Battle of Telamon

From Open Encyclopedia

Battle of Telamon

Part of Roman-Gaulish Wars

Date:	224 BC
Location:
Result:	Roman victory
Casus belli:	{{{casus}}}
Territory changes:	{{{territory}}}

Combatants

Roman Republic

Gauls

Commanders

Atilius Regulus
Aemilius Papus†

Concolitanus†
Aneorestus†

Strength

40,000 infantry
2,400 cavalry

at least 50,000

Casualties

40,000 killed, 10,000 captured

{{{notes}}}

Roman-Gaulish Wars
Allia – Arretium – Lake Vadimo – Faesulae – Telamon – Cremona – Mutina

The Battle of Telamon was fought between the Gauls and the Roman Republic in 224 BC. The Romans, led by Consuls Gaius Atilius Regulus and Lucius Aemilius Papus, defeated the Gauls, thus extending their influence on northern Italy.

[edit]

Prelude

After the end of the First Punic War and the Pyrrhic War, the Romans had every right to feel pleased with their results. There had been unrest in northern Italy, but the mere appearance of an army had quashed any opposition. The Romans had even decided to close the Temple of Janus in the Forum, something that only occurred when there was peace throughout Roman lands. This was very uncommon indeed.

However, peace never seemed to last. In 225 BC an alliance of Gallic tribes (Taurini, Taurisces, Insubres, Lingones, Salasses, Agones, and Boii) and mercenaries (Gesati) from Transalpine Gaul moved into Etruria through an unguarded pass in the Apennines.

To meet this invasion, the Romans called on the Insubres enemies, the (Adriatic) Veneti, the Patavini, and the Cenomani, who rapidly mobilised defensive forces. Two armies, amounting to 40,000 infantry and 2,400 cavalry, were under the command of Consuls Atilius Regulus and Armilius Papus. The Romans signed the Treaty of Ebro with Hasdrubal, thus ensuring the Carthaginian neutrality in the war. After a battle between the Gauls and a Roman army near Montepulciano, in which the Romans left 6,000 men, the Romans succeeded in outmanoeuvring the Gauls, and forced the invaders towards the coast of Tuscany.

The Gauls were surrounded, trapped. At Telamon, on the coast of Tuscany, they stood back to back and waited for the Romans to approach. The Romans, however, had learned from previous wars with the Gauls, and did not let the headlong rush of Gallic warriors dishearten them. The Gaul hosts fought an obstinate two-front battle. At close-quarter combat Roman legionaries had decisive advantage with their cut-and-thrust swords. The battle was decided by flank attack of Roman cavalry, led by Atilius Regulus. 40,000 Gauls were slaughtered on the spot, 10,000 taken prisoner. Atilius Regulus, commander of the Roman cavalry, was beheaded; Concolitanus was killed in battle, while the other Gaul king, Aneorestus, suicided in order to escape capture.

After Telamon the Romans decided that enough was enough. Northern Italy would have to be secured and the Gauls defeated, a task that would virtually double the area under Rome's direct control. By 220 BC nearly all the Gallic tribes had submitted and Carthage was severely weakened by the loss of one of its main sources of mercenaries. The peace won would not be long lasting.

[edit]