Dominic Sandbrook

They go right the way back behind the full line of the Roman heavy infantry. And this then means that the front line of the Roman heavy infantry are in a position to advance. This is what's been going on in the opening maneuvers of the battle.

They go right the way back behind the full line of the Roman heavy infantry. And this then means that the front line of the Roman heavy infantry are in a position to advance. This is what's been going on in the opening maneuvers of the battle.

They go right the way back behind the full line of the Roman heavy infantry. And this then means that the front line of the Roman heavy infantry are in a position to advance. This is what's been going on in the opening maneuvers of the battle.

Meanwhile, you've got the cavalry and on the banks of the Ophidius, the river, which is where Hasdrubal's Spanish and Gallic heavy cavalry are facing Paulus's Roman horse, it is all kicking off. And the Carthaginians, even as the skirmishers are still doing their stuff with their javelins and their slingshot and stuff, the Carthaginian cavalry are herring towards the Romans.

Meanwhile, you've got the cavalry and on the banks of the Ophidius, the river, which is where Hasdrubal's Spanish and Gallic heavy cavalry are facing Paulus's Roman horse, it is all kicking off. And the Carthaginians, even as the skirmishers are still doing their stuff with their javelins and their slingshot and stuff, the Carthaginian cavalry are herring towards the Romans.

Meanwhile, you've got the cavalry and on the banks of the Ophidius, the river, which is where Hasdrubal's Spanish and Gallic heavy cavalry are facing Paulus's Roman horse, it is all kicking off. And the Carthaginians, even as the skirmishers are still doing their stuff with their javelins and their slingshot and stuff, the Carthaginian cavalry are herring towards the Romans.

They just pile into Paulus and his men. And there's a story in Plutarch that Paulus is wounded, that he has to dismount, that all his officers around him think, oh, well, he's doing it. We better do it. They dismount. And then the whole Roman army. Force dismounts. And it may be that this is a kind of an attempt by the Romans to explain why it is that the Roman horse put up such a weak show.

They just pile into Paulus and his men. And there's a story in Plutarch that Paulus is wounded, that he has to dismount, that all his officers around him think, oh, well, he's doing it. We better do it. They dismount. And then the whole Roman army. Force dismounts. And it may be that this is a kind of an attempt by the Romans to explain why it is that the Roman horse put up such a weak show.

They just pile into Paulus and his men. And there's a story in Plutarch that Paulus is wounded, that he has to dismount, that all his officers around him think, oh, well, he's doing it. We better do it. They dismount. And then the whole Roman army. Force dismounts. And it may be that this is a kind of an attempt by the Romans to explain why it is that the Roman horse put up such a weak show.

Anyway, they are absolutely swept away. They have not managed to put up a fight at all. Paulus is able to clamber his way into the main body of the infantry. So he is able to survive this route. But I mean, it's very poor on the part of the Roman horse and brilliant for Hasdrubal and his men. who have swept the Roman flank clear. And Hasdrubal does not do a Prince Rupert.

Anyway, they are absolutely swept away. They have not managed to put up a fight at all. Paulus is able to clamber his way into the main body of the infantry. So he is able to survive this route. But I mean, it's very poor on the part of the Roman horse and brilliant for Hasdrubal and his men. who have swept the Roman flank clear. And Hasdrubal does not do a Prince Rupert.

Anyway, they are absolutely swept away. They have not managed to put up a fight at all. Paulus is able to clamber his way into the main body of the infantry. So he is able to survive this route. But I mean, it's very poor on the part of the Roman horse and brilliant for Hasdrubal and his men. who have swept the Roman flank clear. And Hasdrubal does not do a Prince Rupert.

So he doesn't go herring off after the Roman cavalry. He wheels around and he looks at the state of battle and what he decides to do, we will come to in due course. Because meanwhile, in the main field of battle, where the two great blocks of infantry are facing one another, clash point is happening. So what's going on with the infantry?

So he doesn't go herring off after the Roman cavalry. He wheels around and he looks at the state of battle and what he decides to do, we will come to in due course. Because meanwhile, in the main field of battle, where the two great blocks of infantry are facing one another, clash point is happening. So what's going on with the infantry?

So he doesn't go herring off after the Roman cavalry. He wheels around and he looks at the state of battle and what he decides to do, we will come to in due course. Because meanwhile, in the main field of battle, where the two great blocks of infantry are facing one another, clash point is happening. So what's going on with the infantry?

So the Roman young men, but probably the best, the most seasoned, the most proficient in fighting, have been stationed in the front rank. They are smashing their weapons on their wooden shields, kind of terrifying counterpart to these great nodding crests that they have on their helmets. Their armour is brilliantly polished. And on the other side, you have the Spaniards and the Gauls.

So the Roman young men, but probably the best, the most seasoned, the most proficient in fighting, have been stationed in the front rank. They are smashing their weapons on their wooden shields, kind of terrifying counterpart to these great nodding crests that they have on their helmets. Their armour is brilliantly polished. And on the other side, you have the Spaniards and the Gauls.

So the Roman young men, but probably the best, the most seasoned, the most proficient in fighting, have been stationed in the front rank. They are smashing their weapons on their wooden shields, kind of terrifying counterpart to these great nodding crests that they have on their helmets. Their armour is brilliantly polished. And on the other side, you have the Spaniards and the Gauls.

They are holding their position. Remember the front of the bulge, very, very close to the Roman line. They're raising their own war cries. The Gallic war cries in particular, notorious. They also have these trumpets, the carnics, terrifying din. And this is an age where people generally are not used to loud noise in the way that we are in the 21st century. So the din is overwhelming.

They are holding their position. Remember the front of the bulge, very, very close to the Roman line. They're raising their own war cries. The Gallic war cries in particular, notorious. They also have these trumpets, the carnics, terrifying din. And this is an age where people generally are not used to loud noise in the way that we are in the 21st century. So the din is overwhelming.