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Photo: The Wood Brothers in Italy
From left to right, Ben, Sam and Danny Wood reach Italy in the penultimate leg of their trek.
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Quote: Livy, 'The War with Hannibal', Book XII, 51
"You know, Hannibal, how to win a fight; you do not know how to use your victory."
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Historical Moment: The Battle of Cannae
Cannae was Hannibal's greatest victory and Rome's worst defeat. Hannibal's tactics in this clash are still taught in military colleges today. Polybius estimates Hannibal had close to 40,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry versus the Roman force of 80,000 infantry and 8,000 cavalry.
The armies lined up with infantry in the centre and cavalry on the wings. The cavalry clashed on both wings. The Numidian cavalry inflicted heavy casualties on the Roman horsemen on their side and Hasdrubal virtually destroyed the enemy cavalry on his flank. By this time the Romans had forced their way deep into the enemy infantry line and now the heavy African infantry were aligned on their sides. The Africans turned and attacked the flanks of the Roman force and the Carthaginian cavalry returned to attack their rear.
The Roman infantry was surrounded – Hannibal's 'double envelopment' was complete. The Romans were slaughtered – Polybius estimates that close to 70,000 Romans died at Cannae. This figure stands as the most men ever killed in a single day's battle. -
The Call of the Wild
This programme is part of The Call Of The Wild on BBC Four, a celebration of the great British love affair with the countryside - whatever the weather.
Go to The Call of the Wild site -
BBC TV Blog: Cycling from Spain to Italy via the Alps
Ben Wood on how he and his brothers came to follow Hannibal's trail by bike, and what happened on the way.
Read Ben's blog post at the BBC TV blog
Credits
- Presenter
- Danny Wood
- Presenter
- Sam Wood
- Presenter
- Ben Wood
- Director
- Andrea Illescas
- Producer
- Robin Dashwood
- Producer
- Andrea Illescas
- Executive Producer
- Chris Granlund
- Writer
- Andrea Illescas
