Legions Of Rome

Carthaginian Giants

In 218 BC Hannibal Barca military leader of the African state of Carthage, accomplished one of the greatest military feats ever when he crossed the Alps into the North of the Italian Peninsula. He defeated the Roman legion under the general Tiberius Sempronius Longus on the banks of the Trebbia River securing his first victory over the Romans. Hannibal gained his second victory in the year 217 BC ambushing & defeating Gaius Flaminius at the battle of Lake Trasimene.

Rome was outraged, traumatised by this General & his Carthaginian army so much they assembled one of the largest armies the empire had ever seen. Their mission was not only victory but to avenge the defeats they had already suffered.

In the year 216 BC Hannibal absolutely annihilated the Roman consuls Lucius Aemilius Paulus & Gaius Terentius Varro & their legions at the battle of Cannae in South-East Italy. It was an apocalyptic event in Rome's history shattering their resolve & sending shock waves throughout the country. The victory was the third & most decisive battle Hannibal had won on Roman soil.

Although the battle was an utter defeat for the Romans, Hannibal never laid siege to the eternal city of Rome. For the next 15 years, Hannibal won many victories against Rome in Italy. With the death of Hannibal's brothers Hasdrubal & Mago & there attempts to reinforce his army in Italy, his hope of winning the war against Rome was over. Hannibal had no aid from Carthage as his forces were depleting & he didn't have the siege power to overthrow the city of Rome.

Meanwhile, a new consul & commander Publius Cornelius Scipio had raised an army & moved against Carthage on her own soil just as Hannibal had done to Rome. Scipio recruited the surviving soldiers that fought at Cannae & who were forced into exile on the Island of Syracuse in dishonour & disgrace. Scipio offered them a chance of restoring their honour & glory to their names & of course they joined. Carthage called Hannibal back to North Africa to defend her against the Romans. 

The Battle of Zama

Finally, the tides of war were favouring the Romans under Scipio's command & he sought to destroy Carthage & restore glory to Rome.

At the battle of Cannae, the Gods abandoned us
Exiled; As nothing more than ghosts of war
In our darkest nightmares, Hannibal mocks us
Our honour left in tatters will we ever restore

Blessed with redemption
With what valour remains
We hold a tight formation
gazing over our shields across the plains
Eyes widened fixed with concentration

Thundering; The ground
beneath us rumbles with vibration
Our courage untamed
It's our strength that we've forsaken
As mighty African war elephants swell upon the horizon causing a hurricane

Faced against heavily armoured titans
Fear strikes straight through our hearts
Even the horses are frightened
They close in the charge, our lines form apart

What awaits us
when we're cast into the fray
Will we find the strength & courage within us
in the darkness of the day?
Will fear prevail over us
and lead our hearts astray
as death has come to join us
or will we send him on his way

The deafening sound of our Tubicens blast
Sent the pachyderms into a wild frenzied state
Quivering; We hold steadfast
As their spirits filled with rage & hate

Their foul odour stales the air
We close our ranks forming columns tightly
Our courage lost in despair
The beasts stumble blindly
Straight between our lines trumpeting wildly
into our corridors swinging their trunks & tusks mindlessly

As they were cut down others turned to retreat
Their beast masters couldn't keep them tamed
As they swept through their own lines fleeing
Hannibal hope's of success was fleeting

What awaits us
when we're cast into the fray
Will we find strength & courage within us
in the darkness of the day?
Will fear prevail over us
and lead our hearts astray
as death has come to join us
or will we send him on his way

The rushing thunder of horses cloven hooves;
dashing on at racing speeds
like a tidal wave surging, fluently moves
as their commanders take the lead
Their unbreakable resolve proves

Our superior Numidian Calvary light & fast
Stormed their flanks with force
Like a swift sandblast
Screaming; Showing no mercy or remorse
slashing through the enemy, chasing them off the field at last

What awaits us
when we're cast into the fray
Will we find strength & courage within us
in the darkness of the day?
Will fear prevail over us
or lead our hearts astray
As death has come to join us
or will we send him on his way

As our legions moved in unity & order
With the tides of war turning in our favour
We drew our swords at close quarters
Our steel blades clashed the intent of our behaviour

In the melee our forces evenly balanced
Although, we were slowly gaining ground
our hands became embedded, calloused;
bruised by the grip of our sword that we were bound

Yet, still, we sliced & jabbed, stabbing at will
lost in bloodlust fighting on with great exertion
Sweat & blood coursing down our face with every kill
as our adversaries began to turn in desertion

We fought for hours anticipating the end
Fighting on in exhaustion
It wasn't until then a storm appeared to descend
what seemed like misfortune
Coming up on the horizon

Our Calvary returned galloping at full stride
Smashing into the rear of our adversaries
Shaken by the impact magnified;
By their weakened moral & legionaries

What awaits us
when we're cast into the fray
Will we find strength & courage within us
in the darkness of the day?
Will fear prevail over us
& lead our hearts astray
As death has come to join us
Or will we send him on his way

Amidst spear & sword
Bravery falls crushed & dishonour flees concealed
conquest is certainly assured
As they were routed off the battlefield

After the battle of Zama

The Romans won a decisive victory at the battle of Zama & Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus restored honour & glory to Rome.
The defeated Hannibal & Carthaginians accepted the peace terms made by Rome. The superpower Carthage once was is now left to the history books & never challenged Rome again.

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