Dominic Sandbrook

But it's also because Aemilius Paulus, the other consul, is the grandfather of Polybius's Roman patron. So Polybius isn't really going to dis Paulus and Polybius is keen to spare Paulus responsibility for this strategy. And Livy also plays it up, casting Paulus as a man who is very sensible, very balanced, very restrained. But I think that this is nonsense.

But it's also because Aemilius Paulus, the other consul, is the grandfather of Polybius's Roman patron. So Polybius isn't really going to dis Paulus and Polybius is keen to spare Paulus responsibility for this strategy. And Livy also plays it up, casting Paulus as a man who is very sensible, very balanced, very restrained. But I think that this is nonsense.

So as with Trebia, I think that both consuls are absolutely set on forcing a battle because why else would they have raised their forces? Why else would they have marched against Hannibal? Why would they go against everything that is instinctual in the Roman cast of mind?

So as with Trebia, I think that both consuls are absolutely set on forcing a battle because why else would they have raised their forces? Why else would they have marched against Hannibal? Why would they go against everything that is instinctual in the Roman cast of mind?

So as with Trebia, I think that both consuls are absolutely set on forcing a battle because why else would they have raised their forces? Why else would they have marched against Hannibal? Why would they go against everything that is instinctual in the Roman cast of mind?

And the reasons that they are set on this course is because they think if they don't wipe out Hannibal, then it absolutely does threaten their hold on Italy. But also they feel it as a massive insult. The Romans do not want to be disrespected. And also they know that if they defeat Hannibal, then that's it. The Romans can survive endless defeats. Hannibal can't.

And the reasons that they are set on this course is because they think if they don't wipe out Hannibal, then it absolutely does threaten their hold on Italy. But also they feel it as a massive insult. The Romans do not want to be disrespected. And also they know that if they defeat Hannibal, then that's it. The Romans can survive endless defeats. Hannibal can't.

And the reasons that they are set on this course is because they think if they don't wipe out Hannibal, then it absolutely does threaten their hold on Italy. But also they feel it as a massive insult. The Romans do not want to be disrespected. And also they know that if they defeat Hannibal, then that's it. The Romans can survive endless defeats. Hannibal can't.

One defeat for Hannibal and the war is over. So I think all of those reasons, you can see why they think that the Fabian strategy served its time, but now enough. Let's crack on.

One defeat for Hannibal and the war is over. So I think all of those reasons, you can see why they think that the Fabian strategy served its time, but now enough. Let's crack on.

One defeat for Hannibal and the war is over. So I think all of those reasons, you can see why they think that the Fabian strategy served its time, but now enough. Let's crack on.

Well, we mentioned the Battle of the Somme. And I know that there's kind of revisionist takes on British First World War generals. But I think there is a slight element of, you know, the conventional idea that, oh, that didn't work. Let's try it again, only with more men. Right. Okay. That's basically what's happening.

Well, we mentioned the Battle of the Somme. And I know that there's kind of revisionist takes on British First World War generals. But I think there is a slight element of, you know, the conventional idea that, oh, that didn't work. Let's try it again, only with more men. Right. Okay. That's basically what's happening.

Well, we mentioned the Battle of the Somme. And I know that there's kind of revisionist takes on British First World War generals. But I think there is a slight element of, you know, the conventional idea that, oh, that didn't work. Let's try it again, only with more men. Right. Okay. That's basically what's happening.

And the reason for that is because the ability to raise enormous numbers of men is what the Roman Republic is all about. And clearly it's something that Hannibal can't do. So the aim is to just raise an army that is so vast that there is no prospect of it possibly losing. So what they do is there are four legions already in the field.

And the reason for that is because the ability to raise enormous numbers of men is what the Roman Republic is all about. And clearly it's something that Hannibal can't do. So the aim is to just raise an army that is so vast that there is no prospect of it possibly losing. So what they do is there are four legions already in the field.

And the reason for that is because the ability to raise enormous numbers of men is what the Roman Republic is all about. And clearly it's something that Hannibal can't do. So the aim is to just raise an army that is so vast that there is no prospect of it possibly losing. So what they do is there are four legions already in the field.

So there were the two legions that had been left in the field after Lake Trasimene under the command of the consul who hadn't been wiped out, which Fabius had then taken over. And he had then recruited two further legions. So that's four legions. And they have been sent off at the beginning of 218 to shadow Hannibal on the eastern side of the Apennines in Apulia. So they are already in situ.

So there were the two legions that had been left in the field after Lake Trasimene under the command of the consul who hadn't been wiped out, which Fabius had then taken over. And he had then recruited two further legions. So that's four legions. And they have been sent off at the beginning of 218 to shadow Hannibal on the eastern side of the Apennines in Apulia. So they are already in situ.

So there were the two legions that had been left in the field after Lake Trasimene under the command of the consul who hadn't been wiped out, which Fabius had then taken over. And he had then recruited two further legions. So that's four legions. And they have been sent off at the beginning of 218 to shadow Hannibal on the eastern side of the Apennines in Apulia. So they are already in situ.