Legio XVII: Battle of Zama

Legio XVII: Battle of Zama

Published by Thomas A. Timmes at Smashwords

Copyright 2015 Thomas A. Timmes

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Also by Thomas A. Timmes

Book I - Legio XVII: Roman Legion at War

Book II - Legio XVII: Battle of the Danube

Customer reviews for Books I, II, and III

I'm 62. I've been reading about Roman Military history since I was 8. This book trumps them all! Fantastic read!

Excellent book that is rich in detailed strategy, weapons development and battlefield maneuvers. One of the best I’ve read of the dozens concerning the Roman Legions and their role in Rome’s expansion. A must read!

I am an avid reader of Roman history - both fact and fiction and consider this title one of the very best I have found. The narrative, the characters have been treated in a manner that are totally engrossing. The battle scenes are graphic and I would certainly enjoy a similar offering from this author.

I am an avid reader of historical fiction, especially of Roman and British military expeditions. This is one of the most interesting books that I have read in the past thirty years. As a former Captain of Marines, I was especially impressed by the detailed description of the preparations of both operations and logistics. Too many writers focus on just the battles and totally miss the critical issues of preparation that leads to success.

Thomas A. Timmes has written a fascinating insight into the Roman Legions....I was afraid that this book would read like a bland history book. It was instead a very interesting, educational read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in reading about the early BC Roman Empire.

Thomas A. Timmes knows how to write history fiction books. thoroughly enjoyed reading Legio XVII - Legio at War. The author displays superior characterization skills in this book. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded and how it concluded. The Introduction was a priceless gateway to the story and the Epilogue was a treasure chest of ah-ha moments. I would wake up in the middle of the night just to read a couple more paragraphs. I honestly could not put the book down. Thank you for turning me into an addict of your work.

Good, enjoyable reading by a sound author

Best book of its kind

Excellent series with good historical and accurate assessment of the Roman Legions and battle strategy

I found it a fascinating and an extremely entertaining read

Rates as one of my top authentic Roman factual books, excellent keep them coming

Absorbing in detail, gripping in action and had the feel of real history

Well written book on the operations of a legion and how it works

Keeps you reading all way to the end very enjoyable good read

....new and refreshing style... very interesting and exciting read

Good exciting book with plenty of action

We'll worth a read, couldn't put it down. We'll researched, didn't want it to end. Look forward to more books

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface

Prologue

Chapter I: Battle of Ilipa 206 BC

Chapter II: Sicily 206 - 205 BC

Chapter III: Mago Barca 206 - 205 BC

Chapter IV: Legio XVII Deploys 205 BC

Chapter V: The Mercenaries 205 BC

Chapter VI: Prelude to Battle 205 BC

Chapter VII: Battle of Lake Benacus 205 BC

Chapter VIII: The Assault 205 BC

Chapter IX: After the Battle 205 BC

Chapter X: Scipio in Africa 204 - 202 BC

Chapter XI: Battle of Zama 202 BC

Epilogue

About the Author

Connect with Tom

Preface

The Legio XVII series, Roman Legion at War, Battle of the Danube, and Battle of Zama are historical fiction novels that take place during Rome’s Second Punic War with Carthage (218 - 202 BC), the other Mediterranean economic and military super power of that era. In addition to presenting a summary of authentic Second Punic War history, I added a fictional Legion to represent the typical activities of Roman Commanders and Legionaries of that period.

The exploits of Legio XVII are impacted by the Punic War, and its military operations are conducted in support of the overall war effort, but do not intrude into or alter actual historical events. My challenge was to present Punic War history that is accurate and entertaining, while maintaining a separation between fact and fiction. Together, the three books present a complete summary of that ancient War.

Like my other books, the Battle of Zama is not written in a purely linear fashion, but rather describes the many moving parts of conflicting forces and events that occur simultaneously. Eventually, the parts come together in a violent collision.

I salute those historians of antiquity, Livy, Polybius, and Appian, among others, who had the interest and took the time to record Rome’s early history. Those deserving equal credit are the many scholars who preserved their writings over the years and translated their works. Without these authors, copyists, and translators, we would all be the poorer.

Since Livy, Polybius, and Appian differ on the number of troop and cavalry engaged in the battles used in this book, I present a range of numbers or use Livy’s account as the most acceptable. Similarly, historians debate many aspects of Zama such as its location, the number of elephants employed by Hannibal, if any, the role of the cavalry, and the date the battle was fought. This book presents the generally accepted version of events.

Authors have a variety of resources available to them to discern the facts of events that happened so very long ago. Besides the ancient sources, there are many books, both old and new, that try to piece together the differing accounts of the same event. The Internet is invaluable in this effort and hosts several very good Roman-oriented websites. The ones I am most familiar with are UNRV, Roman Army Talk, Classical History, and Historum. The members of these sites are extremely knowledgeable about antiquity, and more than happy to discuss issues or to answer questions.

In book one, Legio XVII: Roman Legion at War, I incorrectly stated that Queen Teuta of Illyria sent Agron and his Ardiaei warriors to join Hannibal. She was the Queen from 231-227 BC. The correct Illyrian ruler during Hannibal’s rampage through Italy was King Scerdilaidas who ruled from 218 until his death in 205 BC. Similarly, the Gestates tribesmen who fought Rome at the Battle of Telamon in 225 BC disappeared from history after the battle and are presumed to have settled in modern Slovenia. There is no record of their supporting Hannibal as stated in Roman Legion at War. I apologize for these and any other errors of fact.

I owe a sincere debt of gratitude to my wife and my grown children, Bethany and Andrew, for reading and commenting on the drafts of all three books. Finally, I want to thank my professional editor, Julie Weinkauf, for smoothing out my choppy sentences, correcting grammatical and spelling errors, and polishing my wording.

Prologue

When Proconsul Manius Tullus returned to Rome from Regensburg, Germany with Legiones XVII and V Etrusci in September 206, he was anxiously looking forward to seeing his wife, Lucia, and his two children, Flavia and Titus. He had been gone from Rome for about a year. First, he made sure his two Legions were secure in their camp on the outskirts of Rome; that they were properly paid, and given a two-week vacation. Then he confirmed with Army Headquarters that his returning Legions would be ineligible to deploy again for another six months. Barring any emergencies, they would be held in reserve to support the defense of Rome, should the need arise.

After taking care of his troops, he returned to his villa and family. Lucia greeted him at the vestibulum (entrance hall) and had a lot to say. We all missed you terribly, she said as she embraced him. I hope you are home for good, and will now retire from the Army. You’re 53; let younger men take up the fight. And you seem to be limping more. Does your leg hurt?

We’ll see about retiring, Manius said in a noncommittal way, and, yes, my leg hurts. I think the cold weather at Bad Tolz affected it. You look so good to me, he said as he looked deeply into her eyes. I couldn’t get you off my mind. Titus then rushed at his father and clung to him. The almost 15 year old had grown considerably in a year and loved his father. Flavia, now 17, gave her father a polite hug, and said she had missed him. It was obvious her mind was elsewhere. Manius quickly added, I have a few gifts if anyone is interested. He then presented Titus with a Teuton sword and scabbard of fine craftsmanship. To Flavia he presented a pair of silver brooches and glass beads used by Cimbri/Teuton women. She was obviously pleased and disappeared to try them on.

Titus went outside to practice swinging the heavy sword. Manius and Lucia smiled at each other and walked hand in hand to the bedroom.

Manius’ deployment and success against the Cimbri/Teutons in support of Bethica’s Suevi Tribe was recognized and appreciated by the Senate and Army; however, all eyes were on Scipio and his success at Ilipa, Spain six months earlier. Manius had never met Scipio, but heard he was returning to Rome shortly to run for Consul. He hoped to meet him and tell him that he had successfully used his Ilipa tactics against the Cimbri/Teutons at the Battle of Regensburg.

When they finally did meet, Manius was impressed with the 31 year old no-nonsense Commander. Within a few months, Manius found himself working for Scipio in Sicily.

New Army orders for Manius and his Legions would cut that assignment short, and Manius would once again lead Legiones XVII and V Etrusci into the Cisalpine Gaul. This time, he would face battle-wise mercenaries enroute to join Mago Barca who had travelled by sea in 205 BC from Spain to Genoa, Italy after his defeat at Ilipa, Spain. With Hannibal successfully contained in Bruttium (modern Reggio Calabria) at the very tip of the Italian peninsula, the Roman Senate declared a Mago-Hannibal link-up their greatest threat.

Manius’ new mission was to prevent 50,000 mercenaries from joining Mago. This was the Roman Senate’s number one priority and a critical piece of the Senate’s overall war strategy. Failure would prevent Consul Scipio from invading Africa and facing the Great Hannibal on the battlefield at Zama.

Chapter I: Battle of Ilipa 206 BC

Ilipa (modern Alcala del Rio) is10 miles north of Seville and 122 miles (197km) north of Gibraltar

(Google maps)

The Centurions moved from tent to tent quietly rousing their sleeping men. Wake up, cook your meal, and be ready to march in two hours. Keep your fires low and no noise. This had been the routine for the Legionaries for the past three days, but today the wakeup call was not sounded by trumpets and it was only 3:30 A.M. instead of 5:30 A.M. The men looked at each other knowingly as they moved quietly and efficiently about their routine. One man started the fire while another mixed the water and wheat. The rest assisted one another in adjusting their armor. They knew today was going to be different.

Yesterday, they were told to put a fresh edge on their swords, replace any missing hobnails on their sandals, and fill their water skins. Lights out was called at 8:30 P.M.

For the last three days, they had marched out of camp to face the veteran Carthaginian Army across the large, dry, dusty plain of Ilipa. The Roman Commander, Proconsul Publius Cornelius Scipio, did not vary his formation. He always placed his heavy Roman Legions in the center of his line in a triplex acies and his Celtiberian allies on the two flanks. Half a mile away, the Carthaginian Commanders, Hasdrubal Gisco and Mago Barca, put their experienced Carthaginians in the center and their weaker Celtiberian mercenaries on their flanks to face their countrymen.

Both Armies had their most experienced troops in the center. The 32 Carthaginian war elephants were placed in front of the first line. A few of them had a wooden box strapped to their backs with crenellated towers to protect the four or five javelin throwers inside the box. After watching each other for most of the day, the two large armies would turnabout and march back into their respective camps.

The temperature was a balmy 73F degrees (22C) during the day and dropped into the low 50s (11C) at night. The Legionaries were comfortable. While they stood facing the Carthaginians, the men were allowed to drink, urinate in place, move a foot in all directions, and talk in low voices. They rested their heavy shields and pila on the ground. Sick men stayed at camp, and those with diarrhea were given permission to walk to the rear of the formation to relieve themselves. By the third day, the troops were complaining among themselves and wished they were walking or fighting instead of simply standing.

If a Legionary passed out, no one moved until the Centurion checked the man and assigned two men to take him to the rear. Once he recovered, he was questioned to determine what he had eaten, how much water he had drunk, what time he went to bed, and if he was flexing his legs or standing too rigid. Usually, a man passed out because he was standing too stiffly and not flexing his knees. For that, he would be reprimanded and sent back to the camp to recover.

Each day, the Legionaries quickly scanned the enemy lines to see if the elephants were in their attack position in front of the first line. They always preceded the Carthaginian army out of their fort, and the army followed. These large beasts were known to plow through Maniples like a scythe through standing wheat. They were more feared than a cavalry charge, and were almost unstoppable. Stories of charging elephants with dozens of pila sticking in them with no apparent effect spread among the men. They also frightened the cavalry’s horses and thwarted many a charge.

During the afternoon of the third day, after the Legions had marched back into camp, Scipio’s trumpets sounded the call for his Legates to assemble. The meeting tent was spacious and easily accommodated the Commanders and their aides. Other than camp stools, maps, and a few small field tables, a visitor would never guess that this was the tent of Rome’s most successful General. Proconsul Scipio was an intelligent Commander who didn’t believe in a lot of pomp.

It was common knowledge among his Legionaries that at the young age of 17, Scipio led a successful cavalry charge to rescue his father at the Battle of Ticinus (modern Vigevano, Italy) in 218 BC. He went on to participate in the battles of Trebbia, Lake Trasimene, and Cannae. In 211 BC, at just 24 years old, the Senate elected Scipio Proconsul of Spain. He assumed command of all Roman Armies in Spain after his beloved father and uncle were killed fighting Hasdrubal Barca, Hannibal’s brother. It was also common knowledge that when Scipio heard that his father had been killed, he wept uncontrollably for days. But rather than seen as a sign of weakness, this story enhanced his reputation and endeared him to his troops.

When the Commanders were seated, an aide pushed aside the privacy flap of Scipio’s adjacent tent and informed him that the Legates were assembled. The Proconsul stepped into the tent with a rarely seen yet guarded smile on his face. His smile accentuated his strong aquiline nose, high cheek bones, and perfect teeth.

Gentlemen, he said, as the smile faded and his normal gravitas returned. Tomorrow we attack! It’s clear to me that Hasdrubal and Mago are matching our troop formation and will not expect us to change ours. I want to deploy the Legions on the flanks and our allied Celtiberians in the center. I expect our Legionaries to crush the enemy Celtiberians facing them and then to attack Hasdrubal’s center. I will hold back our Celtiberians from attacking Hasdrubal’s center until we’ve destroyed his flanks.

We can’t allow Hasdrubal to see our new formation until it’s too late for him to adjust his formation to match ours; therefore, tomorrow morning we will march out of camp in the dark at 5:30 A.M. My intent is to cause his army to panic and rush out of the fort before the elephants can be deployed, and before his men have a chance to eat breakfast.

At first light, our cavalry will attack his cavalry and our skirmishers will attack his flanks. Turning to his Celtiberian Commander, Scipio said, You must hold your men back until I give the order for you to attack the center. If you fail to hold your men back, our entire plan is in jeopardy. Do you understand?

The Commander responded, Yes sir, we will wait for your signal and then make you proud of us.

Scipio added, Commanders, I expect this information to remain in this tent. You may inform your Centurions, but no one else. I’ve instructed the Praefectus Castorum, (Camp Commandant) to post additional guards around the camp to prevent anyone from wandering off.

That evening, the Proconsul walked among his troops checking to see if they had eaten, had received their pay, and had any complaints that he could resolve. Occasionally, he would beseech the gods to protect a particular Maniple to bolster their courage. He had a reputation as a pious man, and the men respected that. As he passed a group of men, a Legionary stood up and said to him, Sir, we would appreciate it if you would ask the gods to protect us from the elephants. There’s just no easy way to kill those beasts.

Scipio looked at him, reached out, and put his hand on his shoulder. I know they can be frightening and they don’t go down easy. He then looked at the other men standing by the fire. If my plan works, you and your comrades won’t have to worry about elephants. Listen to your Centurion and follow orders. You’ll be fine.

He then walked the short distance to the Celtiberian camp and talked and listened to those men.

Scipio was well aware that as the Commander his job was to plan the battle, but these men did the killing. Without their willing and enthusiastic support, all his carefully laid plans would result in defeat. Therefore, he always paid the greatest care to their food supply, pay, and morale. Without them, he could do nothing. He fought for Rome’s interests in the Mediterranean, to avenge the death of his father, and for his personal career. These men fought for one another and their Commanders. They expected intelligent leadership, to be fed regularly, and to receive their monthly pay.

Two years earlier, Proconsul Scipio faced three highly capable enemy Commanders: Mago, Hasdrubal Barca, and Hasdrubal Gisco. Fortunately for Rome, the three were feuding among themselves and had failed to unite their Armies to oppose him.

In early 208 BC, Scipio went after Hasdrubal Barca who was encamped by the River Baetis (modern Guadalquivir 150 miles (241km) northeast of Seville) in south-central Spain. Despite Hasdrubal’s strong defensive position on a plateau, Scipio successfully routed the Carthaginians by attacking Hasdrubal’s flanks. The Carthaginians suffered 6,000 killed and 10,000 captured. Scipio’s men suffered 2,000 killed. Despite this victory Hasdrubal managed to escape with all his elephants, baggage, and most of his troops. He travelled north after the battle and eventually entered northern Italy in a failed attempt to link up with Hannibal.

Scipio learned a valuable lesson from this fight with Hasdrubal; if the enemy escapes with most of his fighting men intact, it’s not really a victory. The enemy may have scattered, but they can just as easily reform to fight again. Additionally, he was severely criticized back in Rome for failing to follow up his initial victory.

His objective in this current battle at Ilipa was to kill or capture as many Carthaginians and Celtiberians as possible in the initial attack, and then prevent any survivors from escaping.

The next morning, at precisely 5:30 A.M., the gates of the two Roman camps opened and about 50,000 men silently marched out. Once outside, the Legates and Centurions rearranged the formation as directed by Scipio the day before. The Roman Legions were placed on the two flanks and the Celtiberians were stacked in the middle. After about 30 minutes, this huge army was ready and advanced in the dark towards the sleeping Carthaginian camp half a mile away. Scipio, his aides, and bodyguards rode at the rear of the formation. The Legion Legates led their men from the front as did the Centurions. Emotions varied among the men. Some were frightened, while others were relieved to begin what they had nervously anticipated for days. Their confidence grew with each step when they began to hear the growing Carthaginian chaos. Scipio’s words about the elephants the previous night had spread throughout the camps like a promised blessing from the gods. The omens were good.

Each night, both sides sent men out into the field between the two camps to provide early warning of an attack or raid. The Roman and Carthaginian outposts were separated from each other by about 400 yards, and were rotated every two hours. It was difficult to sit on the ground in total darkness with all senses functioning at maximum capacity. The men would alert at the smallest sound, and the adrenaline would flow. They held their swords in their hands and took off their helmets in order to better hear. It was nerve-wracking.

The nights were full of sounds from scurrying mice to lizards chasing crickets. Besides worrying about the enemy sneaking up on them, they all feared the hated snub-nose viper. Rumors abounded of men who had been bitten and died within hours. The best sound for a sentry was when he heard someone approaching from the direction of his camp whispering the password for the night. New guards were told to walk in a certain direction and count their steps. When they counted off the correct number, they were to begin whispering the password and listening for the correct response.

This day, the Roman outposts heard the sounds of their men coming out of camp and forming up. As instructed, they waited until the noise quieted down and went back on the run to join their Maniple.

The Roman cavalry and light troops went ahead in the dark and scattered the Carthaginian outposts who jumped up and ran in the direction of their camp. It sounded to them like the entire Roman Army was on the move, and that’s what they began shouting as they approached the gate. Their panicky cry was picked up by the sentries on the wall. Romans are attacking! they shouted for all the camp to hear.

The sleeping men heard the shouting and jumped up. Some thought the Romans were inside the camp and simply grabbed their swords and went out to fight for their lives. Others took the time to put on their helmets and armor before running out. It was dark. Fires had not yet been lit. No one could see, and everyone was yelling instructions. Men were running in all directions. The gates were suddenly opened, and leaders began shouting to be heard above the din. Get outside and form up. Run! The Romans are attacking! It was chaotic as everyone rushed the gates at the same time.

The elephant handlers felt the same panic and spread it to their elephants. Their trumpeting added to the general noise and confusion. They were tightly chained to stout posts set firmly in the ground, but wouldn’t stand still for the fighting boxes to be mounted on their backs.

When the Romans were about halfway to the enemy camp, the Carthaginians began pouring out of their camp. They were completely surprised by Scipio’s early morning maneuver. Men armed themselves, but had no time to eat. Once outside their camp, the 55,000-man Carthaginian army assumed the same formation they had used for the previous three days, which is what Scipio hoped they would do. Scipio’s strong and experienced Roman Legions now stood opposite Hasdrubal’s more inexperienced Celtiberians. The elephants were nowhere to be seen and the men were greatly relieved.

Scipio immediately launched his cavalry and skirmishers in the half-light to threaten the enemy on the flanks and encourage them to believe a major attack was imminent. The Carthaginian cavalry led by Mago and the Numidian (modern Morocco/Algeria) Masinissa could offer little resistance. Their surprise cavalry attack on the Roman camp four days prior had backfired and resulted in heavy Carthaginian losses. They fled the field before the Romans could attack them.

The movement and dust kicked up by the Roman cavalry helped conceal Scipio’s revised formation. While his cavalry and skirmishers harried the flanks, Scipio held back his main attack. He was waiting to allow the effects of a missed breakfast to take its toll. After a few hours, the sun was up and Scipio ordered his Legions forward, but held back his Celtiberian center to merely threaten and pin in place the strong Carthaginian center.

From the beginning, Hasdrubal’s flanks were under heavy pressure from the front and sides by a combination of Legionaries, cavalry, and skirmishers. It still took an all-out effort to make them give ground. Unlike the Gauls of the Cisalpine, these Celtiberians were experienced fighters and matched the Romans in weaponry, shields, and physical conditioning.

It took a strong arm and wrist to wield sword and shield for an extended period of time and both sides were equally capable. Roman and Celtiberians pushed with their shields, stabbed, and slashed at their opponents exposed legs. This fighting was personal and exhausting. The Centurions rotated their men frequently to keep fresh men at the front.

Many of these Celtiberians and their leaders had been fighting Romans for the last 12 years and won battles as often as they lost them. Like the Romans, they used the same sword (gladius), large shield, and threw a spear not unlike the Roman pilum. In today’s fight, superior battlefield tactics and soldiers’ endurance would decide the outcome.

Slowly, the Celtiberians began to give ground under the enormous pressure of the greater numbers assailing them from front and flank. They began to back into their own center to protect their rear. The men in the center had no idea what was happening on the flanks or why they were being forced to squeeze tightly together. Their view of the battlefield was limited to the backs of the men standing to their front. They could only hear the shouting and clashing of shields and swords.

The highly feared elephants were finally ready to join the fight, but their handlers couldn’t get the men to move aside to let them pass. There was simply no room to move by man or beast. The battlefield had become compressed. The elephants added to the general feeling of anxiety as men constantly glanced over their shoulder to see where they were. The Carthaginians were well aware that these great beasts could trample them as well as the Romans. Every time one would trumpet, heads swiveled to see where it was. At this point, the elephants were a greater threat to the Carthaginians than to the Romans.

Once Hasdrubal’s center became a mass of confusion, Scipio launched his Celtiberians into the Carthaginians and completely overwhelmed them. Scipio’s Celtiberian Commander had done what he had said he would. He held his men back until Scipio ordered the attack and then showed themselves to be worthy fighters.

Earlier, the cloudy sky had been a blessing from the gods and kept the air cool, but the winds had picked up noticeably as the two sides engaged, and then the rain started falling, lightly at first. As the Romans pushed home their victory and began to cut down the enemy center, the skies opened up and delivered a blinding rainstorm. Shields became too heavy to hold. Visibility was down to zero as water poured from the men’s helmets and made the ground slippery.

As if by mutual agreement, the two sides began to back away from each other. The Africans and their Celtiberians took advantage of the opportunity and fled unmolested back into their camp. Scipio had no choice but to collect his dead and wounded and return to his camp. His plan had worked perfectly, but the gods denied him a complete victory. He vowed to resume the attack on the camp the next day, and eliminate this last threat to total Roman domination of Spain. He suspected that Mago and Hasdrubal would attempt an escape during the night and planned accordingly. He was not going to let them go until this battle was a complete victory.

That evening Mago, Hasdrubal, Masinissa and his other Commanders met to discuss their options. Mago, who had suffered a devastating defeat by Marcus Silanus, Scipio’s Second-in-Command, in a surprise attack on his camp a month prior, was the first to speak. I estimate that we lost about 30,000 men today, killed and captured. That’s bad enough, but I have a strong feeling that our allies will desert us in droves tonight. That’s what they did after our camp was attacked last month. I bet that by tomorrow morning we will have less than 20,000 fighting men still in camp, if that.

Hasdrubal looked defeated and his voice sounded flat. I agree. We’re in no condition to fight again tomorrow. Damn that Scipio! We need to evacuate the camp during the night and hope we can shake a Roman pursuit. Get the men ready to move shortly after midnight. Leave the dead, wounded, and the elephants. They’re no good to us now. We need to put miles between us and Scipio as fast as we can.

When he finished speaking, the Commander of the Celtiberian mercenaries entered the tent and apologetically declared that some of his men were already leaving the camp. We have no chance of beating the Romans in our current condition. I say flee now and reassemble later.

Hasdrubal responded despondently, Ask them to stay with us a little longer. We need to keep the army together. We’re all going to evacuate shortly. We had bad luck today, but the rain was a sign that the gods still favor us.

The Commander replied, I’ll try, but I can’t make any promises.

When the elephant handlers were told that they were to remain in camp while the army fled, they were in a panic over what to do. One of the men said, If the Romans discover the elephants they will kill them and us. Another said, If the Romans pursue the army, they may bypass us here in the fort. Once they are out of sight, we can lead the elephants south to Seville, and then to Gades (modern Cadiz) where we can reunite with the army. We must keep the elephants quiet until the Romans pass by.

At 2:00 A.M., the rear gates swung open, and the defeated Carthaginian Army silently filed out and into the cool blackness of the night. Hasdrubal, Mago, and Masinissa rode in the vanguard. The sky was still overcast, and the night was pitch black. The retreating Army disappeared within minutes. Their escape plan seemed to be working.

Earlier, Scipio posted Roman cavalry around the Carthaginian camp to watch for an escape, but it was too dark to see anything. Staying awake and alert in the saddle was a problem, but the peaceful night sounds were unmistakably interrupted by the sound of thousands of shuffling feet and hooves. The enemy was on the move heading north!

The scouts picked their way back to camp with the news. Scipio was awakened and ordered an immediate pursuit. This time, there would be no escape! The camp was filled with the sound of horns and men stirring from their tents. The Legionaries were told to bring enough food and water for three days and to expect to eat on the march. There would be no letup until Hasdrubal’s Army was brought to bay and decisively defeated. Within the hour, the Legions were on the move.

When the elephant handlers heard the Legions marching away, they rode the great beasts out the rear gate and turned south. They followed the Guadalquivir River south to the coast and turned southeast to Jerez. They decided to stay there to await developments.

As soon as it was light enough to see, the Roman cavalry sped in pursuit of the retreating Carthaginians. They soon made contact with Hasdrubal’s rear detachment, and would have overwhelmed them had not Hasdrubal sent reinforcements. Hasdrubal had lost his bid to escape; his Army stopped, turned about, and assumed a defensive posture. The Legions were being forced marched and were not far behind. Hasdrubal, Mago, and Masinissa began planning their own escape.

Scipio told his trumpeters to sound, Call the Legates. When they assembled, he led them ahead of the marching Legions to the battlefield. When the Legions arrive, he said, deploy them like they were lined up yesterday, with the Legions on the flanks and our Celtiberians in the center, and then give them a short rest in place. We outnumber Hasdrubal almost 3 to 1. I think the enemy Celtiberians will run as soon as we charge; the Africans will probably stand and fight. I want to envelop their flanks like we did yesterday. Right here will be the center point of the formation.

Within 15 minutes, the leading Legion came trotting into view. As they got closer, Scipio could see the exhaustion on their faces. One by one the Legions arrived and were led to their position. Soon a strong line was formed facing the skirmish already taking place to their front. The enemy line was formed, but was a shadow of its former self in numbers and length. Scipio’s line stretched well beyond the Carthaginian flanks. Let the men rest and drink for 30 minutes, then we will attack, said Scipio. While the Legionaries rested, the light infantry went forward to join the cavalry to keep the enemy pinned in place. The skirmishers would dash forward, throw their javelins, and run back to stay out of enemy missile range.

The Legionaries were eager to attack and spontaneously began to stand and ready themselves for battle. They were rested enough and wanted to finish what they had started the day before. Swords began to beat on shields. I think the men are telling us to let them go, Scipio said to his Legates. Sound the charge! Within minutes, thousands of Legionaries and Celtiberians were running in formation towards the waiting enemy. The men could sense a victory was at hand.

As expected, the Celtiberians fled into the surrounding hills as the numerically superior Romans smashed into them and began to encircle them. The killing, stopped by the rainstorm the previous day, now continued unabated. The ground was littered with bodies. Finally, a small remnant of 6,000 Carthaginians fled to a nearby hilltop for a last stand. They formed a defensive circle, quickly fortified it, and vowed to one another to fight to the death. Surround the hill, ordered Scipio, but do not attack until I order it. After an hour of rest and preparation, Scipio ordered an all-out attack up the hill. Surprisingly, it was repulsed with losses; such was the determination of the Carthaginians.

Laelius, Scipio’s able cavalry Commander and childhood friend, rode over to Scipio. I think we should try to get them to surrender. We’re going to lose a lot more men attacking up hill, and it’s not worth it. If they surrender, Rome could use them to work the mines, and we could all profit from their sale. Scipio smiled and called for Silanus.

When he arrived, Scipio said, I want you to talk with the Carthaginians on the hill. Promise them whatever you want, but get them to lay down their weapons and walk off the hill. Tell them that we will not kill them; they have my word. Silanus saluted Scipio and rode to the bottom of the hill, careful to keep out of missile range.

Men of Carthage, Silanus began, enough blood has been shed for one day. Let’s end this now. My Commander has given his word that not one of you will be harmed. We have food and water waiting for you. Drop your weapons and walk towards me.

When the nearest Legate saw that a surrender was actually taking place and that men were walking down the hill, he quickly organized his Legion to receive them. The Carthaginians had to be searched and their hands bound. When they arrived, begging for water, they were led to the wagons that carrying provisions. All of Scipio’s promises were kept. He was not a brutal man by instinct, and he respected his enemy.

Return the Legions to camp, Scipio told his Commanders. Loot the enemy camp tomorrow, and then burn it down. Silanus, I want you to march the prisoners to Qart Hadasht (Latin Carthago Nova and modern Cartagena) and arrange for their transportation to Rome.

*******

As Scipio’s Legions encircled the Carthaginians, their Commanders, Hasdrubal, Mago, and Masinissa, were able to ride away in the confusion of battle. Mago went directly to Gades, his former base, to recruit new troops from the surrounding tribes. In his mind, the disaster at Ilipa was a setback, but did not end the war in Spain. Masinissa decided to return to Numidia and Hasdrubal rode to the east coast.

After the battle, Scipio marched his victorious Legions farther into Spain on a punitive mission against two specific fortified cities. He had a score to settle with the Celtiberians who switched sides during a battle in 211 that resulted in the death of his father and uncle. When he arrived at the first city, his Legions surrounded it and prepared ladders to scale the walls. Their first attempt ended in failure. The occupants knew this was a life-and-death struggle; they would not be shown mercy by the men of Rome. Men, women, and children manned the walls and successfully fended off attack after attack. Finally, Scipio stood at the base of the wall to encourage his men. It worked. The next attempt succeeded, and the Legionaries gained the top of the walls. Wholesale slaughter was the order of the day. No one was spared. Upon hearing the fate of the first city, the second city capitulated and was led off into captivity.

Scipio then dispersed his Legions throughout Spain to subjugate other cities that refused to bow to Roman rule. He went to the Roman city of Carthago Nova (New Carthage) to plan his next move and sent Laelius to attack the Carthaginian city of Gades on the southwest coast. Laelius marched to Carteia (modern Gibraltar/Algeciras), boarded ships, and launched a seaborne invasion. He intended to row to Gades and land his troops. In the straits, he unexpectedly met a strong Carthaginian fleet and narrowly won a sea battle despite the strong currents. Because of the damage received, he abandoned his attack on Gades. Rome’s intent, however, was not missed by the City elders at Gades. They decided to switch sides from supporting Carthage to allying themselves with Rome. The political wind had shifted and so did their loyalty.

In the span of two months, Scipio and his Legionaries had destroyed two formidable Carthaginian Armies in Spain and were now extending their control over the entire Peninsula. Carthage reluctantly acknowledged that Spain was a lost cause and would no longer fight over it. Scipio’s brilliant mind knew it was time to move the war out of Spain and into Africa to threaten Carthage itself.

For his planned invasion of Africa, Scipio needed Senate authorization and fresh troops. He decided to return to Rome to lobby for his plan to attack Carthage, and to stand for election as Consul. Before departing Spain, he sent Laelius on a quick trip to Africa to visit Rome’s ally, the Numidian King Syphax. Scipio wanted to renew their friendship and alliance, but Syphax told Laelius that he would only talk with Scipio. Syphax’s continued cooperation with Rome was important enough that Scipio immediately sailed from Carthago Nova. He traveled with several warships to Abyla (modern Cueta; Spanish territory) on the coast of Morocco for the meeting.

After Ilipa, Hasdrubal Gisco had the same idea as Scipio; go to Africa to persuade Syphax to abandon Rome and join Carthage. To Hasdrubal’s and Scipio’s great surprise, their ships arrived at the harbor about the same time. Scipio and Hasdrubal decided not to engage in hostilities within the harbor for fear of insulting Syphax.

Hasdrubal and Scipio were warmly welcomed by Syphax and invited to enjoy his hospitality.