Answer :
Final answer:
The Battle at Ticinus River in 218 B.C. was the first major skirmish between Carthaginian forces led by Hannibal and the Roman troops during the Second Punic War, marking the start of Hannibal's Italian campaign.
Explanation:
The Battle at Ticinus River was a significant military engagement during the Second Punic War, which took place between Rome and Carthage. In 218 B.C., Hannibal, the famed Carthaginian general, crossed the Alps with his army and war elephants, venturing into Roman territory. The battle itself was more of a cavalry skirmish rather than a full-scale engagement and is notable as the first major conflict between Hannibal and the Roman forces during this war. It occurred near the Ticinus River, a tributary of the Po River in northern Italy.
Although details of the battle are sparse, this clashing of arms marked the beginning of Hannibal's extraordinary Italian campaign. It set the stage for further confrontations such as the Battle of Trebia, Lake Trasimene, and the notorious Battle of Cannae where Hannibal achieved his most celebrated victory. The Battle at Ticinus was significant not only for its tactical outcomes but also for its psychological impact, as it alarmed Rome and emboldened Hannibal's Italian allies.
