Battle of Geronium

Battle of Geronium
Part of the Second Punic War
Butler Italiæ Pars Media (Part South Samnium)
Date Summer to Autumn 217 BC Location Geronium, Molise 41°45′42″N 14°44′00″E / 41.7618°N 14.7334°E / 41.7618; 14.7334 Result Carthaginian victory
Belligerents
Carthage	Roman Republic
Commanders and leaders
Hannibal	Marcus Minucius Rufus Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus
Strength
Skirmish: 20,000 Battle: 50,000	Skirmish: 20,000 Battle: 40,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Skirmish: 5,000 killed Battle: Thousands killed

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The Battle of Geronium (alternatively spelt as "Gerunium" or "Geronium Battle") was a battle in the summer and autumn months of 217 BC fought between Ancient Carthage and the Roman Republic in the Second Punic War. It resulted in a decisive victory for the Carthaginian forces led by the renowned general Hannibal Barca, increasing his confidence while stranded on the Italian Peninsula.

Subsequent to his triumph in the Battle of Ager Falernus, Barca's army proceeded on a northward path before veering east towards Molise, traversing the region of Samnium. Throughout this trek, Barca's movement was closely monitored by the Roman army led by Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, who adhered to his Fabian strategy. This tactic of avoiding direct confrontation with Hannibal's forces was met with increasing discontent in Rome, culminating in Fabius being obligated to make a return to the city. This was ostensibly to perform religious observances, though his actual intention was to defend his strategies against the mounting criticism.

Marcus Minucius Rufus, who was left in command, managed to catch the Carthaginians off guard near their camp in Geronium and inflicted heavy losses on them in a large skirmish, whilst 5,000 Romans were killed. This action caused the Romans, who were disgruntled with Fabius at the time, to elevate Minucius to the equal rank of a dictator. Minucius took command of half the army and camped separately from Fabius near Geronium. Hannibal, informed of this development, laid an elaborate trap, which drew out Minucius and his army in detail, and then attacked it from all sides. The arrival of Fabius with the other half of the army enabled Minucius to escape, but with a substantial number of Roman deaths. After the battle, Minucius turned over his army to Fabius and resumed the duties of Master of the Horse.