Dominic Sandbrook

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.

And so it's not surprising that the moment that the skirmishers are out of the way, the Romans charge. They're thinking, you know, let's get this over and done with. The sooner this is done, the better for all concerned. So the Hastati, they advance. The front ranks, probably the front two or three, because, you know, they don't want to start hitting their own men with javelins. They hurl them.

And so it's not surprising that the moment that the skirmishers are out of the way, the Romans charge. They're thinking, you know, let's get this over and done with. The sooner this is done, the better for all concerned. So the Hastati, they advance. The front ranks, probably the front two or three, because, you know, they don't want to start hitting their own men with javelins. They hurl them.

And so it's not surprising that the moment that the skirmishers are out of the way, the Romans charge. They're thinking, you know, let's get this over and done with. The sooner this is done, the better for all concerned. So the Hastati, they advance. The front ranks, probably the front two or three, because, you know, they don't want to start hitting their own men with javelins. They hurl them.

The effect of this is less effective than normal because effectively they, you know, because of the bulge of the Carthaginian line, They can't actually reach most of the Carthaginian front line with their spears. And then they charge, and the hope is that they will be able to break the enemy so that they just go running away, and then the killing can start. But this doesn't happen.

The effect of this is less effective than normal because effectively they, you know, because of the bulge of the Carthaginian line, They can't actually reach most of the Carthaginian front line with their spears. And then they charge, and the hope is that they will be able to break the enemy so that they just go running away, and then the killing can start. But this doesn't happen.

The effect of this is less effective than normal because effectively they, you know, because of the bulge of the Carthaginian line, They can't actually reach most of the Carthaginian front line with their spears. And then they charge, and the hope is that they will be able to break the enemy so that they just go running away, and then the killing can start. But this doesn't happen.

The Spaniards and Gauls hold their positions, partly because they're very seasoned veterans by this point, partly because Hannibal and Mago is there with them in the front rank. And partly because they just hate the Romans and probably they trust in Hannibal that his strategy is going to work and that they're going to have their vengeance.

The Spaniards and Gauls hold their positions, partly because they're very seasoned veterans by this point, partly because Hannibal and Mago is there with them in the front rank. And partly because they just hate the Romans and probably they trust in Hannibal that his strategy is going to work and that they're going to have their vengeance.

The Spaniards and Gauls hold their positions, partly because they're very seasoned veterans by this point, partly because Hannibal and Mago is there with them in the front rank. And partly because they just hate the Romans and probably they trust in Hannibal that his strategy is going to work and that they're going to have their vengeance.

They understand also how important a role that they have, how important it is that they maintain their position for as long as they possibly can. And Daly in his book explains why it was absolutely necessary for the peculiar crescent formation to be maintained. so that the thin horns of the crescent, so that's the two flanks, would be kept out of the fighting for as long as possible.

They understand also how important a role that they have, how important it is that they maintain their position for as long as they possibly can. And Daly in his book explains why it was absolutely necessary for the peculiar crescent formation to be maintained. so that the thin horns of the crescent, so that's the two flanks, would be kept out of the fighting for as long as possible.

They understand also how important a role that they have, how important it is that they maintain their position for as long as they possibly can. And Daly in his book explains why it was absolutely necessary for the peculiar crescent formation to be maintained. so that the thin horns of the crescent, so that's the two flanks, would be kept out of the fighting for as long as possible.

Because if the troops there broke early in the battle, the entire Carthaginian plan would collapse. So in other words, it's vital for Hannibal that the Roman forces are funneled into the centre so that they can go into the kind of the mouth of these two Libyan jaws that are waiting to snap shut on them. It's a very kind of grinding clash, It's kind of man on man.

Because if the troops there broke early in the battle, the entire Carthaginian plan would collapse. So in other words, it's vital for Hannibal that the Roman forces are funneled into the centre so that they can go into the kind of the mouth of these two Libyan jaws that are waiting to snap shut on them. It's a very kind of grinding clash, It's kind of man on man.

Because if the troops there broke early in the battle, the entire Carthaginian plan would collapse. So in other words, it's vital for Hannibal that the Roman forces are funneled into the centre so that they can go into the kind of the mouth of these two Libyan jaws that are waiting to snap shut on them. It's a very kind of grinding clash, It's kind of man on man.

And effectively, the whole line is this kind of series of duels between Gauls and Spaniards against Romans. The Romans and the Spaniards are both armed with stabbing swords, so they're aiming at the abdomen. The Gauls have slashing swords, so they're aiming at the shoulders.

And effectively, the whole line is this kind of series of duels between Gauls and Spaniards against Romans. The Romans and the Spaniards are both armed with stabbing swords, so they're aiming at the abdomen. The Gauls have slashing swords, so they're aiming at the shoulders.

And effectively, the whole line is this kind of series of duels between Gauls and Spaniards against Romans. The Romans and the Spaniards are both armed with stabbing swords, so they're aiming at the abdomen. The Gauls have slashing swords, so they're aiming at the shoulders.

And most of the wounds, because both sides have shields, are probably to parts of the body that aren't protected by either the shield or by armour. So that's heads... legs, sword arms. If you get too many wounds on your leg or your arm or to your head, then obviously you start to weaken. You might lose your balance, your ability to continue fighting. You might fall to the ground.