Battle of Cornus

Part of the Second Punic War

Date	Fall 215 BC
Location	Cornus, (near modern-day Cuglieri,) Sardinia
Result	Roman victory

Belligerents

Carthage

Roman Republic

Commanders and leaders

Hasdrubal the Bald, Hampsicora †

Titus Manlius Torquatus

Strength

15,000 infantry,
1,500 cavalry + Sardinians (?) + Elephants (?)

20,000 infantry (2 Roman and 2 Allied Legions), 1,200 cavalry

Casualties and losses

13,500 casualties; 12,000 killed and 1,500 captured, including Hasdrubal the Bald.

unknown

The Battle of Cornus, or Caralis, took place when a Carthaginian army sailed to Sardinia in support of a Sardinian revolt against Roman rule. The army, led by Hasdrubal the Bald, fought a similar size Roman army under the Praetor Titus Manlius Torquatus in the Fall of 215 BC somewhere between Cornus and Caralis. The Romans destroyed the Carthaginian army and then scattered their fleet in a sea battle south of Sardinia.

The Romans were hard pressed after the Battle of Cannae, with several South Italian cities deserting to Carthage. Hannibal Barca and his army were active in Campania, while a second Carthaginian army under Hanno the Elder had become active in Bruttium. The Romans fielded several armies, which avoided attacking Hannibal but struck at his allies whenever possible.

In Iberia, Hasdrubal Barca, brother of Hannibal, had been fighting skirmishes with the Scipio brothers since his defeat in the Battle of Ebro River. In 216 BC, the Carthaginian Senate sent him reinforcements with orders to march to Italy. In Africa, Mago Barca was put in command of an army of 12,000 infantry, 1,500 horse and 20 elephants with orders to join Hannibal.

The Romans had fought on and off with the natives ever since obtaining Sardinia through blackmail in 237 BC. By 216 BC, the situation in the island was ripe for revolt. The single Roman legion posted there was understrength from sickness. The praetor, Q. Mucius Scavola, was also sick. Payment and provisions from Rome were irregular. Hampsicora, a native Sardinian chieftain, had asked for aid from Carthage. Carthage sent an officer named Hanno to finance the revolt and then raised an army similar to that of Mago's for an expedition to Sardinia. Hasdrubal the Bald and another Mago was in charge of the expedition.

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Wikipedia