inflicted severe losses on a Roman army under
Marcus Minucius Rufus Marcus Minucius Rufus (died August 2, 216 BC) was a Roman consul in 221 BC. He was also Magister Equitum during the dictatorship of Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus known as ''Cunctator''. He was a political enemy of Fabius Maximus. He was against ...
. The timely intervention of the Dictator Quintus Fabius Maximus saved the Romans from another disaster. *216 BC **August: Battle of Cannae – Hannibal destroyed the Roman army led by Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Gaius Terentius Varro in what is considered one of the great masterpieces of the tactical art. **Late year:
Battle of Silva Litana The Battle of Silva Litana was an ambush that took place in a forest 75 miles northwest of the Roman city of Ariminum during the Second Punic War in 216 BC. The Gallic Boii surprised and destroyed a Roman army of 25,000 men under the consul-e ...
– The Gallic
Boii The Boii (Latin plural, singular ''Boius''; grc, Βόιοι) were a Celtic tribe of the later Iron Age, attested at various times in Cisalpine Gaul ( Northern Italy), Pannonia (Hungary), parts of Bavaria, in and around Bohemia (after whom ...
wiped out a Roman army under Lucius Postumius Albinus. **Late year:
First Battle of Nola The First Battle of Nola was fought in 216 BC between the forces of Hannibal and a Roman force led by Marcus Claudius Marcellus. Hannibal was attempting to seize the town of Nola: He failed to do so, and would make two more unsuccessful attempts ...
– Roman general
Marcus Claudius Marcellus Marcus Claudius Marcellus (; 270 – 208 BC), five times elected as consul of the Roman Republic, was an important Roman military leader during the Gallic War of 225 BC and the Second Punic War. Marcellus gained the most prestigious award a Roma ...
held off an attack by Hannibal. *215 BC **Spring:
Battle of Dertosa The Battle of Ibera, also known as the Battle of Dertosa, was fought in the spring of 215 BC on the south bank of the Ebro River near the town of Ibera and was part of the Second Punic War. A Roman army, under the command of the brothers ...
Hasdrubal Barca Hasdrubal Barca (245– 22June 207BC), a latinization of ʿAzrubaʿal ( xpu, 𐤏𐤆𐤓𐤁𐤏𐤋 ) son of Hamilcar Barca, was a Carthaginian general in the Second Punic War. He was the brother of Hannibal and Mago Barca. Youth and Iberi ...
is defeated by the Scipio brothers. The Romans raided Carthaginian territory south of the Ebro river. **August:
Second Battle of Nola The Second Battle of Nola was fought in 215 BC between Hannibal's army and a Roman force under Marcus Claudius Marcellus. It was Hannibal's second attempt to seize Nola after a failure the year before. He was again repelled and would make one ...
– Marcellus again repulsed an attack by Hannibal. **Late year:
Battle of Decimomannu The Battle of Decimomannu or Caralis took place in Sardinia when a Carthaginian army sailed to the island to support a local revolt against Roman rule. The army, led by Hasdrubal the Bald, fought a similar size Roman army under the Praetor Tit ...
– A Carthaginian expedition under Hasdrubal the Bald is defeated near Caralis in Sardinia. **A Roman fleet under Titus Otacilius Crassus defeated a Carthaginian fleet near
Sardinia Sardinia ( ; it, Sardegna, label=Italian, Corsican and Tabarchino ; sc, Sardigna , sdc, Sardhigna; french: Sardaigne; sdn, Saldigna; ca, Sardenya, label=Algherese and Catalan) is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after ...
. *214 BC **
Third Battle of Nola The Third Battle of Nola was fought in 214 BC between Hannibal and a Roman army led by Marcus Claudius Marcellus. It was Hannibal's third attempt to take the town of Nola. Once again, Marcellus successfully prevented the town's capture. Backg ...
– Marcellus fought an inconclusive battle with Hannibal. ** Battle of BeneventumTiberius Sempronius Gracchus's slave legions defeat
Hanno Hanno may refer to: People * Hanno (given name) :* Hanunu (8th century BC), Philistine king previously rendered by scholars as "Hanno" *Hanno ( xpu, 𐤇𐤍𐤀 , '; , ''Hannōn''), common Carthaginian name :* Hanno the Navigator, Carthagi ...
(son of Bomilcar) and, therefore, deny Hannibal his reinforcements. *213 BC ** The Siege of Syracuse begins. *212 BC ** March: Battle of Tarentum – Hannibal, after careful planning and collaboration from the Greek populace, takes the city of Tarentum in a daring night raid. The Romans continue to hold the Citadel at the mouth of the port. ** May: Battle of BeneventumQuintus Fulvius Flaccus defeats Hanno. **
First Battle of Capua The First Battle of Capua was fought in 212 BC between Hannibal and two Roman consular armies. The Roman force was led by two consuls, Quintus Fulvius Flaccus and Appius Claudius Pulcher. The Roman force was defeated, but managed to escape. Ha ...
– Hannibal defeated the consuls Q. Fulvius Flaccus and Appius Claudius, but the Roman army escaped. Siege of Capua temporarily lifted. **
Battle of the Silarus The Battle of the Silarus was fought in 212 BC between Hannibal's army and a Roman force led by centurion Marcus Centenius Penula. The Carthaginians were victorious, destroying the entire Roman army and killing 15,000 Roman soldiers in the proces ...
– Hannibal destroyed the army of the Roman praetor M. Centenius Penula in Campania. ** First Battle of Herdonia – Hannibal destroyed the Roman army of the praetor Gnaeus Fulvius in Apulia. ** The Siege of Syracuse ends with the fall of the city. Archimedes is accidentally slain. *211 BC **
Battle of the Upper Baetis The Battle of the Upper Baetis was a double battle, comprising the battles of Castulo and Ilorca, fought in 211 BC during the Second Punic War between a Carthaginian force led by Hasdrubal Barca ( Hannibal's brother) and a Roman force led by P ...
Publius Cornelius Scipio and
Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus (died 211 BC) was a Roman general and statesman during the third century BC. He played a major part in the Second Punic War establishing Roman Rule in the east of the Iberian Peninsula and tying up several Carthagini ...
were killed in battle with
Hasdrubal Barca Hasdrubal Barca (245– 22June 207BC), a latinization of ʿAzrubaʿal ( xpu, 𐤏𐤆𐤓𐤁𐤏𐤋 ) son of Hamilcar Barca, was a Carthaginian general in the Second Punic War. He was the brother of Hannibal and Mago Barca. Youth and Iberi ...
. ** Siege of Capua – The Romans besiege and capture the city. *210 BC ** Second Battle of Herdonia – Hannibal destroyed the Roman army of Fulvius Centumalus, who was killed. **
Battle of Numistro The Battle of Numistro was fought in 210 BC between Hannibal's army and one of the Roman consular armies led by consul Marcus Claudius Marcellus. It was the fourth time they met in a battle. Previous encounters were located around the walls of No ...
– Hannibal fights Marcellus once more. ** Battle of Sapriportis – The Tarentine Greek navy defeated a Roman squadron trying to reinforce the Citadel. *209 BC **January/February: Battle of CartagenaP. Cornelius Scipio the Younger captured Cartagena, the main Carthaginian base in Hispania. **Spring:
Battle of Canusium The Battle of Canusium also known as the Battle of Asculum was a three-day engagement between the forces of Rome and Carthage. It took place in Apulia during the spring of 209 BC, the tenth year of the Second Punic War. A larger Roman offensive, ...
– Hannibal once again confronted Marcellus in an indecisive battle. Marcellus was recalled to Rome on charges of bad leadership. ** Assault on Tarentum – Romans under Quintus Fabius Maximus reconquer Tarentum. *208 BC **Spring:
Battle of Baecula The Battle of Baecula was a major field battle in Iberia during the Second Punic War. Roman Republican and Iberian auxiliary forces under the command of Scipio Africanus routed the Carthaginian army of Hasdrubal Barca. Prelude According to P ...
– Romans in Hispania under P. Cornelius Scipio the Younger defeated
Hasdrubal Barca Hasdrubal Barca (245– 22June 207BC), a latinization of ʿAzrubaʿal ( xpu, 𐤏𐤆𐤓𐤁𐤏𐤋 ) son of Hamilcar Barca, was a Carthaginian general in the Second Punic War. He was the brother of Hannibal and Mago Barca. Youth and Iberi ...
. Hasdrubal managed to save 2/3 of his army, treasures and elephants and retreat. **Summer: Battle of Petelia – Hannibal ambushes and destroys a small Roman force ** Battle of Clupea – The Carthaginian navy is defeated in a battle off the African coast. *207 BC **Spring:
Battle of Grumentum The Battle of Grumentum was fought in 207 BC between Romans led by Gaius Claudius Nero, and a part of Hannibal's Carthaginian army. The battle was a minor Roman victory, and Nero marched north where he defeated and killed Hannibal's brother Has ...
– Roman general
Gaius Claudius Nero Gaius Claudius Nero (c. 247 BCc. 189 BC) was a Roman general active during the Second Punic War against the invading Carthaginian force, led by Hannibal Barca. During a military career that began as legate in 214 BC, he was propraetor in 211 B ...
fought an indecisive battle with Hannibal, then marched north to confront
Hasdrubal Barca Hasdrubal Barca (245– 22June 207BC), a latinization of ʿAzrubaʿal ( xpu, 𐤏𐤆𐤓𐤁𐤏𐤋 ) son of Hamilcar Barca, was a Carthaginian general in the Second Punic War. He was the brother of Hannibal and Mago Barca. Youth and Iberi ...
, who had invaded Italy. **23 June:
Battle of the Metaurus The Battle of the Metaurus was a pivotal battle in the Second Punic War between Rome and Carthage, fought in 207 BC near the Metauro River in Italy. The Carthaginians were led by Hasdrubal Barca, brother of Hannibal, who was to have brought sie ...
– Hasdrubal Barca was defeated and killed by Livius and Nero's combined Roman army. Is thought by many as one of the most decisive battles in history. ** Naval Battle of Utica – A Carthaginian fleet of 70 ships is defeated by a Roman fleet of 100 ships near Utica. *206 BC **Spring: Battle of Ilipa – Scipio destroyed a large Carthaginian army in Hispania. **
Mutiny at Sucro The Roman army's mutiny at Sucro, a no longer existing ancient fort in Spain, took place in early 206 BC, during the Roman conquest of Hispania in the Second Punic War against Carthage.Livy 28.24 The mutineers had several grievances, including ...
– Scipio quells a mutiny in Hispania. **
Battle of Carteia The Battle of Carteia, also known by the modern name Battle of the Guadalquivir, was a battle of the Second Punic War that took place in 206 BC between the forces of Carthage and the Roman Republic. The name "Battle of the Guadalquivir" is anac ...
– Romans defeat Carthaginians in Hispania. ** Battle of Carteia (naval) – Romans defeat Carthaginians in a naval battle near the city of Carteia. *204 BC **Autumn: Siege of Utica – Scipio's siege of Utica in Africa fails. ** Battle of Crotona – Hannibal fought a drawn battle against the Roman general Sempronius in Southern Italy. *203 BC **
Battle of Insubria The Battle of Insubria in 203 BC was the culmination of a major war, carried out by the Carthaginian commander Mago, brother of Hannibal Barca, at the end of the Second Punic war between Rome and Carthage in what is now northwestern Italy. Mago ...
– Romans defeat Carthaginians under
Mago Barca Mago Barca ( xpu, 𐤌𐤂‬𐤍 𐤁𐤓𐤒‬, ; 243–203BC) was a Barcid Carthaginian who played an important role in the Second Punic War, leading forces of Carthage against the Roman Republic in Iberia and northern and central Italy. Ma ...
in northern Italy. ** Battle of Utica – Scipio attacks and destroys a Carthaginian-Numidian army. **
Battle of the Great Plains The Battle of the Great Plains ( la, Campi Magni) was a battle between a Roman army commanded by Scipio Africanus and a combined Carthaginian-Numidian army late in the Second Punic War. It was fought on the plains south of Bulla Regia around the ...
– Romans under Scipio defeated the Carthaginian army of
Hasdrubal Gisco Hasdrubal Gisco (died 202BC), a latinization of the name ʿAzrubaʿal son of Gersakkun ( xpu, 𐤏𐤆𐤓𐤁𐤏𐤋 𐤁𐤍 𐤂𐤓𐤎𐤊𐤍 ),. was a Carthaginian general who fought against Rome in Iberia (Hispania) and North Africa du ...
and Syphax. Hannibal was recalled to Africa. **
Battle of Cirta The Battle of Cirta was a battle during the Second Punic War between the forces of the Massyli King Massinissa and the Masaesyli King, Syphax. On the orders of Roman general Scipio Africanus, his most able commander, Gaius Laelius and his all ...
Masinissa Masinissa ( nxm, , ''MSNSN''; ''c.'' 238 BC – 148 BC), also spelled Massinissa, Massena and Massan, was an ancient Numidian king best known for leading a federation of Massylii Berber tribes during the Second Punic War (218–201 BC), ult ...
and the Romans defeat and capture Syphax. ** Battle of Castra Cornelia – Carthaginian fleet under Hasdrubal plunders the Roman supply convoy sailing to resupply Scipio's army in Africa near Utica. *202 BC ** 19 October:
Battle of Zama The Battle of Zama was fought in 202 BC near Zama, now in Tunisia, and marked the end of the Second Punic War. A Roman army led by Publius Cornelius Scipio, with crucial support from Numidian leader Masinissa, defeated the Carthaginian ...
Scipio Africanus Major Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (, , ; 236/235–183 BC) was a Roman general and statesman, most notable as one of the main architects of Rome's victory against Carthage in the Second Punic War. Often regarded as one of the best military co ...
decisively defeated Hannibal in North Africa, ending the Second Punic War. {{Ancient Roman Wars, state=autocollapse Punic War, List of battles of the Second