Fighting Hannibal: A First Hand Account - The Battle of Trebia

You have found yourself camped by the river Trebia for several days (1). You have heard of the man leading the army you face, he is Hannibal Barca, sacker of the city of Saguntum and crosser of the Alps. Now he has raised the local Gauls in Italy against Rome herself, and you sit here waiting for Tiberius Sempronius Longus to reinforce you.

Gossip of defections in the night is rife among the men. Gauls slipping from the camp to join forces with the rebellious tribes in Hannibal's army (2). Even that some guards have been killed by these vile shadows of men. And here you sit, waiting for your reinforcements, on the banks of the river Trebia.

The Battle

A lot has happened since the arrival of the reinforcements. Your commander lays resting from the injuries he has sustained and you find yourself under the command of Sempronius Longus (3). He seems impetuous, looking to lead this untrained army he has assembled into battle. But eighteen thousand Romans and twenty thousand allies, plus cavalry, against this foreign mob of forty thousand is hardly something to be worried of (4). What is forty thousand men to the legions of Rome?

You find yourself drawing up in manoeuvres, looking to force these Carthaginians into a battle. You hear a ripple through the legion that Gallic spies have been seen around the camp. Spying. Reporting. Plotting (5).

The morning comes and the cry goes up of Numidian cavalry raiding and harassing the camp. They are quickly sent packing. Gods be praised that these men are fools. The bugles sound and there is no time for breakfast. Ahead of you six thousand javelin throwers cover the formation of the line. The call goes out and you advance on this enemy impudent enough to invade Italy.

You step down into the river and the breath is punched from your body. Jupiter be damned, the water is so cold you can barely hold your shield (6). Ahead you see the Carthaginian skirmishers moving forward. Suddenly your cavalry screen is pushed back by the Numidian cavalry, the cause of your missed breakfast. Your own skirmish line is now being harassed by these foreign horseman. This is a disaster, they are wasting their missiles on these cavalry, not the opposing line.

The enemy is almost upon you. Their heavy infantry walking forward silently. Unobstructed. You move forward, the moment is here. The protective cavalry on your flank is pushed back, but this is a Roman army fighting on Roman land. Surely you cannot lose.

Suddenly you hear of panic and ruin from the legions to your left. Carthaginian cavalry has appeared from nowhere and attacked the army in the rear (7). Your legion stands strong but around you the allies break and run. Run back to the river. You can hear their scream as the Carthaginians finish the bloody work of the day.

The command to form square is called and your legion stands, deflecting attacks on all sides. The men by the river are lost. You move forwards, your legion even deflecting attacks from elephants, fighting your way through the Carthaginian line. Finally safe, you head for the nearest town. Defeated by this man named Hannibal.

1. In 218 BC Hannibal Barca leading Carthaginian forces, took the Second Punic War to the Romans, breaking out of the Spanish theatre of war, crossing the Alps and preceding to attack Rome from the north of Italy.

Silver Shekel of Carthage from the British Museum

2. "The Gauls had been disaffected for some time, now with this additional incentive all Gauls round about would go over to the Carthaginians" - Polybius Book 3 Chapter 67
3. Tiberius Sempronius Longus was sent by the Senate to reinforce the army dealing with the invasion in the north.
4. Livy Ab Urbe Condita Book 21 Chapter 17 puts the Roman numbers at 38,000, while Polybius sets the numbers at 36,000.
5. Polybius Book 3 Chapter 71 writes of how upon discovering the Romans plan, Hannibal set about choosing the ideal position to win the battle. "Flat indeed and treeless, but well adapted for an ambuscade".

The Battle of Trebia

6. Both Livy and Polybius write of the Romans difficulty in holding their weapons after fording the ice cold waters of the river. 

Hannibal Barca

7. After his Gallic spies discovered the Romans plans, Hannibal placed a secret force to the flank of the Roman lines. "Mago will show you a place where you are to line in ambuscade, you have an enemy who are blindly ignorant of these practices in war" Ab Urbe Condita Book 21 Chapter 53. 


Thanks for Reading
James