The world in 216 BC — what happened that year

21 events the sources record for this year, grouped by region.

What happened

Southern Europe (21)

• The consuls follow the Carthaginians, scouting the road, reach Cannae, see the enemy, and pitch two camps (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 22.44)
• When the shout went up the auxiliaries rushed out and the fighting began with the light infantry (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 22.47)
• Lentulus implores the consul not to make the battle more ill-omened by adding his own death (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 22.49)
• The battle of Cannae was as famous as the defeat at the Allia, but because of the enemy's inaction the outcome was less serious (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 22.50)
• After Hannibal forced the small camp to surrender, the wounded and the frightened in the large camp also handed over their camp to the enemy on the same terms (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 22.52)
• Reports said both consuls and both consular armies were gone, and Rome was stunned (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 22.54)
• Right after the victory at Cannae and the plundering of the Roman camp, Hannibal leaves Apulia and moves to Samnium (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 23.1)
• At Capua the pro-Roman Decius Magius is denounced as no friend of Carthage and unworthy of the name of Campanian (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 23.10)
• As the Roman praetor approaches, Hannibal is alarmed, leaves the territory, and goes down to the coast near Neapolis (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 23.15)
• The battle of Nola is judged one of the engagements whose outcome mattered most in the whole war (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 23.16)

More on the map (+11)

Same events recorded in this year

• Battle of Cannae (216 BC) — the same event in Livy, History of Rome, Plutarch's Parallel…

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