Battle of Telamon
(225 BCE)
Battle of Telamon (225 BCE) took place in Etruria. It was a defeat of the Celtic troops, which were crushed by the army of two consuls.
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Battles of ancient Rome
Ancient Rome, a state engaged in intense territorial expansion, fought countless wars over the centuries. Well-trained and equipped Roman troops, led by outstanding strategists, were capable of defeating even much larger opposing armies. However, there were also painful defeats, such as the defeat at Cannae and the catastrophe in the Teutoburg Forest.
Rome confirmed its military might as early as the beginning of the 2nd century BCE, defeating the Macedonian army at Cynoscephalae in Thessaly in 197 BCE. Seven years later, at Magnesia in Asia Minor, Roman legions defeated the Seleucid forces – one of the greatest powers of the Hellenistic world – proving themselves to be the superior army in the region. The crisis of Roman military power began to become apparent in the 3rd century CE; As a consequence, the process of “Germanization” of the army and the decline in its combat value contributed to the decline of both the army and the Roman state itself.
Battle of the Trebia
(December 218 BCE)
Battle of the Trebia (218 BCE) was the first great clash between Carthage and Rome in the Second Punic War. The troops of the Republic were completely defeated by Hannibal's army. In this battle, Hannibal first used the tactics that brought him a great victory at Cannae.
Battle of Lake Trasimene
(21 June 217 BCE)
Battle of Lake Trasimene (217 BCE) was Hannibal's second victory over the Romans in the Second Punic War. The ambush led to the massive slaughter of the Romans. Apparently, a nearby stream supplying water to the lake, due to the mixing of a large amount of blood, was called Sanguineto, or "Blood River".
Battle of Cannae
(2 August 216 BCE)
Battle of Cannae (216 BCE) was the biggest defeat of Roman army in history. Manoeuvre from Cannae was an innovative solution of Hannibal, the Carthaginian general.
Battle of Baecula
(208 BCE)
Battle of Baecula (208 BCE) was another victory of Scipio Africanus over the Carthaginian armies in Spain. The battle was important for the further development of Roman war art. Scipio copied Hannibal's tactics, placing stronger troops on the wings, leaving the center to the light infantry.