Hannibal famously traversed the Alps in 218 BC invading Italy. He defeated a Roman army at Ticinus in northern Italy recruiting a good many Gauls and other allies in the process.
Rome reinforced Scipio with a second army under the command of Longus and their armies converged near Placentia at the junction of the River Po and Trebia. Hannibal, with approximately 29,000 infantry and 11,000 cavalry, were camped across the Trebia from the Romans. The Romans numbered approximately 16,000 Roman Legionaries, 20,000 allied infantry (most trained in the Roman manner with a contingent of Gauls), and 4,000 cavalry.
Hannibal sent a contingent of light cavalry to harass the Romans who responded by crossing the freezing Trebia in pursuit of the skirmishers. Longus took it upon himself to lead the Roman army who found themselves opposed by the main Carthaginian force.
Initial dispositions with Mago's ambush concealed in the ravine at the bottom right of the photo. |
Continued -