Battle of Cremona (200 BC)
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Cremona was fought in 200 BC
between the Roman Republic
and Cisalpine Gaul
. The Roman force was victorious.
During the end of the Second Macedonian War
, tribes in Cisalpine Gaul
rebelled against the Republic, sacking the city of Placentia. The man governing the area, Lucius Furius Purpurio, following senatorial orders, disbanded all but 5,000 men in his army and took up defenses at Ariminum. Upon the arrival of the consular army of Gaius Aurelius to their aid, the 5,000 soldiers were moved to Etruria
. On the following day, the Gallic army of 35,000, led by a man of the name Hamilcar, began the battle. They attempted to overwhelm the right flank of the Roman army with speed and numbers. Having failed in this task, they then failed to flank both wings of the Romans, for Purpurio had lengthened his flanks and called up legionary support. Now counter attacking all sides, Purpurio's men suppressed the Gallic flanks and broke their center ranks, soon routing the enemy completely and killing or capturing over 35,000, including the commander, Hamilcar.
200 BC
Year 200 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Maximus and Cotta...
between the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
and Cisalpine Gaul
Cisalpine Gaul
Cisalpine Gaul, in Latin: Gallia Cisalpina or Citerior, also called Gallia Togata, was a Roman province until 41 BC when it was merged into Roman Italy.It bore the name Gallia, because the great body of its inhabitants, after the expulsion of the Etruscans, consisted of Gauls or Celts...
. The Roman force was victorious.
During the end of the Second Macedonian War
Macedonian Wars
The Macedonian wars were a series of conflicts fought by Rome in the eastern Mediterranean, the Adriatic, and the Aegean. They resulted in Roman control or influence over the eastern Mediterranean basin, in addition to their hegemony in the western Mediterranean after the Punic wars.-First...
, tribes in Cisalpine Gaul
Cisalpine Gaul
Cisalpine Gaul, in Latin: Gallia Cisalpina or Citerior, also called Gallia Togata, was a Roman province until 41 BC when it was merged into Roman Italy.It bore the name Gallia, because the great body of its inhabitants, after the expulsion of the Etruscans, consisted of Gauls or Celts...
rebelled against the Republic, sacking the city of Placentia. The man governing the area, Lucius Furius Purpurio, following senatorial orders, disbanded all but 5,000 men in his army and took up defenses at Ariminum. Upon the arrival of the consular army of Gaius Aurelius to their aid, the 5,000 soldiers were moved to Etruria
Etruria
Etruria—usually referred to in Greek and Latin source texts as Tyrrhenia—was a region of Central Italy, an area that covered part of what now are Tuscany, Latium, Emilia-Romagna, and Umbria. A particularly noteworthy work dealing with Etruscan locations is D. H...
. On the following day, the Gallic army of 35,000, led by a man of the name Hamilcar, began the battle. They attempted to overwhelm the right flank of the Roman army with speed and numbers. Having failed in this task, they then failed to flank both wings of the Romans, for Purpurio had lengthened his flanks and called up legionary support. Now counter attacking all sides, Purpurio's men suppressed the Gallic flanks and broke their center ranks, soon routing the enemy completely and killing or capturing over 35,000, including the commander, Hamilcar.