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Bagradas (253 BC)

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Title
Bagradas (253 BC)
Description
The Romans are on the verge of defeating Carthage and ending the First Punic War. Regulus and a veteran Roman army landed in Africa, and, though woefully short of cavalry, defeated several Carthaginian forces. Desperate, the Carthaginians turned to an …
Publisher
Date
-203
Scenario#
509
Scenario Description
The Romans are on the verge of defeating Carthage and ending the First Punic War. Regulus and a veteran Roman army landed in Africa, and, though woefully short of cavalry, defeated several Carthaginian forces. Desperate, the Carthaginians turned to an otherwise unemployed Greek general named Xanthippus, who knew how to train and command an army, as well as how to put the Carthaginian advantages in mounted troops into use. The Carthaginian army marched into the Bagradas Valley and Regulus, confident of yet another victory, offered battle. It was to prove a costly mistake for him. The Carthaginian cavalry and elephants routed the Roman cavalry and then turned on the flanks and rear of the Roman army, now fully engaged with the Carthaginian infantry. The Roman army disintegrated. Those who survived told of the horror of being overrun by elephants and cavalry. This Carthaginian victory prolonged the war. It took several years before any Roman army would stand and fight against elephants. The larger lesson—proper employment of a combined arms army over a largely infantry army resulting in victory—was lost on the Romans. They had to re-learn it at the Trebbia, Lake Trasimenus, and Cannae.
Location
Medjerda, Tunisia
Battle Narrative
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.
Narrative Source
Combatants
Carthaginian
Roman
Additional Information
First Punic War

Geolocation