Dominic Sandbrook

And I think that that anecdote kind of sums up what seems to have been the mood probably on both sides, which is a kind of a mixture of nervousness and confidence of kind of hesitancy, but also a kind of relish for the big showdown, The World Cup final that is approaching. Everyone knows this is the big one. And I think that probably explains why battle isn't joined immediately.

And I think that that anecdote kind of sums up what seems to have been the mood probably on both sides, which is a kind of a mixture of nervousness and confidence of kind of hesitancy, but also a kind of relish for the big showdown, The World Cup final that is approaching. Everyone knows this is the big one. And I think that probably explains why battle isn't joined immediately.

There's a certain degree of eyeballing. It's the two heavyweight champions kind of standing on the weights and insulting each other and that kind of thing. So one will draw up battle lines, but the other won't respond. Then the other will do it. They're kind of maneuvering this way and that.

There's a certain degree of eyeballing. It's the two heavyweight champions kind of standing on the weights and insulting each other and that kind of thing. So one will draw up battle lines, but the other won't respond. Then the other will do it. They're kind of maneuvering this way and that.

There's a certain degree of eyeballing. It's the two heavyweight champions kind of standing on the weights and insulting each other and that kind of thing. So one will draw up battle lines, but the other won't respond. Then the other will do it. They're kind of maneuvering this way and that.

And Polybius and Livy, when they look back at this, they say, oh, well, this is because Paulus is in command one day and he doesn't want to fight. And then Varro is the next day and he's eager to fight. I don't think that's true. I think it's reflective of... You know, the mixture of anticipation and nervousness that is characteristic on both sides, they're kind of tensing themselves up.

And Polybius and Livy, when they look back at this, they say, oh, well, this is because Paulus is in command one day and he doesn't want to fight. And then Varro is the next day and he's eager to fight. I don't think that's true. I think it's reflective of... You know, the mixture of anticipation and nervousness that is characteristic on both sides, they're kind of tensing themselves up.

And Polybius and Livy, when they look back at this, they say, oh, well, this is because Paulus is in command one day and he doesn't want to fight. And then Varro is the next day and he's eager to fight. I don't think that's true. I think it's reflective of... You know, the mixture of anticipation and nervousness that is characteristic on both sides, they're kind of tensing themselves up.

But it's perfectly clear there is going to be a battle because there's no way that either side can back down. And sure enough, Dominic, on the 2nd of August, 2.16pm, Dawn sees the Romans taking up positions to offer battle and Hannibal rides out to a ridge, looks at it, gives the signal to his men, his general staff who were around him, says, yeah, let's go for this.

But it's perfectly clear there is going to be a battle because there's no way that either side can back down. And sure enough, Dominic, on the 2nd of August, 2.16pm, Dawn sees the Romans taking up positions to offer battle and Hannibal rides out to a ridge, looks at it, gives the signal to his men, his general staff who were around him, says, yeah, let's go for this.

But it's perfectly clear there is going to be a battle because there's no way that either side can back down. And sure enough, Dominic, on the 2nd of August, 2.16pm, Dawn sees the Romans taking up positions to offer battle and Hannibal rides out to a ridge, looks at it, gives the signal to his men, his general staff who were around him, says, yeah, let's go for this.

And it becomes clear to the Romans that Hannibal is going to accept their offer of battle.

And it becomes clear to the Romans that Hannibal is going to accept their offer of battle.

And it becomes clear to the Romans that Hannibal is going to accept their offer of battle.

So the senior Roman officers have already met for their briefing and they've gone out to tell their men what the plan is. The two consuls, Pharaoh and Paulus, have emerged from their headquarters and they are wearing the traditional scarlet cloak that a consul wears on a day of battle. So this is not the Trebia where Hannibal had bounced the Romans into fighting without having breakfast.

So the senior Roman officers have already met for their briefing and they've gone out to tell their men what the plan is. The two consuls, Pharaoh and Paulus, have emerged from their headquarters and they are wearing the traditional scarlet cloak that a consul wears on a day of battle. So this is not the Trebia where Hannibal had bounced the Romans into fighting without having breakfast.

So the senior Roman officers have already met for their briefing and they've gone out to tell their men what the plan is. The two consuls, Pharaoh and Paulus, have emerged from their headquarters and they are wearing the traditional scarlet cloak that a consul wears on a day of battle. So this is not the Trebia where Hannibal had bounced the Romans into fighting without having breakfast.

This time, the Romans have all breakfasted and then leaving camp, they've been able to take up position on ground of their own generals choosing. Now, it has always been a problem for us doing podcasts about battles. Firstly, that it's quite difficult to paint the scene on a podcast. And secondly, that sometimes we're not quite as interested in military dispositions as we should be.

This time, the Romans have all breakfasted and then leaving camp, they've been able to take up position on ground of their own generals choosing. Now, it has always been a problem for us doing podcasts about battles. Firstly, that it's quite difficult to paint the scene on a podcast. And secondly, that sometimes we're not quite as interested in military dispositions as we should be.

This time, the Romans have all breakfasted and then leaving camp, they've been able to take up position on ground of their own generals choosing. Now, it has always been a problem for us doing podcasts about battles. Firstly, that it's quite difficult to paint the scene on a podcast. And secondly, that sometimes we're not quite as interested in military dispositions as we should be.