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224 BC. The battle of Malaca
224 BC
In his first solo campaign, Hannibal attacked and caught by surprise the advancing Massaliot League units led by Alkaios, one of the chief lieutenants of Diocletos, near Malaca which promptly led to their surrender.
The battle of Malaca
In another storm/night cavalry attack, against Diocletos camp outside of Malaca, Hannibal was repelled after a crossbowman killed his horse. The next morning Massaliot League army resolved to confront Hannibal and marched North from Malaca. Hannibal capitalized on the eagerness of Diocletos and drew him into a trap by using an envelopment tactic. This eliminated the Massaliot League numerical advantage by shrinking the combat area. Hannibal drew up his least reliable infantry in a semicircle in the center with the wings/flanks composed of the Iberian and Numidian horse. The League tagmata forced their way through Hannibal's weak center, but the Libyan mercenaries on the wings, swung around by the movement, menaced their flanks. In another move Hannibal send one thousands light cavalry to harass the Massaliot League artillery. The onslaught of Hannibal's heavy flank cavalry was irresistible until Massaliot League noble “stirrup-war saddle” heavy cavalry confronted them. After several hours the battle ended with no clear winner. Both sides had heavy losses. Diocletos lost half of his thirty thousands troops and Hannibal ten thousands of his twenty two thousands troops.
Roman Republic
In his first solo campaign, Hannibal attacked and caught by surprise the advancing Massaliot League units led by Alkaios, one of the chief lieutenants of Diocletos, near Malaca which promptly led to their surrender.
The battle of Malaca
In another storm/night cavalry attack, against Diocletos camp outside of Malaca, Hannibal was repelled after a crossbowman killed his horse. The next morning Massaliot League army resolved to confront Hannibal and marched North from Malaca. Hannibal capitalized on the eagerness of Diocletos and drew him into a trap by using an envelopment tactic. This eliminated the Massaliot League numerical advantage by shrinking the combat area. Hannibal drew up his least reliable infantry in a semicircle in the center with the wings/flanks composed of the Iberian and Numidian horse. The League tagmata forced their way through Hannibal's weak center, but the Libyan mercenaries on the wings, swung around by the movement, menaced their flanks. In another move Hannibal send one thousands light cavalry to harass the Massaliot League artillery. The onslaught of Hannibal's heavy flank cavalry was irresistible until Massaliot League noble “stirrup-war saddle” heavy cavalry confronted them. After several hours the battle ended with no clear winner. Both sides had heavy losses. Diocletos lost half of his thirty thousands troops and Hannibal ten thousands of his twenty two thousands troops.
- with Lussitani and Vettones lands under control Epiktetos army marched to Carpetani lands to meet with Briccius army.
- While in Africa to recruit more Numibians mercenaries, Hasdrubal was assassinated by a Numidian chief (friend of Carthage)
Roman Republic
- The Romans, led by Consuls Gaius Atilius Regulus and Lucius Aemilius Papus, decisively defeat the coalition of Cisalpine Gallic tribes at the Battle of Telamon thus extending Roman influence over northern Italy. On the Roman side Gaius Atilius Regulus, commander of the Roman cavalry, is killed in the battle. On the Gallic side, one of the leaders, Concolitanus, is captured in battle, while the leader of the Gaesatae, Aneroëstes, kills himself when the battle is lost.
- Sersor
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