05-06-2021, 08:45 AM
So far Justin from what you have written, the evidence you presented comes down to “it can’t be, therefore it isn’t. I have to question how well you know the Second Punic War. If you compile the events of the Second Punic War and extract the contradictions, you can only come to one conclusion, and that is what is fact and what is fiction. Take for example the years 212 BC to 210 BC:
In 212 BC, before attacking the Carthaginian camp, Fluvius order his men to leave all their kit and baggage in Beneventum. In 211 BC, before attacking the Roman camp. Hannibal has his men equipped for rapid marching, which indicates they had no personal kit and no baggage wagons. In 210 BC, Hannibal, marched with his army unencumbered by baggage to Herdonea.
In 212 BC, Hanno’s camp lacked military discipline. In 212 BC, Fluvius’ men at Herdonea lacked military discipline.
In 212 BC, the praetor Fluvius’ was accused of not having his camp in a defensive position. During his trial, the praetor Gnaeus Fulvius Flaccus declared in his defence that his camp was not positioned on unfavourable ground. In 210 BC, the proconsul Gnaeus Fulvius Centumalus camped in a position not sufficiently protected, and the camp was not in a proper state of defence.
In 212 BC, the praetor Fluvius’ was described as being incompetent. In 210 BC, the proconsul Gnaeus Fulvius Centumalus was described as being a careless commander.
In 212 BC and 211 BC, both camps were surprised when attacked. In 212 BC and 211 BC, the attackers, be it Carthaginian or Roman are fighting uphill.
In 212 BC, a Roman cohort broke into the Carthaginian camp. In 211 BC, a Carthaginian cohort broke into the Roman camp.
In 212 BC, Vibius Accaus, the prefect of the Paelignian cohort threw a standard into the Carthaginians fortifications and threatened his men with a curse if they did not retrieve it. In 211 BC, Q. Navius a leading centurion took a standard from the second maniple and threatened to throw it into the mists of the Carthaginians if his men did not follow him.
In 212 BC, the primus centurion of the princeps (T. Pedanius) takes a standard and when his men follow, victory is gained. In 211 BC, M. Atilius lead the leading maniple of the sixth legion, and when his men follow, victory is gained.
In 212 BC, when attacking the Carthaginian camp, as the defence was stubborn, Fluvius ordered his men to retire. In 211 BC, when attacking the Roman camp, as the defense was stubborn, Hannibal ordered his men to retire. In response, Fluvius ordered his men not to pursue the retiring Carthaginians but to retire.
In 212 BC, Hannibal had 3,000 light infantry at Herdonea. In 211 BC, during the siege of Capau, the Campanians, Hannibal’s allies, incur 3,000 casualties, while Hannibal’s losses are given at 8,000 men killed. In 210 BC, at Herdonea 8,000 Romans are killed.
In 211 BC, the Roman sixth legion at Capua is disordered. In 210 BC, the Roman sixth legion at Herdonea is disordered.
In 211 BC, at Capua, in Livy’s account, Hannibal attacks one side of the Roman lines, while the Capuans attack the other side. In 210 BC at Herdonea, in Livy’s account, Hannibal had one cavalry division attack the Roman camp and the other cavalry division attackwd the rear of the Roman lines. In 211 BC, Polybius has Hannibal surround the Roman camp of Appius Claudius, whereas Livy has Hannibal in combat with Fulvius.
