Dominic Sandbrook

And then you think if you're standing in that line, then next to you, there's a gap that's equivalent to five or six men and then another five or six men and then another gap and then another five or six men and then another gap. And then standing behind you, you have maybe it's maybe 30 deep. So when you put all the maniples together, the battle line is maybe 70 ranks deep.

And then you think if you're standing in that line, then next to you, there's a gap that's equivalent to five or six men and then another five or six men and then another gap and then another five or six men and then another gap. And then standing behind you, you have maybe it's maybe 30 deep. So when you put all the maniples together, the battle line is maybe 70 ranks deep.

And then you think if you're standing in that line, then next to you, there's a gap that's equivalent to five or six men and then another five or six men and then another gap and then another five or six men and then another gap. And then standing behind you, you have maybe it's maybe 30 deep. So when you put all the maniples together, the battle line is maybe 70 ranks deep.

So completely terrifying for the enemy. I mean, to be up against a line a mile and a half long that is that deep. But there's also an additional advantage from the Roman point of view, which is bear in mind how raw many of the Roman recruits are. If you have lines that are that deep and you put your best, most seasoned men in the front and the others at the rear, it's very difficult for them

So completely terrifying for the enemy. I mean, to be up against a line a mile and a half long that is that deep. But there's also an additional advantage from the Roman point of view, which is bear in mind how raw many of the Roman recruits are. If you have lines that are that deep and you put your best, most seasoned men in the front and the others at the rear, it's very difficult for them

So completely terrifying for the enemy. I mean, to be up against a line a mile and a half long that is that deep. But there's also an additional advantage from the Roman point of view, which is bear in mind how raw many of the Roman recruits are. If you have lines that are that deep and you put your best, most seasoned men in the front and the others at the rear, it's very difficult for them

For raw, nervous recruits, you might want to run away to do that because you're surrounded by people. There's no way you can escape. And so essentially, it's a way of kind of getting over the fact that perhaps these aren't the best trained troops that you could possibly have.

For raw, nervous recruits, you might want to run away to do that because you're surrounded by people. There's no way you can escape. And so essentially, it's a way of kind of getting over the fact that perhaps these aren't the best trained troops that you could possibly have.

For raw, nervous recruits, you might want to run away to do that because you're surrounded by people. There's no way you can escape. And so essentially, it's a way of kind of getting over the fact that perhaps these aren't the best trained troops that you could possibly have.

We're very similar people, to be fair. I think that's exactly the problem with it. The kind of the manipular system, which normally enables a Roman battle line to be very flexible. These maniples are so deep that actually it's quite difficult and that there's a risk of them crunching up against one another, in which case the flexibility would be completely lost.

We're very similar people, to be fair. I think that's exactly the problem with it. The kind of the manipular system, which normally enables a Roman battle line to be very flexible. These maniples are so deep that actually it's quite difficult and that there's a risk of them crunching up against one another, in which case the flexibility would be completely lost.

We're very similar people, to be fair. I think that's exactly the problem with it. The kind of the manipular system, which normally enables a Roman battle line to be very flexible. These maniples are so deep that actually it's quite difficult and that there's a risk of them crunching up against one another, in which case the flexibility would be completely lost.

And I think Hannibal's aim is to try and apply pressure where it will force the sheer numbers of the Roman legions to come crunching into one another. And in which case its size, rather than being an advantage, then becomes a source of weakness. Right. But it's a hugely difficult thing to pull off. So the Roman plan basically is just a kind of advance and steamroller of the enemy.

And I think Hannibal's aim is to try and apply pressure where it will force the sheer numbers of the Roman legions to come crunching into one another. And in which case its size, rather than being an advantage, then becomes a source of weakness. Right. But it's a hugely difficult thing to pull off. So the Roman plan basically is just a kind of advance and steamroller of the enemy.

And I think Hannibal's aim is to try and apply pressure where it will force the sheer numbers of the Roman legions to come crunching into one another. And in which case its size, rather than being an advantage, then becomes a source of weakness. Right. But it's a hugely difficult thing to pull off. So the Roman plan basically is just a kind of advance and steamroller of the enemy.

Hannibal's dispositions are much more complicated. As usual, like the Romans have done, he stations his infantry in the center and his cavalry on the wings. He has Mahabul, who's in command of the Numidian light cavalry on the right wing. So he is facing the allied cavalry. commanded by Varro.

Hannibal's dispositions are much more complicated. As usual, like the Romans have done, he stations his infantry in the center and his cavalry on the wings. He has Mahabul, who's in command of the Numidian light cavalry on the right wing. So he is facing the allied cavalry. commanded by Varro.

Hannibal's dispositions are much more complicated. As usual, like the Romans have done, he stations his infantry in the center and his cavalry on the wings. He has Mahabul, who's in command of the Numidian light cavalry on the right wing. So he is facing the allied cavalry. commanded by Varro.

On the left wing, so facing Paulus and the Roman cavalry, he's put the Spanish and Gallic heavy cavalry under the command of another very seasoned officer called inevitably Hasdrubal. So this isn't Hasdrubal the handsome. It's not Hasdrubal who's Hannibal's brother. It's another Hasdrubal. I just assume they're all called Hasdrubal, to be honest with you. Yeah, pretty much.

On the left wing, so facing Paulus and the Roman cavalry, he's put the Spanish and Gallic heavy cavalry under the command of another very seasoned officer called inevitably Hasdrubal. So this isn't Hasdrubal the handsome. It's not Hasdrubal who's Hannibal's brother. It's another Hasdrubal. I just assume they're all called Hasdrubal, to be honest with you. Yeah, pretty much.