Battle of Placentia (194 BC)
Battle of Placentia | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of Roman-Gaulish wars | |||||||
Map of Cisalpine Gaul | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Roman Republic | Boii | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Tiberius Sempronius Longus | Boiorix | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
c. 20,000 men in 4 legions | Unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
5,000 killed | 11,000 killed | ||||||
The Battle of Placentia was fought in 194 BC, near
Battle
Seeing the Romans' hesitation, the Boii decided to strike before the two Roman consuls could unite their forces. They advanced on the Roman camp, waited two days for a Roman attack and then launched their own attack on the Roman position simultaneously from all sides. Two legions attempted to sortie out the main
A
The fighting went on until noon, with the Gauls less able to withstand the heat, thirst, and physical struggle. They were finally routed by the Romans and pushed back to their own camp. Sempronius ordered his men to withdraw and not attack the Gauls, but a number of Romans disobeyed his order and stormed the Gallic ramparts. They were quickly defeated by the Boii, who were not impressed by this small force.[5]
The Romans lost 5,000 men killed and claimed to have killed 11,000 Boii. The Boii retreated to the most remote parts of their country, where the Romans could not pursue them due to the forests and marshes. Sempronius retired from the battlefield and led his army to Placentia. According to Livy, Scipio either merged his forces with his colleague's and they plundered the Ligurian and Boii homelands, or Scipio went to Rome for elections and did nothing of note.[6]
Footnotes
- ^ the other being Scipio Africanus
- ^ probably the extraordinarii
Citations
Sources
- Livy, Ab urbe condita libri34.46-48