Ilipa (206 BC)

Hasdrubal’s departure left only two Carthaginian armies in Spain under mediocre commanders (Hasdrubal – yes another one, and Mago). Scipio made steady progress against them, securing territory and prompting many Spanish tribes to come over to the Roman side. Forced …

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Hasdrubal’s departure left only two Carthaginian armies in Spain under mediocre commanders (Hasdrubal – yes another one, and Mago). Scipio made steady progress against them, securing territory and prompting many Spanish tribes to come over to the Roman side. Forced to give battle or give up Spain, their most valuable province, the Carthaginian armies united and took up position on the plains outside of Ilipa. For three days both armies deployed with their heavy infantry in the center and light troops on each wing. Scipio assumed that the Carthaginians would continue to deploy in this manner and he was correct. On the fourth day he sent light troops and cavalry to attack the Carthaginian camp. Hasdrubal responded by deploying his army with the heavies in the center. Only after the Roman screen retired did he see the Romans deployed with legionary infantry on both wings and Spanish troops plus lights in the center. The Roman cavalry and legions quickly deployed and began destroying both Carthaginian light wings. Hasdrubal was unable to send any heavies to support the wings because he would open holes in the center that the Romans would pour through to destroy his army. Both Carthaginian wings disintegrated and the excellent heavy troops in the center were facing destruction until a providential thunderstorm allowed some of them to escape. The combined Carthaginian army was destroyed as a fighting force, and Spain now belonged to Rome. Scipio later crossed into Africa where his victories at The Great Plains and Zama would earn him the title “Africanus.”

Seville, Spain

The Battle of Ilipa was an engagement considered by many as Scipio Africanus’s most brilliant victory in his military career during the Second Punic War in 206 BC.

Wikipedia: Battle of Ilipa

Carthaginian

Roman

Second Punic War