218 a.c. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXI, 60, 1

Transcription

1 218 a.c. Hannibal Barca set out from Cartago Nova towards Italy passing through the Pyrenaean mountains and the Alps. Cneius Scipio was sent into Spain with a fleet and army, landing at Ampurias (Gerona). Reference: Livio, AUC, XXI, 60, 1 The country on the north side of the Iberus river was defended by Hanno. Cneius Scipio confronted him in the battle of Cesse, getting the victory. After that, Hasdrubal Barca attacked the roman fleet that remained landed close to Tarraco, successfully destroying some ships and its crews. Cneius Scipio faced the rebellion of three Carthaginian allies, the Ilergetes, the Lacetanii and the Ausetanii. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXI, 60, 3

2 217 a.c. Roman victory in a naval battle in the mouth of the Iberus River. Most of Carthaginian ships were captured. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXII, 19, 1 Roman naval campaign along the Mediterranean shore. Cneius Scipio attacked Onusa, Cartago Nova, Loguntica and Ebussus. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXII, 20, 3 Cneius Scipio advanced as far as the pass of Castulo (former Despeñaperros) while Hasdrubal Barca retired into Lusitania. An ilergete rebellion was routed by the romans. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXII, 20, 12 y 21, 1

3 Publius Scipio came into Spain with supplies and reinforcements. Celtiberian rebellion against the cartaghinians. Iberian hostages were freed in Sagunto by the romans. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXII, 22, a.c. Hasdrubal Barca is ordered to set out to Italy. Turdetanean unsuccesfull rebellion against Carthago. Cartago sends reinforcements to face the situation. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXIII, 26, a.c. A new army under the command of Himilco came to Spain to occupy the place of Hasdrubal s one. Hasdrubal set out to Italy but had to fight against both Scipios in the battle of Dertosa, close to the Ebro river, being defeated. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXIII, 27, 9

4 Mago Barca, the second brother of Hannibal, was sent from Cartago to Spain, with a new army to replace the lost one at Dertosa. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXIII, 32, 5 Another punic general, Hasdrubal the bald, stopped at the Balearic island to replenish his fleet after a storm. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXIII, 40, 6 Scipios asked for supplies to Rome and receive them thanks to private contractors. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXIII, 48, 4 The towns of Iliturgi and Intibili, in the Oretania, went over to the Romans, being helped by Cneius Scipio who managed the siege to be raised. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXIII, 49, B.C. Mago and Hasdrubal routed an immense army of Spaniards. Publius Cornelius, crossed the Iberus with his army to help his allies. He encamped in Castrum Album and was sorrounded and attacked by the carthaginians. Cneius Scipio came to the aid of his brother and after rescuing him, moved on to Iliturgi, an allied town that was besieged by a punic army. Castulo revolted from the Carthaginian side and came under protection of the roman army. Punic

5 forces attacked Bigerra but the arrival of Cneius Scipio army raised the siege without any fight. Romans followed their enemies towards Munda where they fought a battle in which Cneius Scipio was wounded. Carthaginians moved on to Auringis and a new battle was won by the romans. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXIV, 41, 1 After their succeses in Oretania, Scipio brothers attacked and took the town of Sagunto, the casus belli of the second punic war. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXIV, 42, 9

6 213 B.C. Publius and Cneius, as had recovered many ancient allies, and attached fresh ones to them, extended their views to Africa. Syphax was the king of Western Numidians, who had suddenly become hostile to the Carthaginians. They sent three centurions as ambassadors, to form a treaty of friendship and alliance with him. Carthaginians had an alliance with Gala (king of Eastern Numidia) to face Syphax. After several defeats, they called for help to Hasdrubal Barca who came from Spain with his army. Hasdrubal and Gala s son, Masinissa, defeated Syphax who escaped to Maurisia. He was followed there by Masinissa who got the victory. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXIV, 48, B.C. After Syphax defeat, Hasdrubal Barca came back to Spain, being sortly followed by Masinissa. 211 B.C. After two years of calm, Scipio brothers tried to finish the war dividing their army between them in order to face the different punic armies present in the Baetica region at the same time. Scipios had recruited celtiberian mercenaries to reinforce their troops during the last winter but they deserted Roman side as soon as the Carthaginian army was near. The ilergetean chief Indibil, a punic ally, came to the south with reinforcements to help them. Being coordinated with Masinissa numidian cavalry and the two armies of Hasdrubal Gisco and Mago, surrounded and defeated Publius Scipio army close to Castulo, killing him. His brother Cneus, after being left alone by the celtiberian mercenaries, tried to scape to Tarraco but was also intercepted by Hasdrubal Barca, his brother Mago and Hasdrubal Gisco armies that annihilated him just one month after his brother Publius. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXV, 32, 1

7 The little number of roman survivors of both disasters, under the command of Tiberio Fonteyo and Lucio Marcio, successfully arrived to the Ebro river where ambushed the punic pursuing armies of Mago and Hasdrubal Gisco. In this way they could stabilize the front line in the Ebro. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXV, 37, 1 In order to reinforce the roman forces in Hispania, romans sent new forces under Gaius Claudius Nero command. His arrival was a complete surprise and successfully surrounded Hasdrubal Barca army in a defile. The punic general offered him to negotiate the surrender, what was approached by the carthaginians to scape from that place in several nights. After being caught by trickery, Nero was ceased. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVI, 17, 1

8 People s assembly named a new general to go to Spain. The elected person was Publius Scipio, later called African. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVI, 18, 1 Scipio, who came to Spain together the pretor Silano and new reinforcements, arrived when the campaign of that year was almost finished, so the roman army went into winter quarters. Hasdrubal Barca encamped close to Sagunto while the other two Carthaginians generals, Mago and Hasdrubal Gisco, were near Castulo and Gades. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVI, 19, B.C. After two years that appear not to have seen any kind of militar activity, Scipio attacked by surprise and conquered the town of Cartago Nova, which was the capital of the Carthaginians in Hispania. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVI, 41, 1 Scipio distinguished two men believed to be the first ones to mount the walls of Cartago Nova. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVI, 48, 3 Scipio ordered the Spanish hostages to be summoned. In this way he got new allies between the Iberian tribes.

9 Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVI, 49, 1 Roman soldiers brought a virgin and beautiful female captive to Scipio, but he refused to have private relations and gave her back to their parents and her betrothed prince. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVI, 50, 1 Scipio left bodies of troops in Cartago Nova and set out for Tarraco where he met his allies. Reference: Livio, XXVI, 51, 9 Caius Laelius, one of the most important generals of Scipio, was sent to Rome to inform about the conquest of Cartago Nova and to bring a train of captives. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVII, 7, B.C. During the winter, new iberian tribes deserted from the carthaginian side and Scipio received them as new allies. At the commencement of the spring, Scipio set out from Tarraco with his troops and some others from his allies. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVII, 17, 1 Scipio advanced towards the Oretanean región where Hasdrubal Barca stayed with his army. They met in the battle of Baecula, close to the former town of Santo Tomé. Hasdrubal was defeat, losing his camp and an important part of his troops, but could scape keeping the

10 treasure, his elephants as well as some infantry and cavalry. He directed his course to the river Tagus. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVII, 18, 1 After his victory, Scipio came back to Tarraco while the carthaginian generals Hasdrubal Gisco and Mago Barca joined Hasdrubal Barca and decided the next actions to follow the war. Hasdrubal Barca reinforced his army with Spanish troops from the armies of the other two (to avoid them to desert) and marched to Italy, emuling his brother Hannibal. Mago delivered over his own army to Hasdrubal Gisco (who retired to Lusitania) and passed over to the Baleares with money enough to recruit auxiliaries. Massinisa kept a body of cavalry to harass the romans in the part that they controlled in Spain. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVII, 20, B.C. Scipio and Silano continued in command of roman forces in Spain. Most of roman fleet in this front, was sent to defend Sardinian waters from Carthaginian fleets while 30 ships remained. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVII, 22, 7 Spanish auxiliaries were sent out to Italy by Scipio to reinforce the roman army that was going to oppose to Hasdrubal Barca in the north of that country. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVII, 38, 11

11 The army of Hasdrubal Gisco was close to Gades. Mago and a new general named Hanno sent with an army from Cartago, were recruiting new troops north of former Sierra Morena. While this happened, Silano attacked by surprise and successfully destroyed the enemy army, capturing the general Hanno. Mago could scape to Gades with the cavalry and the veteran infantry. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 1, 10 Scipio approached to the Baetica region trying to confront Hasdrubal Gisco in a decisive battle but the Carthaginian general divided his army and sent it to several towns as garrisons, avoiding the fight. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 2, 14 Then Scipio came back with most of his army but left his brother Lucius troops enough to assault successfully the town of Orongis. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 3, 1 Scipio wintered in Tarraco and sent his brother Lucius to Rome to bring the prisoners and to inform about the successes in Spain. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 4, 4

12 206 B.C. New levies of local troops let the carthaginians to increase their army under command of Mago and Hasdrubal Gisco. They were concentrated in Ilipa (believed former Alcalá del Río Sevilla ). Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 12, 10 Scipio also incorporated iberian auxiliaries from his spanish allies. Then he set out from Tarraco towards Castulo. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 13, 1 Scipio arrived to the Baetica region and encamped close to Ilipa where the punic army was. They fought a great battle there, in which Carthaginians were defeated again. Desertions and a hot pursuit by the romans disbanded the punic army. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 13, 1 Hasdrubal Gisco scaped to Gades. Remanent punic troops under Mago command were sorrounded in a hill close to sea. Silano remained there while Scipio came back to Tarraco. Romans had first contact with Masinissa triying him to desert from the punic band. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 16, 8 Finally, Mago could scape to Gades. Silano came back to Tarraco informing the end of war in the Baetica. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 16, 13 Lucius Scipio was sent to Rome to inform about the successes while his brother Publius Scipio crossed from Cartago Nova to Numidia to meet Syphax. He tried the numidian king to leave his alliance with the Carthaginians. Then he came back to Cartago Nova. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 17, 1

13 Lucius Marcius came from Tarraco to Cartago Nova to attack Castulo while Scipio assaulted Iliturgi. The second town was completely destroyed while the first one surrendered. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 19, 1 Lucius Marcius is sent to conquer other towns in the Baetica. Scipio returned to Cartago Nova. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 21, 1 Romans caused a great slaughter in the town of Astapa. Lucius Marcius came back to Cartago Nova. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 22, 1

14 Mago collected ships and troops from Maurusia and neighbouring places in Gades thanks to his prefect Hanno. Meanwhile, some deserters offered the betrayal of Gades to the romans. Caius Laelius with a little fleet and Lucius Marcius with land forces were sent to the zone. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 23, 7 Scipio was afflicted with a serious illness. A mutiny arose in the roman camp at Sucro (former Cullera) and an Ilergetian rebellion under command of Indibil and Mandonio in suesetan and sedetan territory. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 24, 1 A punic camp in the river Betis (close to Gades) where new forces were recruited by Hanno, is destroyed by the romans. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 30, 1 Mago discovered the plot in Gades capturing the conspirators. Laelius got a victory in a naval battle in the strait of Gibraltar against the carthaginian admiral Aderbal. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 30, 3 Laelius and Marcius came back to Cartago Nova. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 31, 1 Ilergetean revolted northern of river Ebro and were defeated by Scipio. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 31, 5 Lucius Marcius is sent to the Baetica again while Silano came back to Tarraco. Scipio joined Marcius in the Baetica meeting Massinisa and according an alliance with him. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 34, 12 Mago set out from Gades with his fleet towards Cartago Nova, where he attacked the town unsuccessfully. Then, came back to Gades where was not allowed to enter the place because his troops had previously made some acts of plunder in the city.

15 Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 36, 1 At the end of autumn, Mago passed over to Ebussus where his fleet was replenished. Then he crossed over to Majorca island being repulsed by their inhabitants when landed. He directed to Menorca island wintering there and founding former Mahón. When Mago left Gades, the city surrendered to Rome. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 37, 3 Scipio returned to Rome being relieved by two praetors, Lucius Lentulus and Lucius Manlius Acidinus. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 38, 1 Mago set out from Menorca island towards Italy. Reference: Livio, AUC, XXVIII, 46, 7