Dominic Sandbrook

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.

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.