Hasdrubal, commander of the service corps
Encyclopedia
Hasdrubal, commander of the Service Corps was a Carthaginian
officer in the Second Punic War
. After the Battle of the Ticinus Hannibal led his army East along the Po River
to catch the Roman
army. When a convenient place was found to cross the army began building rafts. Hasdrubal supervised the main force's crossing.
Fabius Maximus
, who had just been appointed dictator in late 218, planned to cut off Hannibal's route to potential winter quarters. Fabius correctly found the passage through the Apennines
that Hannibal's army was to cross. Hasdrubal worked with army-servants to tie bundles of wood to the horns of cattle. During the night the bundles were lit on fire as the cattle crossed over the mountain. This provided such a distraction that Hannibal was able to lead the main army with all its supplies through the pass without having to fight. In the morning Hannibal sent his Spaniards to retrieve the spearmen who stayed with Hasdrubal to create the distraction. Around 1,000 Romans were killed as the spearmen were retrieved.
At the Battle of Cannae
Hasdrubal led the Spanish and Celtic cavalry on the left (south near the Aufidus river) of the Carthaginian army. Hasdrubal was given about 6,500 cavalry as opposed to Hanno
's 3,500 Numidians. Hasdrubal's force was able to quickly destroy the Roman cavalry (on the south), pass the Roman's infantry rear, and reach the Roman allied cavalry while they were engaged with Hanno's Numidians
. Once the Romans' allied cavalry was destroyed Hanno and Hasdrubal were able to lead both cavalries into the Roman infantry's rear.
Carthage
Carthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC...
officer in the Second Punic War
Second Punic War
The Second Punic War, also referred to as The Hannibalic War and The War Against Hannibal, lasted from 218 to 201 BC and involved combatants in the western and eastern Mediterranean. This was the second major war between Carthage and the Roman Republic, with the participation of the Berbers on...
. After the Battle of the Ticinus Hannibal led his army East along the Po River
Po River
The Po |Ligurian]]: Bodincus or Bodencus) is a river that flows either or – considering the length of the Maira, a right bank tributary – eastward across northern Italy, from a spring seeping from a stony hillside at Pian del Re, a flat place at the head of the Val Po under the northwest face...
to catch the Roman
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
army. When a convenient place was found to cross the army began building rafts. Hasdrubal supervised the main force's crossing.
Fabius Maximus
Fabius Maximus
Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus Cunctator was a Roman politician and general, born in Rome around 280 BC and died in Rome in 203 BC. He was Roman Consul five times and was twice Dictator in 221 and again in 217 BC. He reached the office of Roman Censor in 230 BC...
, who had just been appointed dictator in late 218, planned to cut off Hannibal's route to potential winter quarters. Fabius correctly found the passage through the Apennines
Apennine mountains
The Apennines or Apennine Mountains or Greek oros but just as often used alone as a noun. The ancient Greeks and Romans typically but not always used "mountain" in the singular to mean one or a range; thus, "the Apennine mountain" refers to the entire chain and is translated "the Apennine...
that Hannibal's army was to cross. Hasdrubal worked with army-servants to tie bundles of wood to the horns of cattle. During the night the bundles were lit on fire as the cattle crossed over the mountain. This provided such a distraction that Hannibal was able to lead the main army with all its supplies through the pass without having to fight. In the morning Hannibal sent his Spaniards to retrieve the spearmen who stayed with Hasdrubal to create the distraction. Around 1,000 Romans were killed as the spearmen were retrieved.
At the Battle of Cannae
Battle of Cannae
The Battle of Cannae was a major battle of the Second Punic War, which took place on August 2, 216 BC near the town of Cannae in Apulia in southeast Italy. The army of Carthage under Hannibal decisively defeated a numerically superior army of the Roman Republic under command of the consuls Lucius...
Hasdrubal led the Spanish and Celtic cavalry on the left (south near the Aufidus river) of the Carthaginian army. Hasdrubal was given about 6,500 cavalry as opposed to Hanno
Hanno, son of Bomilcar
Hanno, son of Bomilcar, was a Carthaginian officer in the Second Punic War, and nephew of Hannibal Barca, Carthages leading General as his mother was one of Hannibals three elder sisters. When Hannibal's army reached the Western bank of the Rhône River they began preparations to cross. A group of...
's 3,500 Numidians. Hasdrubal's force was able to quickly destroy the Roman cavalry (on the south), pass the Roman's infantry rear, and reach the Roman allied cavalry while they were engaged with Hanno's Numidians
Numidians
The Numidians were Berber tribes who lived in Numidia, in Algeria east of Constantine and in part of Tunisia. The Numidians were one of the earliest natives to trade with the settlers of Carthage. As Carthage grew, the relationship with the Numidians blossomed. Carthage's military used the Numidian...
. Once the Romans' allied cavalry was destroyed Hanno and Hasdrubal were able to lead both cavalries into the Roman infantry's rear.