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Famous Roman Battles I Trivia Quiz

This is my first quiz. Hope you enjoy it!

A multiple-choice quiz by ernestsng. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
ernestsng

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
341,584

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
889

Last 3 plays: Guest 75 (3/10), Guest 82 (3/10), Guest 92 (7/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In 390 BC the Gauls defeated a Roman garrison decisively and proceeded to sack Rome. What was the name of this battle? Hint

Allia River

Thermopylae

Pollentia

Alesia

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. In 298 BC the Romans were defeated at the Battle of Camerinum. Which was the victorious force and in what war did this battle take place? Hint

Samnite - Second Samnite War

Etruscan - Etruscan Wars

Samnite - Third Samnite War

Carthaginian - First Punic War

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. In 280 BC Pyrrhus of Epirus defeated the Romans in the closely fought Battle of Heraclea. Who was the Roman commander? Hint

Publius Cornelius Scipio

Decius Vibelius

Gaius Terentius Varro

Publius Valerius Laevinus

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. What was the first major battle of the First Punic War and where did it take place? Hint

Battle of Agrigentum - Sicily

Battle of Ticinius - Mainland Italy

Battle of Mylae - Sicily

Battle of Tyndaris - Sicily

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. In 255 BC, the Carthaginians under Xanthippus defeated the Romans under Regulus in the Battle of Tunis. Who was Xanthippus? Hint

A Greek mercenary

A cavalry officer

A Carthaginian general

A Roman traitor

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Where and when did the closing battle of the First Punic War take place? Hint

Zama, 202 BC

Sicily, 242 BC

Lilybaeum, 218 BC

Aegates Islands, 242 BC

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. In 238 BC the Carthaginians defeated rebel mercenaries in the Mercenary War. What is the name of the battle? Hint

Battle of Carthage

Battle of Aquilonia

Battle of Sardinia

Battle of Utica

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. How long did the First Punic War last? Hint

17 years

40 years

55 days

23 years

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. In which battle was Publius Cornelius Scipio wounded and later saved by his son, Scipio Africanus? Hint

Battle of Trebia

Battle of Ticinus

Battle of Cannae

Battle of Lake Trasimene

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Which of these is perhaps the greatest defeat Ancient Rome ever suffered, in 216 BC? Hint

Battle of Cannae

Battle of Actium

Battle of Trebia

Battle of Ticinus

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In 390 BC the Gauls defeated a Roman garrison decisively and proceeded to sack Rome. What was the name of this battle?

Answer: Allia River

The Romans outnumbered the Gauls significantly, but when their allies fled at the sight of the ferocious Gauls, leaving the Roman flanks exposed, the Romans succumbed to a Gallic onslaught and fled. The Gauls then plundered the great city.

2. In 298 BC the Romans were defeated at the Battle of Camerinum. Which was the victorious force and in what war did this battle take place?

Answer: Samnite - Third Samnite War

The battle took place at a pass where the Samnites and Gauls were expected to cross the Apennines. The two legions commanded by Lucius Scipio were routed quickly and one of them was annihilated.

3. In 280 BC Pyrrhus of Epirus defeated the Romans in the closely fought Battle of Heraclea. Who was the Roman commander?

Answer: Publius Valerius Laevinus

Up until the final stages of the battle, Pyrrhus had not gained the upper hand after seven attacks at the Roman legions. Finally, he introduced his elephants as the Roman cavalry pressed forward. The elephants managed to terrorise the horses into fleeing, routing the Romans.

4. What was the first major battle of the First Punic War and where did it take place?

Answer: Battle of Agrigentum - Sicily

In a prelude to the war, the Carthaginians occupied Agrigentum, using it as a base for future attacks in Italy. The Romans occupied the other half of the island. They pressed forward and the Carthaginians retreated into their base. After a short siege, Carthaginian relief forces commanded by Hanno arrived. Both sides refused to engage each other but the besieged Carthaginians were close to starvation.

In a pitched battle, the Romans achieved a first victory.

5. In 255 BC, the Carthaginians under Xanthippus defeated the Romans under Regulus in the Battle of Tunis. Who was Xanthippus?

Answer: A Greek mercenary

Xanthippus was hired as a mercenary general by the Carthaginians. Forcing the Romans to fight on open ground, he used Carthagininan cavalry and elephants to good effect, thus routing the Romans decisively.

6. Where and when did the closing battle of the First Punic War take place?

Answer: Aegates Islands, 242 BC

In a naval engagement the Romans routed the Carthaginians. The Roman commander had previously ordered the ships to be rid of all unnecessary equipment whereas the Carthaginian ships were burdened with food. With greater mobility, the Romans managed to destroy about half of the Carthaginian fleet. The rest escaped.

7. In 238 BC the Carthaginians defeated rebel mercenaries in the Mercenary War. What is the name of the battle?

Answer: Battle of Utica

As a result of the money they had to pay to Rome after the First Punic War, there was not enough salary for the 20000 mercenaries they had employed. Thereafter they rebelled against the Carthaginians. Hanno raised an army and defeated them soon after.

8. How long did the First Punic War last?

Answer: 23 years

In a series of naval and land battles, the two powers fought from 264 BC to 241 BC, when Carthage admitted defeat.

9. In which battle was Publius Cornelius Scipio wounded and later saved by his son, Scipio Africanus?

Answer: Battle of Ticinus

During the battle, the elder Scipio was wounded and found himself surrounded by hostile forces as the Romans retreated. The younger Scipio rode up to the enemy, forcing the Roman soldiers to follow his example. Pushing the enemy back, they escorted elder Scipio back to his camp.

10. Which of these is perhaps the greatest defeat Ancient Rome ever suffered, in 216 BC?

Answer: Battle of Cannae

As both sides approached each other in the battle, the Romans pushed the Carthaginians back in the center while the latter advanced on both sides, surrounding and routing the Romans. In the ensuing slaughter about 70000 Romans died.

Source: Author ernestsng

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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