The History of Rome: The Republic by Mike Duncan

Author:Mike Duncan [Duncan, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Publisher: Herodotus Press
Published: 2016-06-04T06:00:00+00:00

The Battle of the Metaurus — 207 BC

The Romans were aware of the threat they faced from this second invading army. When Hasdrubal passed into the Po valley, he was immediately shadowed by two Roman legions led by Consul Marcus Livius. Livius kept to the high ground, not having enough troops to openly confront Hasdrubal, but hoping to at least forestall the Carthaginians if they attempted to move further south. Hasdrubal knew there was no army in the area capable of matching him and so moved confidently through the Italian countryside, picking up Gallic allies and waiting for word from his brother on where to meet up.

The other consul, Gaius Claudius Nero, was encamped with his army some 250 miles south keeping watch on Hannibal’s army. He knew that neither his army nor Livius’s in the north could halt the movement of the Carthaginian armies they each shadowed. Only if they were able to concentrate Roman force against one or the other could they hope to prevent the disaster of a combined Carthaginian army. So Nero made a snap decision and embarked on a risky adventure. Leaving a token force in camp to keep up appearances, he ordered the bulk of his army out in the middle of the night and force-marched north to link up with Livius and hopefully annihilate Hasdrubal before Hannibal realized what was happening.

Roman luck held and Nero was able to close the 250-mile gap in a mere seven days, with his troops left behind tending multiple fires and manning round the clock guard duty so Hannibal would believe a full Roman army was still encamped. Nero linked up with Livius and marched his troops into his colleague’s camp at night. Though the Romans tried to keep this arrival secret, word soon leaked to Hasdrubal of the numerically superior enemy he now faced and he attempted to withdraw, making his way along the Metaurus River. The two consular armies took off at once in pursuit and were soon able to trap Hasdrubal’s tired army against the river. The battle that followed turned from an equal engagement into a route when Nero led a portion of his troops around behind the Carthaginians and surprised the rear. Hasdrubal, knowing the end was near, charged into the middle of the battle and died fighting. The hope of a Carthaginian super-army died there on the banks of the Metaurus along with Hannibal’s last hope of conquering the Romans.

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