Great Plains (203 BC)

Scipio, the victor of Baecula and Ilipa, has led his battle-hardened army to Africa, and has placed the city of Utica under siege. The Great Numidian cavalry leader, Masinissa, has gone over to the Roman side. While the siege continues, …

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Scipio, the victor of Baecula and Ilipa, has led his battle-hardened army to Africa, and has placed the city of Utica under siege. The Great Numidian cavalry leader, Masinissa, has gone over to the Roman side. While the siege continues, the Carthaginians raise a large, but untried army. Rashly, the Carthaginians advance to raise the siege. Scipio leaves a siege force and meets the larger Carthaginian army on the Great Plains. After two days of skirmishing, Scipio initiates the battle, sending Masinissa and his crack cavalry against the Carthaginian right while the superbly trained legionary infantry moves to envelop the Carthaginian left. Initially, the poorly trained Carthaginian center holds, but Scipio's better-trained troops quickly overwhelm both flanks. Sensing approaching disaster, the Carthaginian center breaks. The entire Carthaginian army disintegrates and suffers heavy losses as the survivors stream back to Carthage. Scipio returns to the siege of Utica, and the desperate Carthaginians turn to their last hope—Hannibal. They recall their greatest general from Italy. The following year, the final battle of the Second Punic War (Zama) will be fought by its two greatest generals, Hannibal and Scipio.

Zana, Tunisia

The Battle of the Great Plains, also known as the Battle of the Bagrades, was a battle fought between Scipio Africanus of Rome and a combined Carthaginian and Numidian army late in the Second Punic War. It occurred on the plains south of Bulla Regia around the upper Bagradas River. The attack was designed as a diversionary tactic by Rome to disrupt Hannibal's attack on Italy. By defeating the Carthaginians, Scipio Africanus caused Hannibal to leave Italy and return to Africa, where he was later defeated at Zama.

Wikipedia: Battle of the Great Plains

Carthaginian

Roman

Second Punic War