Caius Terentius Varro

Caius Terentius Varro , fl. 216 BC, Roman statesman and general. Consul in 216 BC, he opposed Hannibal at the battle of Cannae , where the Roman army was destroyed. Probably more blame for this disaster may be ascribed to the Roman system of alternate command than to Varro's incompetence. One of the few survivors, Varro rallied the remnants of his army at nearby Canusium (now Canosa di Puglia). He received official commendation from the senate.

Cannae, Battle of (216 BC) A battle fought at the village of Cannae in southern Italy, which was one of the classic victories in military history. The Carthaginian general HANNIBAL, his infantry considerably outnumbered, but stronger in cavalry, stationed his troops in a shallow crescent formation. The densely-packed Roman legionaries, under the consuls Aemilius Paullus and Terentius Varro, charged Hannibal's centre, forced it back, but failed to break it. As it slowly and deliberately gave ground, and the Romans pushed deeper, Hannibal effected his brilliant double-encirclement: his cavalry, having defeated the opposing right and left wings, closed the trap and assaulted the Romans from flanks and rear. Out of some 50,000 men the Romans lost 35,000 killed or captured, Hannibal only 5700. Rome's hold on Italy was imperilled, and many of its allies in central and southern Italy defected to Hannibal.