Selected Battles
Claudine Forks 321 BC (2nd Samnite War)
Rome had become convinced of her invincibility in battle and as a result
may have become overconfident. In 321 BC,
an army led by Consuls Postumius and Calvinus advanced deep into enemy
territory. The Samnites retreated before them, not daring to fight the
Legions in open battle, and patiently waited for a more favorable
situation. At the pass known as Claudine Forks, their commander,
Pontius, judged that such a moment had come.
Battle of Cannae 216 BC (2nd Punic War)
In the spring of 216 BC, Hannibal broke his winter camp and seized the
large Roman supply depot at Cannae. The Consults, Varro and Paullus,
responded to this new outrage and marched with upwards of 80,000 men,
arriving at Cannae in early August. Hannibal’s army was quite diverse
and consisted of contingents from various nations. In total, they
amounted to no more than 40,000 men, but they were all seasoned veterans
and did not know the meaning of defeat. The die was cast and on the 2nd
of August, 216 BC, the matter would be resolved once and for all.
Battle of Zama 202 BC (2nd Punic War)
By 202 BC the tide of war had swung strongly in favor of Rome for at
last they had found a general who was the equal of Hannibal. Scipio
marched his Roman forces south, defeating the Carthaginian armies and
ejecting them from Spain entirely. He then crossed into North Africa and
destroyed two additional Carthaginian armies that were sent against him.
The Carthaginians realized that their predicament was fast becoming
desperate, and so Hannibal was recalled from Italy. The scene was set,
and on the 19th of October 202 BC the two armies came face to face on
the plain of Zama. The result of the forthcoming battle would reshape
world history.
Siege of Alesia 52 BC (Caesar’s Gallic War)
Vercingetorix, Chieftain of the Averni had witnessed the execution of
his own father, Celtillus, for trying to unite the Gallic tribes against
Rome. He was no less ambitious than Celtillus and wanted to avenge his
father’s death. Early in September 52 BC, near the town of Divio (modern
Dijon) his opportunity arose and he ambushed a Roman column. He had
hoped to surprise them before they could deploy for battle but the
attack failed and he was forced to retire to the fortified town of
Alesia deep inside central Gaul thus setting the stage for the marathon
siege of a nearly impregnable fortress.
The Battle of Philippi 44/42 BC
With the battle of Philippi the Dictator, Caesar gained total control of
Rome. On March 44 the conspirators crowded around Caesar and the Emperor
was assassinated by Brutus. Gaius Caesar Octavianus, Caesar’s nephew was
named first Emperor and his name became Augusto. Anthony and Octavian
battled against Julius Caesar’s assassins, Marcus Brutus and Gaius
Cassius Longinus, in 42 BC, at Philippi. The Second Triumvirate declared
this civil war to avenge Julius Caesar’s murder.
