Agriturismo under the Montegualandro's Castle in Tuoro sul Trasimeno, site of the bloody Battle of Trasimeno where Roman was defeated by the Carthaginian.

HISTORY

Some historical notes on the battle of lake Trasimeno and a map of the area

In 217 B.C. the area between the hills of Castle Montegualandro and the plains of Tuoro was the site of the bloody battle of lake Trasimeno where the Roman army led by consul Gaius Flaminius was heavily defeated by the Carthaginian army under the command of Hannibal. On that morning, presumably June 21st 217 B.C., the surroundings were literally devastated as 45000 Carthaginian soldiers (including 10000 horsemen) and 25000 Roman legionaries engaged in a bloody battle. Legend has it that river Macerone, that weaves its way through the valley and into the lake, was left red with blood for days. The battle cost the Roman army some 15000 casualties (the bodies of over 2500 Carthaginians were left on the battlefield). The battle of lake Trasimeno was recorded as one of the very few suffered by Rome throughout its history.

The battle of Lake Trasimeno: from history to learned toponymy

In July 217 B.C. Hannibal crossed the Alps and advanced through Etruria to reach Faesulae. On the opposite side, consuls Gnaeus Servilius and Gaius Flaminius, unaware of the exact route followed by the Carthaginian army drove their troops to Ariminum and Arretium respectively; the intended to reunite as one group as soon as Hannibal’s strategic choices became clearer. Although, following torrential rainfall, the Arno valley was completely flooded the Carthaginian army relentlessly pushed south (despite Hannibal losing his left eye) and as it entered the Valdichiana keeping Cortona to its left, it lay waste in the surroundings hoping to challenge consul Flaminius to battle. Finally, as the plundering drew to an end Hannibal’s army moved to the shores of lake Trasimeno where it had enough time to hide in a narrow plain opening out on the northern shores before Flaminius could re-unite with Servilius who had by then left Ariminum.  On the morning of June 21st 217 B.C. the Roman army marched onto the plain lying at the foot of the Tuoro hills. On the morning of 24 June 217 B.C. the Roman troops marched across the plain below Tuoro and into Hannibal’s trap. Caius Flaminius resolved to advance into the gorge with no prior reconnaissance under the conviction that Hannibal’s troops were over one day of marching away. Historians also assumed that on that day the area was covered by a thick fog. Hannibal’s cavalry and infantry rushed down the steep hillsides with an enormous impact to attack the Roman troops from all sides. The Romans had no time and room to even draw up in their usual battle array and were easily driven on to the lake where there was no escape. It was a terrible carnage; over 15000 Roman troops were killed, including Flaminius himself. About 6000 soldiers from the foremost line fled towards the mountains after impetuously breaking through enemy lines and eventually took refuge in an Etruscan village. The Etruscan leaders of Cortona and Perugia, however, did not open the gates to their towns (possibly garrisoned by Roman soldiers) and remained faithful to the Urbs.