Battle of Lake Trasimene

E71284

The Battle of Lake Trasimene was a major Carthaginian victory in 217 BC during the Second Punic War, where Hannibal famously ambushed and annihilated a Roman army in one of history’s largest and most successful ambushes.

Aliases (1)

Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf battle
military conflict
alsoKnownAs Battle of Trasimene
belligerent Carthaginian forces
Roman forces
casualties heavy Roman losses
light to moderate Carthaginian losses
combatant Carthage
Roman Republic
commander Gaius Flaminius
Hannibal
commandStructure Carthaginian army under Hannibal
Roman consular army under Flaminius
conflictOf Second Punic War
countryAtTime Roman Republic territory
date 217 BC
era 3rd century BC
followedBy Battle of Cannae
geographicalFeature fought near a lake
hilly terrain around Lake Trasimene
historicalPeriod Classical antiquity
historicalReputation one of history’s most successful ambushes
involvedForce Carthaginian army
Roman consular army
killedCommander Gaius Flaminius
location Italy
Lake Trasimene
Umbria NERFINISHED
notableFor ambush of Roman army
one of the largest ambushes in military history
opponentCommander Gaius Flaminius Nepos
Hannibal
outcome decisive Carthaginian victory
partOf Hannibal’s Italian campaign
precededBy Battle of the Trebia
primarySource Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita
Polybius’ Histories
region Etruria
result Carthaginian victory
side Carthaginian side
Roman side
strategicEffect increased Hannibal’s prestige
weakened Roman military position in Italy
tacticalCharacteristic envelopment of Roman column
surprise attack
use of terrain for ambush
typeOfEngagement land battle
year 217 BC


Please wait…