Trasimene
Lake Trasimene, located in the Etruria region of Italy, is the largest lake in the country, covering an area of approximately forty-nine square miles. It is historically significant for being the site of the Battle of Lake Trasimene, which occurred in 217 BC during the Second Punic War. This battle is notable for the strategic prowess of the Carthaginian general Hannibal, who ambushed Roman forces led by consul Gaius Flaminius. Utilizing the natural mist over the lake, Hannibal's troops attacked the Romans from multiple directions, resulting in a devastating defeat for the Roman army, with around 15,000 soldiers killed and many others drowned in the lake. Although Hannibal's victory opened a path toward Rome, he ultimately did not seize the city. The historical and cultural significance of Lake Trasimene continues to be an area of interest for historians and visitors alike, reflecting on its impact on Roman military history.
Subject Terms
Trasimene
Trasumenus
A lake in Etruria, northwest of Clusium (Chiusi), southeast of Cortona, and east of Perusia (Perugia): the largest lake in Italy, with an area of forty-nine square miles. It was the scene of a disastrous Roman defeat by the Carthaginians in 217, early in the Second Punic War. Hannibal, advancing eastward along the north shore, stationed his army in the hills at a point where they came close to the lake (either east or west of Passignano, where the shoreline has now receded), and awaited the approach of the Roman consul Gaius Flaminius, who had marched from Arretium (Arezzo). With the help of a mist, Hannibal successfully ambushed the Roman force, attacking it from the front, rear and flank and killing 15,000 men, including many who jumped into the lake and were drowned. A further 6,000 soldiers, at the head of the Roman column, succeeded in breaking through, but surrendered on the following day. The road to Rome was now open, but Hannibal never captured the city.