Battle of Petelia | |||||||
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Part of the Second Punic War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Carthage | Roman Republic | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Hannibal | Unknown | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
5,000 3,000 infantry 2,000 cavalry | 3,500+ | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown |
3,500 2,000 killed 1,500 captured |
The Battle of Petelia was an ambush during the Second Punic War that took place in the summer of 208 BC near Petelia. The Carthaginian general Hannibal surprised and destroyed a large Roman detachment.
In the summer of 208 BC, the Roman consuls Marcus Claudius Marcellus and Titus Quinctius Crispinus ordered a part of the Roman garrison of Tarentum to move up and assist in an offensive against the Carthaginian-allied town of Locri. [1] Hannibal received word from the people of Thurii of the Roman move and laid an ambush along the road from Tarentum with 3,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry. [1]
The Carthaginian force was hidden at the foot of the hill of Petelia. [1] The Romans failed to conduct a reconnaissance and the Carthaginians achieved complete surprise. [1] They killed 2,000 Romans and captured 1,500. [1] The rest of the Roman force fled cross-country back to Tarentum. [1]