# 216 BC

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Year **216 BC** was a year of the [pre-Julian Roman calendar](/source/Roman_calendar). At the time it was known as the **Year of the Consulship of Varro and Paullus** (or, less frequently, **year 538 *[Ab urbe condita](/source/Ab_urbe_condita)***). The denomination 216 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the [Anno Domini](/source/Anno_Domini) [calendar era](/source/Calendar_era) became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

## Events

<onlyinclude>

### By place

#### Roman Republic

- The Carthaginian general, [Hannibal](/source/Hannibal), moves his forces southward through Italy and seizes the large army supply depot at [Cannae](/source/Cannae) on the [Aufidus River](/source/Ofanto).[1]
- August 2 – The [Battle of Cannae](/source/Battle_of_Cannae) (east of [Naples](/source/Naples)) ends in victory for Hannibal[2] whose 50,000-man army defeats a [Roman](/source/Roman_Republic) force of 86,000 led by [consuls](/source/Roman_consul) [Lucius Aemilius Paullus](/source/Lucius_Aemilius_Paullus_(consul_219_BC)) (who is killed in the battle) and [Gaius Terentius Varro](/source/Gaius_Terentius_Varro).[3] 50,000-70,000 Roman troops are killed, making this perhaps the deadliest one-day battle in all history.
- A loan of money and supplies for the Roman army in [Sicily](/source/Sicily) is sought and obtained from [Hiero II of Syracuse](/source/Hiero_II_of_Syracuse).[4]
- The Roman historian [Quintus Fabius Pictor](/source/Quintus_Fabius_Pictor) is sent to [Delphi](/source/Delphi) in [Greece](/source/Ancient_Greece) to consult the [Oracle](/source/Delphi#Oracle) for advice about what Rome should do after its defeat in the Battle of Cannae.[5]
- Following Hannibal's victory, many regions begin to defect from Rome, while others are conquered by Hannibal's forces. In [Apulia](/source/Apulia), [Lucania](/source/Lucania), [Samnium](/source/Samnium) and in [Bruttium](/source/Bruttium), Hannibal finds many supporters.[6]
- The city of [Capua](/source/Capua) switches sides to join Hannibal and the Carthaginian army winters there.[5]
- After the defeat at Cannae, Roman general, [Marcus Claudius Marcellus](/source/Marcus_Claudius_Marcellus), commands the remnants of the Roman army at [Canusium](/source/Canusium) and saves the city of [Nola](/source/Battle_of_Nola_(216_BC)) and southern [Campania](/source/Campania) from occupation by Hannibal.[5]
- A Roman force of 25,000 led by [Lucius Postumius Albinus](/source/Lucius_Postumius_Albinus_(consul_234_BC)) is ambushed by Gauls near [Litana](/source/Litana) and almost completely wiped out.[7]

#### Spain

- [Hasdrubal](/source/Hasdrubal_Barca) is ordered by the Carthaginian government to march to Italy.[8]
- Roman forces in Spain led by [Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus](/source/Gnaeus_Cornelius_Scipio_Calvus) and [Publius Cornelius Scipio](/source/Publius_Cornelius_Scipio_(consul_218_BC)) successfully thwart Hasdrubal's attempt to march to Italy.[9]

#### Syracuse

- The [Carthaginian](/source/Carthage) fleet ravages the territory of [The Kingdom of Syracuse](/source/Syracuse,_Sicily).[10]

#### Greece

- [Philip V of Macedon](/source/Philip_V_of_Macedon), still resenting Rome's interference in [Illyrian](/source/Illyria) politics, seizes his opportunity to invade Illyria. Ambassadors from Philip V visit Hannibal at his headquarters in Italy. These actions mark the beginning of the [First Macedonian War](/source/First_Macedonian_War) between Rome and Macedonia.

#### Egypt

- A revolt of the Egyptian peasants is put down by [Ptolemy IV](/source/Ptolemy_IV_Philopator).

</onlyinclude>

## Births

- [Liu Pi](/source/Liu_Pi,_Prince_of_Wu), Chinese prince and general of the [Han Dynasty](/source/Han_dynasty) (d. [154 BC](/source/154_BC))

## Deaths

- August 2 - [Lucius Aemilius Paullus](/source/Lucius_Aemilius_Paullus_(consul_219_BC)), Roman [consul](/source/Roman_consul) and general (killed in the [Battle of Cannae](/source/Battle_of_Cannae))[4] - [Gnaeus Servilius Geminus](/source/Gnaeus_Servilius_Geminus), Roman consul 217 BC (killed in the Battle of Cannae)[11] - [Marcus Minucius Rufus](/source/Marcus_Minucius_Rufus), Roman consul 221 BC, Master of the Horse 217 BC (killed in the Battle of Cannae)[11]
- [Gelo, son of Hiero II](/source/Gelo,_son_of_Hiero_II)[12]
- [Marcus Aemilius Lepidus](/source/Marcus_Aemilius_Lepidus_(consul_232_BC)), Roman consul 232 BC and priest ([augur](/source/Augur))

## References

1. Polybius, [3:107.2–3 The Histories](https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Polybius/3*.html#107)

1. LeGlay, Marcel; Voisin, Jean-Louis; Le Bohec, Yann (2001). *A History of Rome*. Second ed. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell. p. 77. ISBN 0-631-21858-0.

1. Livy, *Ab Urbe Condita*, [22.44–51](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/From_the_Founding_of_the_City%2FBook_22)

1. Livy, *Ab Urbe Condita*, [23.21](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/From_the_Founding_of_the_City%2FBook_23)

1. Livy, *Ab Urbe Condita*, [22.57](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/From_the_Founding_of_the_City%2FBook_22)

1. Livy, *Ab Urbe Condita*, [22.61](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/From_the_Founding_of_the_City%2FBook_22)

1. Livy, *Ab Urbe Condita*, [23.24](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/From_the_Founding_of_the_City%2FBook_23)

1. Livy, *Ab Urbe Condita*, [23.27](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/From_the_Founding_of_the_City%2FBook_23)

1. Livy, *Ab Urbe Condita*, [23.29](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/From_the_Founding_of_the_City%2FBook_23)

1. Livy, *Ab Urbe Condita*, [22.56](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/From_the_Founding_of_the_City%2FBook_22)

1. Livy, *Ab Urbe Condita*, [22.49](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/From_the_Founding_of_the_City%2FBook_22)

1. Livy, *Ab Urbe Condita*, [23.30](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/From_the_Founding_of_the_City%2FBook_23)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [216 BC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/216_BC) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/216_BC?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.