Original subtitles

NARRATOR: This was the theatre of one of the most legendary battles

NARRATOR: This was the theatre of one of the most legendary battles

of the Roman era.

In Puglia, the Plain of Cannae is the place of memory

In Puglia, the Plain of Cannae is the place of memory

of a bloody fight on August the second, 216 BCE.

50,000 men would die.

50,000 men would die.

Infantry or cavalry, they could no longer tell.

This was unheard of in antiquity.

The Carthaginian army was coming to challenge

the Roman army on its own turf,

thanks to its military genius, Hannibal.

thanks to its military genius, Hannibal.

The great Carthaginian general would achieve

the incredible feat of leading his troops across

the Alps in winter on the backs of elephants.

the Alps in winter on the backs of elephants.

An extraordinary land odyssey that would contribute

to the myth of the battle of Cannae.

to the myth of the battle of Cannae.

(THEME TUNE PLAYS)

NARRATOR: Hannibal's ghost still roams the Plain of Cannae.

NARRATOR: Hannibal's ghost still roams the Plain of Cannae.

His standing was such that this second Punic war

between Carthage and Rome was also dubbed Hannibal's war

between Carthage and Rome was also dubbed Hannibal's war

after the man who shook the foundations of Roman power.

Even today, General Hannibal exercises a kind of fascination

in the land of Cannae.

in the land of Cannae.

Historians and archaeologists are still seeking to unlock

the secrets of this mysterious warrior.

Among them, Elisabetta Todisco, professor at the University of Bari

who returns to the site of the Carthaginian triumph.

who returns to the site of the Carthaginian triumph.

(TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN)

NARRATOR: This so often romanticised character exuded natural authority.

NARRATOR: This so often romanticised character exuded natural authority.

What is certain, is that from a young age,

he was a budding military leader...

he was a budding military leader...

..thanks to his physical presence, his temperament, and above all,

his tactical know-how.

(TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH)

(TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH)

(TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN)

(TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN)

NARRATOR: Hannibal succeeded his father,

NARRATOR: Hannibal succeeded his father,

Hamilcar at the head of the Carthaginian troops.

The new commander, not yet 30 years old,

The new commander, not yet 30 years old,

was sworn to overthrow Rome.

NARRATOR: Originally, the conflict pitted a maritime empire, Carthage,

against a land empire, Rome.

against a land empire, Rome.

At stake was the economic and political supremacy

of the Mediterranean Basin.

The first war between the two powers lasted 23 years

The first war between the two powers lasted 23 years

from 264, to 241 BCE.

It turned to Rome's advantage and left Carthage weakened.

It turned to Rome's advantage and left Carthage weakened.

(TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN)

NARRATOR: But this time he knew the war wouldn't happen at sea.

He'd have to face the Romans on their lands.

- (crowd cheering)

NARRATOR: The new general Hannibal's first exploit was an insane plan...

NARRATOR: The new general Hannibal's first exploit was an insane plan...

..an unimaginable journey that still continues

to fascinate students of antiquity.

to fascinate students of antiquity.

This is one of the greatest puzzles in history.

The unlikely terrestrial odyssey led by Hannibal

on the backs of elephants, started from Spain,

on the backs of elephants, started from Spain,

crossed the Pyrenees and the Alps to go and confront the Romans

on their territory.

The itinerary of this heroic ride still holds its share of mystery.

How and where did Hannibal lead his troops on foot, horse and elephant.

How and where did Hannibal lead his troops on foot, horse and elephant.

This question still intrigues today.

The same holds true at the Paris Military School,

where Colonel Faudais teaches officers the art of war

where Colonel Faudais teaches officers the art of war

by the great strategist Hannibal.

(TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH)

(TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH)

NARRATOR: Close to 100,000 men set off from Cartagena in Spain

with about 30 elephants.

The troops crossed the Pyrenees, then moved away from the coast.

They suffered a few skirmishes along the way,

They suffered a few skirmishes along the way,

such as when crossing the Rhone.

Historians have long wondered about the route

taken by Hannibal to cross the Alps.

It was on the banks of the Durance, a tributary of the Rhone,

at the entrance to the Queyras massif,

at the entrance to the Queyras massif,

that historian Jean-Pierre Renaud carried out research

to elucidate Hannibal's mysterious transalpine route.

NARRATOR: For Jean-Pierre Renaud, there'd have been 18 days' march

between the banks of the Durance and arrival on the Po Plain.

between the banks of the Durance and arrival on the Po Plain.

- (elephants trumpeting)

NARRATOR: For that, the dizzying Gorges du Guil

seems to be a necessary passage to the peaks of Queyras.

seems to be a necessary passage to the peaks of Queyras.

According to certain historians,

Hannibal moved his troops deep into the gorges.

But perhaps the truth lies elsewhere.

But perhaps the truth lies elsewhere.

Another possible path is this small Roman road

on the mountainside.

NARRATOR: The itinerary proved costly to Hannibal

NARRATOR: The itinerary proved costly to Hannibal

in terms of troops. In addition to accidents and desertions

there were also victims of ambushes,

all clues to the progress Hannibal's army made.

all clues to the progress Hannibal's army made.

These Alpine attackers, identified as "mountain dwellers"

and "barbarians", struck here on the magnificent promontory

and "barbarians", struck here on the magnificent promontory

of Chateau-Queyras once bare rock.

Working from various historical sources,

Working from various historical sources,

our researcher was able to retrace the chronology

of the movements of Hannibal and his men.

NARRATOR: The presence of rocks at the bottom of the valleys

would indicate that these are indeed the spots

where the Carthaginian soldiers were targeted.

where the Carthaginian soldiers were targeted.

A few kilometres further on, our historian rediscovered

an ancient road.

NARRATOR: Hannibal's troops could have reached

the Col de Malaure, to descend towards the Po Valley

the Col de Malaure, to descend towards the Po Valley

in the autumn of 218 BCE.

NARRATOR: Imagine the progression of such an army,

with more than 80,000 infantry,

with more than 80,000 infantry,

(despite the losses),

more than 10,000 cavalry and elephants

whose contingent was reduced over the course of the expedition.

whose contingent was reduced over the course of the expedition.

A challenge for all concerned.

Winter was near and the first snowflakes accompanied

Hannibal's troops on the road to the summit.

This is the famous Col de Malaure, at an altitude of 2,500 metres.

This is the famous Col de Malaure, at an altitude of 2,500 metres.

(TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH)

(TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH)

NARRATOR: Hannibal's mission was successful.

But at what cost?

Did the Punic leader exhaust his troops during this unusual,

gruelling raid before going to challenge the greatest army

in the ancient world.

(TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN)

(TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH)

(TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH)

- (battle cry)

(TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN)

NARRATOR: Among these new weapons that improved over time,

NARRATOR: Among these new weapons that improved over time,

the lethal weapon of the Roman heavy infantry

was the Iberian sword brought back from Spanish conquests,

was the Iberian sword brought back from Spanish conquests,

better known as the gladius.

NARRATOR: With battle experience, the shield had also improved;

NARRATOR: With battle experience, the shield had also improved;

it was no longer a wooden defensive weapon,

it was also an assault weapon.

NARRATOR: At its centre, it was fitted with a 500 gram metal ball

allowing the soldier to retaliate.

allowing the soldier to retaliate.

The heavy infantry armour had been strengthened.

The iron chainmail was now lined with a protective layer of leather.

The iron chainmail was now lined with a protective layer of leather.

The Roman army therefore seemed invincible.

Hannibal had to devise a manoeuvre to exploit

his enemies slightest weakness.

his enemies slightest weakness.

The incredible crossing of the Alps had clearly diminished Hannibal,

The incredible crossing of the Alps had clearly diminished Hannibal,

who left Carthage at the head of 100,000 men.

He left the Alps with only a quarter of his troops,

26,000 infantry and cavalry combined.

(TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN)

NARRATOR: Though Hannibal's numbers swelled by more than 10,000 men

going into future battles, symbolically, he was deprived

going into future battles, symbolically, he was deprived

of the weapon that contributed most to his mythology,

the elephant.

NARRATOR: Hannibal's military genius was revealed to the Romans

during the battles that marked his descent of the peninsula.

during the battles that marked his descent of the peninsula.

After his first successes in Ticino and Trebia in winter,

Lake Trasimeno was the scene of a tactical demonstration

Lake Trasimeno was the scene of a tactical demonstration

ten months before the big clash between the two armies in Cannae.

Giovanni Brizzi is the author of the latest theory

on the course of the Battle of Trasimeno.

on the course of the Battle of Trasimeno.

NARRATOR: According to Professor Brizzi's thesis,

the Roman troops were marching here along the lake

when they were attacked on their flank

by the Carthaginian infantrymen posted on the reliefs.

by the Carthaginian infantrymen posted on the reliefs.

This first offensive wave was followed by a second assault

This first offensive wave was followed by a second assault

a few hundred metres further on, this time by Hannibal's cavalry,

charging down from the neighbouring hill.

charging down from the neighbouring hill.

The Roman army was therefore cornered with no escape

as the lake blocked all chance of flight.

as the lake blocked all chance of flight.

The casualties were considerable.

The only remnants of this conflict are these funerary pits

The only remnants of this conflict are these funerary pits

dug into the hill, intended to cremate the remains

of the many victims estimated to be more than 16,000

on the Roman side.

on the Roman side.

This latest massacre sends a clear message

throughout the ancient world.

throughout the ancient world.

Hannibal had found the solution to thwarting

the supposed superiority of the Roman army.

NARRATOR: Was the Roman army therefore doomed to suffer

the tactical superiority of Hannibal

as the great battle of this second Punic war loomed?

NARRATOR: 11 months later, in the summer of 216 BCE,

500 kilometres to the south of Trasimeno,

500 kilometres to the south of Trasimeno,

not far from the Adriatic Sea,

Hannibal, the strategist, would deploy a new, unstoppable tactic.

Hannibal, the strategist, would deploy a new, unstoppable tactic.

The first reflex of a good strategist is the choice

of battlefield.

of battlefield.

It would be the Plain of Puglia, close to Bari and Barletta.

For Giuliano Volpi, professor of archaeology

For Giuliano Volpi, professor of archaeology

at the University of Bari, the choice was significant

in the progression of Hannibal's troops.

(TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN)

NARRATOR: To Hannibal, parking his troops in the Ofanto Plain

offered another decisive advantage.

offered another decisive advantage.

NARRATOR: The choice of combat zone wasn't guided solely

by logistical needs.

It was also a tactical choice.

Hannibal's cavalry was his sharpest weapon,

and he had to choose a terrain on which it would be decisive.

(TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN)

NARRATOR: This was the theatre for the Battle of Cannae.

From the hill of the archaeological site

extends this vast plain which 2,000 years on

extends this vast plain which 2,000 years on

has still not revealed all its secrets.

NARRATOR: The site of Cannae had to be a place of redemption

NARRATOR: The site of Cannae had to be a place of redemption

for the Roman army.

Because the configuration of this vast flat area was,

in theory, adapted to its strength and to its volume,

in theory, adapted to its strength and to its volume,

as never before had Rome mobilised so many men on a battlefield.

NARRATOR: However, the Roman consul, Emilio Paolo,

NARRATOR: However, the Roman consul, Emilio Paolo,

against the advice of his peers, was convinced that he could

defeat Hannibal on this ground.

And he had good reason to think so...

And he had good reason to think so...

NARRATOR: Hannibal had no course of action other than his war tricks.

NARRATOR: Hannibal had no course of action other than his war tricks.

He offset his numerical inferiority with his ability

to adapt to the terrain.

to adapt to the terrain.

NARRATOR: Hannibal would dream up a Machiavellian trick

to annihilate his adversaries.

(TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH)

(TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH)

NARRATOR: Hannibal's problem seemed insurmountable.

How to defeat 86,000 legionnaries with almost three times fewer men.

How to defeat 86,000 legionnaries with almost three times fewer men.

He set up a strategy that was, to say the least, bold.

He set up a strategy that was, to say the least, bold.

He aligned his army along the entire Roman front.

Its central line pitted just 12,000 men

against 70,000 Roman infantry.

against 70,000 Roman infantry.

This is where his genius came into play.

He installed a convex line with which the legionaries collided

as they advanced on the tip of the Carthaginian line.

as they advanced on the tip of the Carthaginian line.

Upon contact, Hannibal ordered his men to fall back

to deceive the Romans.

to deceive the Romans.

NARRATOR: The Romans were convinced that the Carthaginians

NARRATOR: The Romans were convinced that the Carthaginians

were being routed.

In reality it was they who ran into Hannibal's trap.

NARRATOR: At the centre of the battle,

the Roman infantrymen were therefore squeezed

in this pincer movement.

in this pincer movement.

Almost simultaneously, Hannibal's cavalry began

an encirclement manoeuvre from the sides where both sides' cavalries

an encirclement manoeuvre from the sides where both sides' cavalries

were positioned.

(TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH)

(TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN)

- (battle cries)

NARRATOR: Given the quantity - 10,000 against 6,000

NARRATOR: Given the quantity - 10,000 against 6,000

and the quality of its men,

the Carthaginian cavalry crushed the resistance.

the Carthaginian cavalry crushed the resistance.

The advance of each side's cavalry completed the encirclement

manoeuvre, helped in this by a double lateral noose

manoeuvre, helped in this by a double lateral noose

by the Libyan heavy infantry.

The Roman legionaries were totally encircled.

Their whole fighting technique was affected.

- (battle cries)

NARRATOR: The Battle of Cannae lasted nine hours.

Nine hours of ruthless confrontation.

Nine hours of ruthless confrontation.

The Plain of Cannae is the cemetery of the Roman Empire

sealing its greatest military rout.

(TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN)

NARRATOR: For months, Hannibal sowed terror

through the peninsula.

through the peninsula.

After the massacre of Cannae,

he was thought to be at the gates of Rome.

But legend has it that the great military chief

But legend has it that the great military chief

and his troops, eager for rest and recreation,

let themselves be tempted by the delights of Capua,

which they had conquered during the winter of 215 BCE.

which they had conquered during the winter of 215 BCE.

NARRATOR: Hannibal's reign would end

on the other side of the Mediterranean

on the other side of the Mediterranean

when the Roman General Scipio, forced him to return to fight

on his own lands in Carthage.

on his own lands in Carthage.

This time, Hannibal would meet a keener strategist than himself

in the fateful battle of Zama in 202 BCE.

in the fateful battle of Zama in 202 BCE.

The end of an era...

and the beginning of a myth.

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