Battle of Lake Trasimene (Italia)

Nick Brungo
Lake Trasimene is a large volcanic lake filled with rainwater in central Italy. The lake is well
known for its large abundance of fish. Lake Trasimene is also well known for the battle in the
second Punic war, when Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca defeated the Romans. Almost
15,000 men died in this horrific battle. It was a horrible defeat for the Romans, losing two
legions in about two or three hours.
In 218 BC, Hannibal crossed the Alps and defeated two Roman commanders, Publius Cornelius
Scipio and Tiberius Sempronius Longusat the rivers ticina and Trebia. The Romans, alarmed by
an enemy this close, allowed Hannibal to invade Etruria, where the Roman infantry would have a
better chance against Hannibals cavalry.
Consul Flaminius was sent to Arretium with 10,000 Roman soldiers, 10,000 Italian auxiliaries,
1,000 archers, 1,000 light-armed men, and 2,500 to 3,500 cavalry. He was tasked with guarding
the western passes of the Apennines. His colleague Servilius guarded Ariminum. A third army
was defending Rome. Wherever Hannibal chose to cross the Apennines, he would meet strong
Roman resistance, and would be trapped between at least two armies.
Hannibal took the western route to Etruria. He crossed the river Arno, and reached Cortona,
going through the country west of Arretium. When he arrived at Cortona, he was south of
Flaminius and his army. This was dangerous on Hannibals part because it exposed his flank to
Roman attacks. Hannibal did this because he needed to force a battle with Flaminius before he
united with the other Roman army. Flaminius, however, was too smart to fall for the bait.
Hannibal moved beside the Roman forces at Arretium. After this, he moved to Perusia to the
east, and Flaminius followed him, making sure to not get too close, because the Carthaginian

cavalry could attack the Roman soldiers following them. As a result of this, the Romans were
blind to what Hannibal was doing.
In the morning of June 24th, 217 BC, Flaminius ordered his army to move from its camp to the
Trasimene Lake to follow an enemy that they believed was half a day to the east. However,
unbeknownst to the Romans, Hannibal and his army occupied the hills surrounding the lake. The
Carthaginian forces were shrouded in the forests and fog around the Lake, and were waiting with
anticipation of the Romans. The Romans realized they had walked into a trap all too late.
The romans could not retreat, as Hannibals men had blocked off every route of escape they had.
The only option they had was to stand and fight. It was the perfect trap. At the very start of the
battle, Flamnius auxilliary forces at the ends of the column were annihilated, leaving the
Romans right and left flanks exposed. After about three hours, the Romans had lost upwards of
15,000 men and Flaminius was dead. This was one of the most devastating and quick losses the
Romans had ever suffered.
Only about 10,000 Roman soldiers managed to escape to safety. The death of Flaminius and the
destruction of his army led to widespread panic and fear in Rome and Quintus Fabius Maximus
became dictator. Using the Fabian strategy, he avoided direct combat with Hannibal and set his
goal to achieve victory through a war of attrition. After this devastating defeat for Rome,
Hannibal wreaked havoc in Italy for most of the next year. Following Fabius' resignation in 217
BC, the Romans moved to defeat Hannibal, but were crushed at the Battle of Cannae.
In conclusion, Hannibal was a skilled tactician and leader, and it showed during battle with the
Romans. He completely outsmarted the Romans at Lake Trasimene, thus blowing them a

horrible defeat. Rome would never fully recover from this, going on to get destroyed at Cannae.
However, the Romans managed to pull through and finally defeat Hannibal at Zama.