Why did Hannibal count gold rings after his massacre of the Romans at Cannae?

The Battle of Cannae occurred on August 2, 216 BCE, during the Second Punic War. The Roman Republic had been confident in its superior numbers and assembled a massive force of approximately 86,000 soldiers.

They faced off against Hannibal’s Carthaginian army, which numbered around 50,000. They were determined to crush Hannibal once and for all, so the Romans adopted a strategy of direct confrontation on a battlefield near the town of Cannae in southern Italy. 

With a clear understanding of Roman tactics, Hannibal devised a strategy that would exploit their overconfidence and rigid formations.

Hannibal employed a brilliant tactical maneuver known as the double envelopment. To do this, Hannibal arranged his troops in a convex formation with his weakest units in the center and his strongest forces on the flanks.

As the Romans advanced, they encountered the Carthaginian center, which gradually retreated. This maneuver created an illusion of weakness.

Meanwhile, the Carthaginian cavalry, led by Hasdrubal, defeated the Roman cavalry on both wings. With the Roman cavalry neutralized, Hannibal's forces began to encircle the Roman legions.  

By drawing the Romans into the center, the Carthaginians managed to envelop them completely. For the Romans, this encirclement was devastating.

Trapped and unable to maneuver, the Roman soldiers found themselves in a lethal kill zone. In the ensuing chaos, Roman soldiers were systematically slaughtered.

The aftermath of the Battle of Cannae was catastrophic for Rome. The sheer number of casualties, with estimates ranging from 50,000 to 70,000 Roman soldiers killed, shook the Roman Republic to its core.

Many of Rome’s best and most experienced troops were lost, creating a void in their military leadership. 

After the Battle of Cannae, Hannibal ordered the collection of gold rings from the fingers of fallen Roman soldiers, specifically targeting the rings worn by the Roman nobility and equestrian class.

These rings were symbols of status and wealth: they represented the high-ranking individuals who had perished in the battle.

Hannibal's soldiers gathered thousands of these rings from the battlefield, creating a gruesome yet potent display of his triumph. 

Hannibal then had the rings sent to Carthage with his brother, Mago. This act was designed to demonstrate the magnitude of his victory to the Carthaginian Senate and people.

By showcasing the spoils of war, he intended to bolster support for his campaign and possibly secure additional resources and reinforcements.  

For the Romans, the loss of these rings was a psychological blow. Roman morale was already low after the crushing defeat at Cannae, and the counting of the rings deepened their despair.

Many Roman families saw these rings as the last vestiges of their lost loved ones, making the grief and fear even more personal and intense. 

The Roman Senate, now facing one of the darkest moments in its history, quickly took measures to prevent further chaos.

On August 3, 216 BCE, the day after the battle, the Senate ordered a comprehensive census to assess the remaining military strength and available manpower. 

The Senate decreed that every able-bodied man must serve in the army, including those previously exempt. To replenish their ranks, they even enlisted slaves and criminals, promising freedom and pardon in return for military service.

This desperate move illustrated the direness of their situation. Moreover, Rome fortified its defenses, anticipating a possible assault by Hannibal.

They bolstered the city’s walls and stationed troops at strategic points to guard against any surprise attacks. 

Also, the Lex Oppia, enacted in 215 BCE, restricted the display of wealth by Roman women, aiming to show solidarity and austerity during the crisis.

Additionally, the Senate sought to strengthen alliances with other Italian states. They sent envoys to reaffirm treaties and secure loyalty, aware that Hannibal's victories could sway these allies to his side.

This diplomatic effort helped to maintain a cohesive front against the Carthaginian threat. 

For the Roman military, the lessons of Cannae also led to a fundamental shift in strategy. Avoiding direct confrontation with Hannibal, they adopted a war of attrition, seeking to cut off his supply lines and erode his strength gradually.

The Roman general Fabius Maximus, known for his cautious tactics, was recalled and given command. As a result, the Romans employed a strategy of harassment and delay, refusing to engage Hannibal in large-scale battles.

This approach, though unpopular and criticized for its perceived cowardice, proved effective in the long term.