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BC Battle of Lake Trasimene: Carthaginian general Hannibal defeats a Roman army headed by Consul Gaius Flaminius during

BC Battle of Lake Trasimene: Carthaginian general Hannibal defeats a Roman army headed by Consul Gaius Flaminius during the Second Punic War; Flaminius is killed

The Battle of Lake Trasimene was fought when a Carthaginian force under Hannibal ambushed a Roman army commanded by Gaius Flaminius on 21 June 217 BC, during the Second Punic War. The battle took place on the north shore of Lake Trasimene, to the south of Cortona, and resulted in a heavy defeat for the Romans.

War had broken out between Rome and Carthage early in 218 BC. Hannibal, ruler of the Carthaginian territories in south-east Iberia, marched an army through Gaul, crossed the Alps and arrived in Cisalpine Gaul (northern Italy) later that year.

Historical Significance

The Battle of Lake Trasimene was fought when a Carthaginian force under Hannibal ambushed a Roman army commanded by Gaius Flaminius on 21 June 217 BC, during the Second Punic War.

Events Before

  1. Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies in Eboracum (York) in England, leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two qua

    Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies in Eboracum (York) in England, leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons, Caracalla and Geta

  2. BC A temple dedicated to Venus Erycina is built on Capitoline Hill to commemorate the Roman defeat at Lake Trasimene

    BC A temple dedicated to Venus Erycina is built on Capitoline Hill to commemorate the Roman defeat at Lake Trasimene

  3. BC Second Punic War: Battle of Cannae - Carthaginian army led by Hannibal defeats a numerically superior Roman army unde

    BC Second Punic War: Battle of Cannae - Carthaginian army led by Hannibal defeats a numerically superior Roman army under the command of consuls Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Gaius Terentius Varro

Events After

  1. BC Battle of the Trebia: Hannibal's Carthaginian army heavily defeats Roman forces on Italian soil during the Second Pun

    BC Battle of the Trebia: Hannibal's Carthaginian army heavily defeats Roman forces on Italian soil during the Second Punic War

  2. 7th recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet

    7th recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet

  3. Batavian soldiers consecrate an altar to Hercules Magusanus in Rome

    Batavian soldiers consecrate an altar to Hercules Magusanus in Rome

  4. Liu Bei, a Chinese warlord and member of the Han royal house, declares himself Emperor of Shu-Han, claiming legitimate s

    Liu Bei, a Chinese warlord and member of the Han royal house, declares himself Emperor of Shu-Han, claiming legitimate succession to the Han Dynasty

More from the 210s

Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies in Eboracum (York) in England, leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two qua

Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies in Eboracum (York) in England, leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons, Caracalla and Geta

BC A temple dedicated to Venus Erycina is built on Capitoline Hill to commemorate the Roman defeat at Lake Trasimene

BC A temple dedicated to Venus Erycina is built on Capitoline Hill to commemorate the Roman defeat at Lake Trasimene

BC Second Punic War: Battle of Cannae - Carthaginian army led by Hannibal defeats a numerically superior Roman army unde

BC Second Punic War: Battle of Cannae - Carthaginian army led by Hannibal defeats a numerically superior Roman army under the command of consuls Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Gaius Terentius Varro

BC Battle of the Trebia: Hannibal's Carthaginian army heavily defeats Roman forces on Italian soil during the Second Pun

BC Battle of the Trebia: Hannibal's Carthaginian army heavily defeats Roman forces on Italian soil during the Second Punic War

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on June 21, 217?
The Battle of Lake Trasimene was fought when a Carthaginian force under Hannibal ambushed a Roman army commanded by Gaius Flaminius on 21 June 217 BC, during the Second Punic War. The battle took place on the north shore of Lake Trasimene, to the south of Cortona, and resulted in a heavy defeat for the Romans. War had broken out between Rome and Carthage early in 218 BC.
Why is BC Battle of Lake Trasimene: Carthaginian general Hannibal defeats a Roman ar... significant?
The Battle of Lake Trasimene was fought when a Carthaginian force under Hannibal ambushed a Roman army commanded by Gaius Flaminius on 21 June 217 BC, during the Second Punic War.

Explore More

June 21 in HistoryYear 217