List of battles of the Second Punic War

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This is an incomplete list of battles of the Second Punic War, showing the battles on the Italian peninsula and some in Africa, in Sicily and Hispania.

List

• 218 BC
  • Summer: Battle of Lilybaeum – A Roman fleet of 20 quinqueremes defeated a Carthaginian fleet of 35 galleys.
  • Capture of Malta – Roman army under Tiberius Sempronius Longus conquers the Carthaginian-held island of Malta.
  • August – Hannibal conquered Catalonia.
  • September- Hannibal defeated the Gaul Volcae tribe in the Battle of Rhone Crossing.
  • October: Hannibal's army defeated Gauls in two battles while crossing the Alps.
  • November: Battle of the Ticinus – Hannibal defeated the Romans under Publius Cornelius Scipio the Elder in a small cavalry skirmish.
  • December: Battle of the Trebia – Hannibal defeated the Romans under Tiberius Sempronius Longus, who had foolishly attacked.
  • Late year: Battle of Cissa – Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus defeated Hanno. Iberia north of the Ebro River came under Roman control.
• 217 BC
  • Spring: Battle of Ebro River – A Roman fleet, aided by ships from Massilia, surprised and defeated the Iberian contingent of the Carthaginian fleet.
  • 21 June: Battle of Lake Trasimene – In an ambush, Hannibal destroyed the Roman army of Gaius Flaminius, who was killed.
  • September: Battle of Ager Falernus – Hannibal was trapped by Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus in Ager Falernus, but he managed to escape.
  • Autumn: Battle of Geronium – Hannibal trapped and inflicted severe losses on a Roman army under Marcus Minucius Rufus. The timely intervention of the Dictator Quintus Fabius Maximus saved the Romans from another disaster.
• 216 BC
  • August: Battle of Cannae – Hannibal destroyed the Roman army led by Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Gaius Terentius Varro in what is considered one of the great masterpieces of the tactical art.
  • Late year: Battle of Silva Litana – The Gallic Boii wiped out a Roman army under Lucius Postumius Albinus.
  • Late year: First Battle of Nola – Roman general Marcus Claudius Marcellus held off an attack by Hannibal.
• 215 BC
  • Spring: Battle of Dertosa – Hasdrubal Barca is defeated by the Scipio brothers. The Romans raided Carthaginian territory south of the Ebro river.
  • August: Second Battle of Nola – Marcellus again repulsed an attack by Hannibal.
  • Late year: Battle of Decimomannu – A Carthaginian expedition under Hasdrubal the Bald is defeated near Caralis in Sardinia.
  • A Roman fleet under Titus Otacilius Crassus defeated a Carthaginian fleet near Sardinia.
• 214 BC
  • Third Battle of Nola – Marcellus fought an inconclusive battle with Hannibal.
  • Battle of Beneventum – Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus's slave legions defeat Hanno (son of Bomilcar) and, therefore, deny Hannibal his reinforcements.
• 213 BC
  • The Siege of Syracuse begins.
• 212 BC
  • March: Battle of Tarentum – Hannibal, after careful planning and collaboration from the Greek populace, takes the city of Tarentum in a daring night raid. The Romans continue to hold the Citadel at the mouth of the port.
  • May: Battle of Beneventum – Quintus Fulvius Flaccus defeats Hanno.
  • First Battle of Capua – Hannibal defeated the consuls Q. Fulvius Flaccus and Appius Claudius, but the Roman army escaped. Siege of Capua temporarily lifted.
  • Battle of the Silarus – Hannibal destroyed the army of the Roman praetor M. Centenius Penula in Campania.
  • First Battle of Herdonia – Hannibal destroyed the Roman army of the praetor Gnaeus Fulvius in Apulia.
  • The Siege of Syracuse ends with the fall of the city. Archimedes is accidentally slain.
• 211 BC
  • Battle of the Upper Baetis – Publius Cornelius Scipio and Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus were killed in battle with Hasdrubal Barca.
  • Siege of Capua – The Romans besiege and capture the city.
• 210 BC
  • Second Battle of Herdonia – Hannibal destroyed the Roman army of Fulvius Centumalus, who was killed.
  • Battle of Numistro – Hannibal fights Marcellus once more.
  • Battle of Sapriportis – The Tarentine Greek navy defeated a Roman squadron trying to reinforce the Citadel.
• 209 BC
  • January/February: Battle of Cartagena – P. Cornelius Scipio the Younger captured Cartagena, the main Carthaginian base in Hispania.
  • Spring: Battle of Canusium – Hannibal once again confronted Marcellus in an indecisive battle. Marcellus was recalled to Rome on charges of bad leadership.
  • Assault on Tarentum – Romans under Quintus Fabius Maximus reconquer Tarentum.
• 208 BC
  • Spring: Battle of Baecula – Romans in Hispania under P. Cornelius Scipio the Younger defeated Hasdrubal Barca. Hasdrubal managed to save 2/3 of his army, treasures and elephants and retreat.
  • Summer: Battle of Petelia – Hannibal ambushes and destroys a small Roman force
  • Battle of Clupea – The Carthaginian navy is defeated in a battle off the African coast.
• 207 BC
  • Spring: Battle of Grumentum – Roman general Gaius Claudius Nero fought an indecisive battle with Hannibal, then marched north to confront Hasdrubal Barca, who had invaded Italy.
  • 23 June: Battle of the Metaurus – Hasdrubal Barca was defeated and killed by Livius and Nero's combined Roman army. Is thought by many as one of the most decisive battles in history.
  • Naval Battle of Utica – A Carthaginian fleet of 70 ships is defeated by a Roman fleet of 100 ships near Utica.
• 206 BC
  • Spring: Battle of Ilipa – Scipio destroyed a large Carthaginian army in Hispania.
  • Mutiny at Sucro – Scipio quells a mutiny in Hispania.
  • Battle of Carteia – Romans defeat Carthaginians in Hispania.
  • Battle of Carteia (naval) – Romans defeat Carthaginians in a naval battle near the city of Carteia.
• 204 BC
  • Autumn: Siege of Utica – Scipio's siege of Utica in Africa fails.
  • Battle of Crotona – Hannibal fought a drawn battle against the Roman general Sempronius in Southern Italy.
• 203 BC
  • Battle of Insubria – Romans defeat Carthaginians under Mago Barca in northern Italy.
  • Battle of Utica – Scipio attacks and destroys a Carthaginian-Numidian army.
  • Battle of the Great Plains – Romans under Scipio defeated the Carthaginian army of Hasdrubal Gisco and Syphax. Hannibal was recalled to Africa.
  • Battle of Cirta – Masinissa and the Romans defeat and capture Syphax.
  • Battle of Castra Cornelia – Carthaginian fleet under Hasdrubal plunders the Roman supply convoy sailing to resupply Scipio's army in Africa near Utica.
• 202 BC
  • 19 October: Battle of Zama – Scipio Africanus Major decisively defeated Hannibal in North Africa, ending the Second Punic War.