Battle of Nola (216 BC)

First Battle of Nola
	Part of the Second Punic War
	; Plan of the first battle of Nola
Date	Late 216 BC
Location	Nola, present-day Italy40°55′34″N 14°31′39″E / 40.9261°N 14.5275°E
Result	Roman Victory
Belligerents
Carthage	Roman Republic
Commanders and leaders
Hannibal	Marcus Claudius Marcellus

The First Battle of Nola was fought in 216 BC between the forces of Hannibal and a Roman force led by Marcus Claudius Marcellus. Hannibal was attempting to seize the town of Nola: He failed to do so, and would make two more unsuccessful attempts on the city over the next two years.

Hannibal moved to capture the city of Nola due to some leaders in the city offering to open their gates to him.^[1] A Roman force under the command of Marcellus arrived before Hannibal and was able to enter the city.^[1] Hannibal camped near the city, and daily skirmishes took place between the two armies. Marcellus learnt that the only support he enjoyed was the senators in the city. Marcellus took action to prevent betrayal by undermining the pro-Hannibal faction in the city.^[1] Marcellus learnt that some leaders in the city had been conspiring with Hannibal, and he discovered that should he make any sortie from the town or draw up for battle outside, they planned on plundering the baggage and closing the gates behind him.^[1] After this, Marcellus decided his situation was not sustainable.^[1]

He took action to protect himself from a revolt, pulled his troops from the walls, and secretly organized them behind the gates.^[1] Hannibal drew up his men in battle order in anticipation of an attack or at least another skirmish. When nothing happened, Hannibal concluded that Marcellus had uncovered his plan and would not dare attempt a sortie with the threat of betrayal. Confident of this, he marched his soldiers forward to attempt an assault on the central gate.^[1] The Carthaginian forces approached with ladders and machines useful for an assault. When they did this, Marcellus sprang his trap and ordered his forces to charge out of the gates and personally lead the centre.^[1] Hannibal's troops found themselves caught off guard.^[1] Hannibal made attempts to change the tide of the ensuing battle; however, when the second line of the Roman troops charged from the gates, it became clear he couldn't win the battle.^[1] After sustaining heavy losses, Hannibal ordered a phased retreat from the field to save his army from further losses. Hannibal gave up hope of capturing Nola and withdrew to a camp near Acerræ. The victory, while not decisive enough to end Hannibal's fighting potential, was a boost to Roman morale.^[1]

The battle was a minor Roman victory.^[1]^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Dodge, Theodore (2012). Hannibal. Tales End Press. pp. 338–345. ISBN 978-0306813627.
^ ^a ^b Bradford, Ernle Dusgate Selby (2014). Hannibal. New York. pp. 118–119. ISBN 978-1-4976-3790-0. OCLC 905885573.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

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[:0-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Dodge, Theodore (2012). Hannibal. Tales End Press. pp. 338–345. ISBN 978-0306813627.

[Bradford_2014_118–119-2] Bradford, Ernle Dusgate Selby (2014). Hannibal. New York. pp. 118–119. ISBN 978-1-4976-3790-0. OCLC 905885573.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[1]

[2]

v t e Battles of the Punic Wars
First Punic War	Treaties Messana Agrigentum Lipari Islands Mylae Thermae Sulci Tyndaris Cape Ecnomus Aspis Adys Bagradas (Tunis) Cape Hermaeum Panormus Drepana Lilybaeum Drepana (siege) Mount Ercte 1st Mt. Eryx 2nd Mt. Eryx Aegates Treaty of Lutatius
Mercenary War	Utica Bagradas Hamilcar's victory with Naravas Carthage The Saw Tunis Leptis Parva
Second Punic War (Battles)	Saguntum Lilybaeum Malta Rhone Crossing of the Alps Cissa Ticinus Trebia Ebro River Lake Trasimene Ager Falernus Geronium Cannae Silva Litana 1st Nola Ibera 2nd Nola Decimomannu 3rd Nola 1st Beneventum Syracuse Heat ray and Claw of Archimedes Sambuca 1st Tarentum 2nd Beneventum 1st Capua Silarus 1st Herdonia Upper Baetis 2nd Capua 2nd Herdonia Numistro Canusium 2nd Tarentum New Carthage Baecula Petelia Grumentum Metaurus Ilipa Sucro Carteia (land) Carteia (naval) Crotona 1st Utica 2nd Utica Great Plains (Bagradas) Cirta Insubria Zama
Third Punic War	Lake Tunis 1st Nepheris Port of Carthage 2nd Nepheris Carthage
Category Military history

See also

References