I limiti di una ‘Grande Strategia’. Considerazioni militari e ambizioni politiche allo scoppio della seconda guerra punica

This paper analyses the numerous paradoxes connected with the strategy adopted by Rome at the eve of the Second Punic War. While scholars have usually recognized the audacity of Rome’s ‘Grand Strategy’ – that anticipated two major campaigns in Spain and Africa – they have missed to provide suitable answers for its failure, and especially to grasp its connection with the revolt that broke out in Cisalpine Gaul before the consuls could depart for their provinces. A new solution is henceforth proposed, according to which the consuls’ war plans were mainly dictated by political reasons (and especially by the need to satisfy their soldiers’ economic expectations), and were consequently uncongenial to meet unexpected strategical changes.