First battle of Tarentum

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Coordinates: 40 ° 28 ′ 0 ″  N , 17 ° 14 ′ 0 ″  E

First battle of Tarentum
Rome against Taranto location-fr.png
date 212 BC Chr.
place Tarentum in Italy
output Carthaginian victory
Parties to the conflict

Roman Empire

Carthage

Commander

Marcus Livius

Hannibal

Troop strength
5,000 legionaries 10,000 foot troops
losses

almost whole army

few

Second Punic War (218–201 BC)

The First Battle of Tarentum occurred in 212 BC. Between Rome and Carthage .

prehistory

After the defeats at Nola and Beneventum, Hannibal had withdrawn to southern Italy and was approaching the sparsely occupied Roman city of Tarentum (today's Tarentum ). The residents knew that the 5,000-strong Roman garrison under the leadership of the young and inexperienced Marcus Livius had no chance against the 10,000 Carthaginian warriors. Fearing a possible act of revenge by Hannibal against everything Roman, the inhabitants of Tarentum decided to overflow to the Carthaginian side.

The battle

When Hannibal approached and set up camp in front of the city, some residents opened the city gates at night. The Carthaginians saw the chance at once and hurriedly raised their army to march towards the city. A Roman guard noticed the betrayal and killed the culprit, but it was too late and Marcus Livius had to enter into a most unfavorable battle in front of the city wall. But the Romans were inferior to the Carthaginian infantry and fled back to the city. Hannibal occupied the city and had almost the entire occupation of the city executed. The short battle was won for the Carthaginians.

consequences

Tarentum remained in Carthaginian hands for three years until the Romans recaptured it at the Second Battle of Tarentum .

literature