The Battle of Magnesia 190 BCE - the Seleucid Empire vs Roman Republic (audio)

Описание: The Battle of Magnesia was fought in 190 BCE near the town of Magnesia in Lydia, Asia Minor. It was a decisive battle between the Seleucid Empire, led by King Antiochus III, and the Roman Republic, led by consul Lucius Cornelius Scipio.
The Seleucid army, consisting of about 60,000 men, was primarily composed of heavily armored cataphracts and elephants. The Roman army, on the other hand, had about 30,000 men, mostly consisting of legionaries and light infantry.
The battle began with both sides advancing towards each other, but Antiochus III's elephants charging ahead and causing confusion in the Roman lines. However, the Roman soldiers managed to regroup and form a phalanx, which effectively repelled the elephants.
The Seleucid cavalry then attempted to flank the Roman army, but the Roman cavalry managed to hold them off. The Roman legions, led by Scipio, then advanced and broke through the Seleucid infantry. Antiochus III himself was wounded and forced to flee the battlefield.
The Seleucid army suffered heavy losses, with an estimated 50,000 men killed or captured. The Roman losses were relatively light, with about 4,000 men killed or wounded.
The victory at the Battle of Magnesia marked the end of the Seleucid Empire's expansionist ambitions and forced them to relinquish their territories in Asia Minor. The battle also solidified Roman control over the region and marked the beginning of the Roman dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The battle also had significant political consequences. It established the superiority of the Roman legions over the Seleucid cataphracts and elephants, which had previously been considered the most effective military units in the region. This victory also encouraged other states to ally with Rome, which helped the Roman Republic to expand its sphere of influence throughout the Mediterranean.