210 BCE battle of the Second Punic War in which Hannibal's Carthaginians encircled and destroyed a Roman army which was operating against his allies in Apulia
Hannibal's encirclement and destruction of a Roman army at Herdonia deepened Rome's manpower crisis and strained relations with her Italian allies during the Second Punic War.
Key Facts
- Date
- 210 BC
- War
- Second Punic War
- Carthaginian commander
- Hannibal
- Region of battle
- Apulia, Italy
- Years since Hannibal invaded Italy
- 8 years
- Roman recovery timeline
- Within three years, Romans reconquered most lost territories
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Eight years after Hannibal led a Carthaginian army into Italy, Roman forces continued operating in Apulia against his allied cities. A Roman army moved to suppress or recapture territories aligned with Carthage, bringing it into direct confrontation with Hannibal's forces near the town of Herdonia.
Hannibal encircled the Roman army at Herdonia in 210 BC, destroying it in a decisive tactical engagement. The battle demonstrated Hannibal's continued ability to annihilate Roman forces in the field, adding to a string of major Carthaginian victories including Lake Trasimene and Cannae.
The defeat intensified Rome's strategic burden and aggravated relations with war-weary Italian allies. Despite Hannibal's tactical success, it did not permanently check Roman momentum; within three years the Romans reconquered most territories and cities lost earlier and confined Hannibal to the southwestern tip of the Apennine peninsula.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Hannibal.
Side B
1 belligerent