8212 Carthaginian Veterans
Dated: June 8, 2009, updated Jan 17, 2011
Carthage was one of the great powers of the ancient Mediterranean, but its armies were very different from those of Rome. Rather than relying primarily upon a large body of citizen infantry, Carthaginian armies drew soldiers from across their extensive territories and alliances, including Libyans, Numidians, Iberians, Gauls and other peoples. This gave them a varied appearance and a wide range of fighting styles.
Box
During the Second Punic War, Hannibal Barca led one of the most remarkable campaigns in military history. In 218 BC he marched from Spain, crossed the Alps and invaded Italy, bringing with him an army composed of many different peoples. Over the following years, his troops defeated Roman armies at the Trebia, Lake Trasimene and Cannae.
The veteran infantry at the heart of Hannibal's army included large numbers of experienced Libyan and North African troops. After repeated victories over Roman armies, these men had access to enormous quantities of captured Roman equipment. Ancient sources describe Hannibal re-equipping part of his infantry with Roman shields and weapons taken from the battlefield.
Test shot
This created an unusual sight: seasoned Carthaginian veterans fighting in equipment that could closely resemble that of their Roman opponents. Large oval or rectangular shields, captured helmets and Roman-style body protection could appear alongside weapons and clothing retained from earlier service. The men themselves remained Hannibal's experienced African infantry, but their equipment increasingly reflected the enemies they had defeated.
The process was especially important after the great Carthaginian victories of the early Italian campaign. At Trebia in 218 BC and Lake Trasimene in 217 BC, Roman armies lost large quantities of weapons and armor. After Cannae in 216 BC, where a massive Roman force was surrounded and destroyed, the amount of captured equipment available to Hannibal's army was greater still.
Masters (roughs)
At Cannae, Hannibal's veteran African infantry played a decisive role. Positioned on the flanks of his line, they allowed the Roman legions to advance deeply against the deliberately yielding centre. When the Romans became compressed and committed, the African infantry turned inward against their exposed sides while Carthaginian cavalry attacked from the rear. The resulting encirclement became one of the most famous battlefield victories in history.
This set represents those experienced Carthaginian infantrymen after they had begun adopting captured Roman equipment. The figures therefore combine African and Carthaginian elements with shields, helmets and armor familiar from contemporary Roman armies. This mixture is deliberate and reflects the changing appearance of Hannibal's veterans during the Italian campaign.
This set contains 32 figures in eight poses. The men are shown advancing, fighting, throwing javelins and using swords and spears, providing a varied selection suitable for formed infantry as well as close combat. The different combinations of armor, helmets and shields help create the irregular but battle-hardened appearance expected of troops equipped partly from captured stores.
The figures are particularly appropriate for Hannibal's campaigns in Italy from 218 BC onward, including Trebia, Lake Trasimene and especially Cannae. They can also represent the veteran African infantry that remained with Hannibal during the long years of campaigning that followed.
This set can be combined with our other Carthaginian, Numidian, Iberian and Gallic sets to build the multinational army that Hannibal led into Italy. Used against our Roman Republican infantry and cavalry, the figures are especially suited to recreating the great battles of the Second Punic War.