Livy, Periochae 21-25

Titus Livius or Livy (59 BCE - 17 CE): Roman historian, author of the authorized version of the history of the Roman republic.

A large part of Livy's History of Rome since the Foundation is now lost, but fortunately we have an excerpt, called the Periochae, which helps us reconstruct the general scope. This translation was made by Jona Lendering.

Chapter
21
22
23
24
25
Section
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
3

From Book 23

[23.1] [216 BCE] The Campanians sided with Hannibal.

[23.2] Mago was sent to Carthage to bring the news of the victory at Cannae. At the entrance of the Senate building, he poured out the golden rings taken from the bodies of those killed in action; it is said that there were a great many of them.

[23.3] After this news, a Carthaginian nobleman named Hanno, argued that the Carthaginian Senate should offer a peace treaty to the Roman people, but he was unsuccessful because the faction of the Barcids protested.

[23.4] At Nola, praetor [Marcus] Claudius Marcellus, made a sally against Hannibal, and was successful.

[23.5] Casilinum was besieged by the Carthaginians and the garrison suffered so much from hunger that they ate thongs, the hides that they had removed from their shields, and even mice.

[23.6] They survived on nuts that were sent down the Vulturnum by the Romans.

[23.7] The Senate was supplemented with hundred and seventeen new members of the equestrian order.

[23.8] Praetor Lucius Postumius and his army were killed by the Gauls.

[23.9] In Hispania, Gnaeus and Publius [Cornelius] Scipio defeated Hasdrubal and made Hispania theirs.

[23.10] The survivors of the army of Cannae were sent to Sicily, and were not to return before the end of the war.

[23.11] Consul Sempronius Gracchus defeated the Campanians.

[23.12] Praetor Claudius Marcellus routed and defeated the army of Hannibal near Nola, and gave the Romans, tired by so many defeats, a better hope for the war.

[23.13] [215] A treaty was concluded between king Philip of Macedonia and Hannibal.

[23.14] Itnote also contains an account of successful fights against the Carthaginians in Hispania, waged by Publius [and Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio, and on Sardinia by] praetor Manlius. They captured general Hasdrubal, Mago, and Hanno.

[23.15] In its winter camps, Hannibal's army got so used to luxury, that it was weakened in mind and body.

[23.3] On Sicily, which had almost completely transferred its loyalty to the Carthaginians, consul [Marcus] Claudius Marcellus besieged Syracuse.