History Memes

Context: During the second Punic War, Hannibal kinda just vibed on the Italian peninsula for 5 years making alliances that weren't very stable and not doing anything except cause chaos.

Eventually he decides to march on Rome in 211 BC making camp about 3 miles away from the roman walls.

There was a cavalry skirmish and serious panic from much of Rome as Hannibal had just delivered some crushing blows to Roman morale during his adventurers in Italy.

However, the march on Rome was mostly a bluff. Hannibal was well equipped and skilled at field combat between armies but had almost no siege capabilities.

So his plan was to march on Rome before their annual army raising ceremonies. Except, he got there the day a 10,000 man army was sworn in.

The romans, however, are stupid and were ready to field an army against Hannibal, but a heavy storm was viewed as a bad omen/auspice by both sides. So they rescheduled for the next day, but it stormed again.

At this point Hannibal made some excuses and decided to leave.

Interestingly. The field he camped in was auctioned off while he was there.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannibal%27s_March_on_Rome