A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

338 HANNIBAL. HANNIBAL;
ginian general, began to draw together their forces to itsfate, soon after surrendered to the Romains
for the purpose of besieging Capua. Hanno, who Hannibal once more took up his winter-quarters in
was despatched thither by Hannibal with a large Apulia. (Liv. xxvi. 4-14; Polyb. ix. 3-7;
convoy of stores and provisions, was defeated, and Appian, Annib. 38-43; Zonar. ix. 6.)
the object of his march frustrated; and though The commencement of the next season (210)
another officer of the same name, with a body of was marked by the fall of Salapia, which was beCarthaginian and Numidian troops, threw himself trayed by the inhabitants to Marcellus; but this loss
into the city, the Romans still threatened it with was soon avenged by the total defeat and destruca siege, and Hannibal himself was compelled to tion of the army of the proconsul Cn. Fulvius at
advance to its relief. By this movement he for a Herdonea. Marcellus, on his part, carefully avoided
time checked the operations of the consuls, and- an action for the rest of the campaign, while he
compelled them to withdraw; but he was unable harassed his opponent by every possible means.
to bring either of them to battle. Centenius, a Thus the rest of that summer, too, wore away
centurion, who had obtained the command of a without any important results. But this state of
force of 8000 men, was more confident; he ven- comparative inactivity was necessarily injurious to
tured an engagement with Hannibal, and paid the the cause of Hannibal: the nations of Italy that
penalty of his rashness by the loss of his army had espoused that cause when triumphant, now
and his life. This success was soon followed by a began to waver in their attachment; and, in the
more important victory over the praetor Cn. Ful- course of the following summer (209), the Samnites
vius at Herdonea in Apulia, in which the army of and Lucanians submitted to Rome, and were adthe latter was utterly destroyed, and 20,000 men mitted to favourable terms. A still more disastrous
cut to pieces. But while Hannibal was thus em- blow to the Carthaginian cause was the loss of
ployed elsewhere, he was unable to prevent the Tarentum, which was betrayed into the hands of
consuls from effectually forming the siege of Capua, Fabius, as it had been into those of Hannibal.
and surrounding that city with a double line of In vain did the latter seek to draw the Roman:
intrenchments. (Liv. xxv. 13-15, 18-22.) general into a snare; the wary Fabius eluded his
His power in the south had been increased toils. But Marcellus, after a pretended victory
during this campaign by the important accession of over Hannibal during the earlier part of the camMetapontum and Thurii: but the citadel of Taren- paign, had shut himself up within the walls of
tum still held out, and, with a view to urge the Venusia, and remained there in utter inactivity.
siege of this fortress by his presence, Hannibal Hannibal meanwhile still traversed the open counspent the winter, and the whole of the ensuing try unopposed, and laid waste the territories of his
spring (211), in its immediate neighbourhood. But enemies. Yet we cannot suppose that he any longer
as the season advanced, the pressing danger of looked for ultimate success from any efforts of his
Capua once more summoned him to its relief. He own: his object was, doubtless, now only to mainaccordingly presented himself before the Roman tain his ground in the south until his brother Hascamp, and attacked their lines from without, while drubal should appear in the north of Italy, an event
the garrison co-operated with him by a vigorous to which he had long looked forward with anxious
sally from the walls. Both attacks were, however, expectation. (Liv. xxvii. 1, 2, 4, 12-16, 20
repulsed, and Hannibal, thus foiled in his attempt Plut. Fab. 19, 21-23, Marc. 24-27; Appian,
to raise the siege by direct means, determined on Annib. 45-50; Zonar. ix. 7, 8.)
the bold manoeuvre of marching directly upon Rome Yet the following summer (208) was not unitself, in hopes of thus compelling the consuls to marked by some brilliant achievements. The
abandon their designs upon Capua, in order to Romans having formed the siege of Locri, a legion,
provide for the defence of the city. But this daring which was despatched to their support from Tarenscheme was again frustrated: the appearance of tum, was -intercepted in its march, and utterly deHannibal before the gates of Rome for a moment stroyed; and not long afterwards the two consuls,
struck terror through the city, but a considerable Crispinus and Marcellus, who, with their united
body of troops was at the time within the walls, armies, were opposed to Hannibal in Lucania, aland the consul, Fulvius Flaccus, as soon as he lowed themselves to be led into an ambush, in
heard of Hannibal's march, hastened, with a por- which Marcellus was killed, and Crispinus mortally
tion of the besieging army, from Capua, while he wounded. After this the Roman armies withdrew,
still left with the other consul a force amply suf- while Hannibal hastened to Locri, and not only
ficient to carry on the siege. Hannibal was thus raised the siege, but utterly destroyed the besieging
disappointed in the main object of his advance, and army. Thus he again found himself undisputed
he had no means of -effecting any thing against master of the south of Italy during the remainder
Rome itself where Fulvius and Fabius confined of this campaign. (Liv. xxvii. 25-28; Polyb.
themselves strictly to the defensive, allowing him x. 32; Plut. Marc. 29; Appian, Annib. 50;
to ravage the whole country, up to the very walls Zonar. ix. 9.)
of Rome, without opposition. Nothing therefore Of the two consuls of the ensuing year (207),
remained for him but to retreat, and he accordingly C. Nero was opposed to Hannibal, while M. Livius
recrossed the Anio, and marched slowly and sul- was appointed toatake the field against Hasdrubal,
lenly through the land of the Sabines and Samnites, who had at length crossed the Alps, and descended
ravaging the country which he traversed, and into Cisalpine Gaul. [LHASDRUBAL, No. 6.] Acclosely followed by the Roman consul, upon whom cording to Livy (xxvii. 39), Hannibal was apprised
he at length turned suddenly, and, by a night of his brother's arrival at Placentia before he had
attack, very nearly destroyed his whole army. himself moved from his winter-quarters; but it' is
When he had thus reached Apulia, he made from difficult to believe that, if this had been the case,
thence a forced march into Bruttiunm, in hopes of he would not have made more energetic efforts to
surprising Rhegium; but here he was again foiled, join him. If we can trust the narrative transmitted
and Capua, which he was now compelled. to abandon to us, which is certainly in many respects unsatis