Himeras River (211 BC)

Western Sicily had been a Carthaginian province for centuries, until Rome captured it in the First Punic War. Hannibal sent an agent, Epicydes, to Syracuse to lead a rebellion against Rome in 214. Rome responded by sending M. Claudius Marcellus …

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Western Sicily had been a Carthaginian province for centuries, until Rome captured it in the First Punic War. Hannibal sent an agent, Epicydes, to Syracuse to lead a rebellion against Rome in 214. Rome responded by sending M. Claudius Marcellus against the city. Marcellus succeeded in taking Syracuse but the Sicilian campaign was not yet over. Epicydes rallied the remnants of the Carthaginian and Greek armies at Agrigentum and Hanno arrived from Africa with a new army, including 3000 Numidian cavalry. Hannibal also sent one of his crack cavalry commanders, the Liby-Phoenician Muttines, who was soon dashing all over Sicily with the Numidians. The three Punic commanders built their army up to 20,000 foot and 3500 horse, but Hanno, jealous of Muttines' success, ordered him to not march with the army. Marcellus marched against them with about 24,000 foot and 2000 horse. At this point, 10 Numidian deserters rode to the Roman camp and informed Marcellus that their countrymen were furious at the insult to Muttines and intended to take no part in the battle. Hoping the news was true, but expecting a trap, Marcellus led his legions out to face the Punic army. As the Libyan and Greek infantry advanced into the fray, it became apparent that the Numidians were holding back. Marcellus ordered the Roman horse to turn the exposed Punic flank. When the Numidians did not respond, the Punic infantry became demoralized and broke. Marcellus had the victory.

Himera, Sicily

The Second Punic War, also referred to as The Hannibalic War and by the Romans the War Against Hannibal, was the second of three Punic Wars between the Roman Republic and Carthage, with the participation of Macedonia and Syracuse polities and Numidian and Iberian forces on both sides. It was one of the deadliest human conflicts of ancient times. Fought across the entire Western Mediterranean region for 17 years and regarded by Livy as the greatest war in history, it was waged with unparalleled resources, skill, and hatred. It saw hundreds of thousands killed, some of the most lethal battles in military history, the destruction of cities, and massacres and enslavements of civilian populations and prisoners of war by both sides.

Wikipedia: Second Punic War

Carthaginian

Roman

Second Punic War