The War In Spain Continues!

[Guest Scanderbeg]

This is my continuation from the "The Rise of Scipio and Fall of New Carthage" thread. Enjoy!

 

 

Reorganizing the Legion

 

The sudden capture of New Carthage was a heavy hit on Carthage. Its pride in Spain was now Roman along with much needed supplies and its base of operations. The Punic generals in Spain now focused on preventing further defection of Spanish tribes in the area. Due to their past defection to Rome, Carthage had been especially cruel to many of the tribes. Now that the tide in Spain was once again changing the mistake Carthage made would be one it would start to regret. More and more tribes began siding with the Romans including tribes whom had been loyal to Carthage throughout the long span of the war.

 

With a base, Scipio was no longer in a hurry. He sent ships out to bring the news of the victory to Rome in order to get further support from the senate. While he spent his time in the city making further improvement in his army. He discarded the old short sword used by Rome in the past and replaced it with the Spanish gladius (gladius Hispaniensis). The sword would become the standard hallmark of the legion. With a large number of released Spanish hostages, large quantities of the sword were distributed to all the legionaries. Not only that but the Spanish javelin was also adopted as the new Roman pilum. Improvements and hard training programs were also done to his army before he retired to Tarraco for the winter. Due to their overlong services, by the end of the war Scipio's legions would be the closest thing Rome would get to a professional army before the Marius reforms to the military.

 

The Battle of Baecula 208B.C.

 

Publius Cornelius Scipio:35,000-40,000 infantry

Hasdubral Barca: 25,000-30,000 infantry

 

 

Throughout the winter, Scipio had sent out scouts throughout Spain to keep him informed of his enemies plans. By Spring he decided to march his army out and caught the Carthaginian general Hasdubral by surprise near Baecula. As soon as Hasdubral heard of Scipio's approach and facing a reasonably larger army, he quickly moved to a high plateau which was flanked by rocky hillocks and protected in the rear by a river. This was a great defensive position that would have made any general think twice before attacking. Scipio waited two days planning and observing the surrounding before he decided to march out and meet his opponent before another Punic general came to Hasdubrals aid.

 

Scipio's velites and other light infantry and a small force of heavy infantry went straight up the slope to face the Carthaginian army directly and surprise Hasdubral. The group suffered many casualties but succeeded in making headway up the hill. Livy claims that great enthusiasm overcame the Romans and even the slaves joined in the attack, picking up stones and flinging them at the Carthaginian soldiers. After a while the Hasdubral's forces became overwhelmed and he ordered the rest of his forces out of camp. While this was going on Scipio split the rest of his army in two, each side taking a flank of the Carthaginian army. The hard training now proved its worth as the Romans were able to reach the peak of the hill and outflank the opponent before he could had been able to fully form his army. Too late to do any new maneuvering, Hasdubral ordered the retreat of the troops who had not yet engaged the Romans.

 

Polybius claimed that 10,000 Punic infantry were killed in the battle and 2,000 horses captured. Livy gives a different number; stating the Carthaginians lost 8,000 total. Both however seem to agree that Hasdubral ordered his troops to withdraw early in the battle. First sending away his elephants and his treasury then his infantry. This assured Hasdubral's plans of moving to Italy and was soon replaced in Spain by another Hanno. Scipio made no attempts to stop Hasdubral; this was most likely a precaution as Carthaginian presence in Spain was still heavy. Scipio also relied on foraging for supplies, had he chosen to follow Hasdubral he would have difficulty foraging on group his enemy had already stepped on.

 

The Battle of Ilipa 206B.C.

 

Publius Cornelius Scipio: 45,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry

Hasdubral Gisgo, Mago and Masinissa: 50,000-70,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry, 32 elephants

 

 

The Carthaginians were now feeling the pressure in Spain. In 207 the officer sent to replace Hasdubral, Hanno, was caught off guard by a Roman column. Worse yet, controlling the Spanish tribes more and more difficult due to the heavy Roman presence. Little by little the tribes were showing allegiance to Rome and deserting their Punic oppressors. Poybius stated that before the battle of Baecula only two leaders called Scipio king. Now an entire assembly came to honor him with this title. In a show of restraint and a clearheadedness Polybius stated that Scipio declined the title and said that he replied by saying that;

 

"...he told that he wished to be called kingly by them, and actually to be kingly, but that he did not wish to be king or to be called so by any one. Having said this, he ordered them henceforth to call him General."

 

 

Hasdubral Gisgo(not to be mistaken for Hasubral Barca, the general at Baecula and future Mataurus) hade made a show of force in southwest Spain, near Gades. Dispersing his garrison around the cities. Scipio ordered his brother Lucius to take the city of Orongis to ensure a Roman victory before winter came.

By summer 206 Gisgo decided on a major offensive to overwhelm the young general. Polybius stated that Gisgo's army was as high as 74,000. With 70,000 making up the infantry force and 4,000 being cavalry. Scipio had 45,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry only half of which was made up of his trained and disciplined legions. Much of Scipio's army had been weakened by the need to garrison his newly acquired territory. Once again, the later Livy gives a different number; stating Gisgo's army was 50,000 infantry and 4,500 cavalry both stated that Gisgo had about 30 elephants.

 

Gisgo moved near Ilipa setting up camp in a high defensive position as a clear message to the Romans that he had come to fight. Near the very grave of his father, it is very likely that Scipio's mind wondered there, the very men whom made up half of his army had betrayed his father. He then decided to meet Hasdubral at his location, setting up camp on the foot of the opposing hill in such a way that he cut Hasdubrals men from gaining an escape to Gades. Seeing Scipio setup camp, the Carthaginian and Numidian cavalry led by Masinissa and Mago decided to do a surprise attack on him however an unexpected charge by the Roman horses in the flanks was able to beat back the attack.

 

For the next three days the Carthaginian and Roman army would meet in the exact location but never engage in full-blown battle. The meeting would likely involve sporadic skirmishers between cavalry and light troops. Neither one would attempt to provoke a conflict or attempt to surprise the enemy. Scipio set his army up in the classical Roman formation with the legions in the center, Spanish and allied infantry in the right and left supported by cavalry in the flanks. Very soon, the two armies got the idea that this would be the formation for the battle and this allowed Scipio to put his plan into works

 

The Battle

 

 

The last few days allowed for Scipio to study the enemy army and prepare for his actual attack. By the third day Scipio had had enough of the skirmishing and decided on a strategy to surprise his enemy. He ordered his men to wake up early and to properly feed themselves. Before dawn Scipio ordered his light troops and cavalry to attack the enemy camp. Rushed out and harassed by the velites, The Carthaginians formed the battle line in the original formation when they realized Scipio had altered his. Instead of the heavy infantry in middle, Scipio had placed them in the flanks with the cavalry and had put his Spanish troops in the middle.

The legions, which were placed in the flanks, were in the usual triple axes formation. Scipio had them turn to the right while the left wing turned to the left, Goldworthy states that:

 

"A narrow-fronted column will always move faster then a line, for it faces fewer obstacles and there is less need for its officer's to halt and reform the ranks at regular intervals"

 

 

They then began marching toward the enemy moving faster then the Spanish auxiliary in the center. As they approached the enemy they wheeled at 90 degrees and reforming the triple axes facing the enemy flanks. This brilliant maneuver was able to completely outflank the enemy and cavalry. As this happened they began to engage the flanks. With the slower Spanish infantry moving in the center, the powerful Libyan mercenaries were not able to come to the aid of their comrades for fear of retaliation from the weaker Spanish troops. The heavy infantry then proceeded to attack the elephants causing them to panic and rush to the middle where they crushed many of the Libyan troops.

 

Completely outflanked and surrounded, the Carthaginians were facing a fate similar to the Roman one at Cannae. The sudden surge of the Roman army broke through the Carthaginian lines and caused them to flee. They were rallied on a nearby hill but without any aid they faced certain doom. Just as luck would have it aid did come, in the form of nature. A large storm began and Scipio decided not to continue the battle. The Romans retired and the Carthaginians were able to safely return to camp. The damage however, had been done.

 

Aftermath

 

 

Sources do not give any number on casualties. However one must assume that they must have been rather high. Much like Hannibal, Scipio was able to dictate how and when the battle would be fought. The legion maneuvering gives little doubt as to how high their skill and discipline was. This type of maneuver would be impossible under the army of the earlier battles. The skill and discipline of the legionaries under Scipio would be the highest the pre-Marius legions would see. Something that would be lost following the years of the Second Punic War.

 

By the morning Hasdubral found his Spanish troops deserting him. Seeing no hope in Spain, He ordered a full retreat. The difficulty of a retreat from a nearby enemy especially one as elated as the Romans after their recent victory meant that many of the soldiers were cut down. Masinissa and Hasdubral were able to reach a coast in time and get to Africa while Mago made it to Gades. Many of the Punic troops were abandoned and dissolved throughout Spain. A plan to betray Gades to Rome gave further proof to the dying Carthaginian hold in Spain. More and more tribes pledged their allegiance to Rome. Some that declared their freedom were attacked. In one occasion an entire village committed suicide rather then fall to the hand of another oppressor. In the light of all this success in Spain, one event would occur that would put Romes weak hold on Spain at risk and brought about a short mutiny.

 

Scipio fell ill, and soon rumors of his death spread like wildfire which caused a mutiny in his army due to the long years service some of the legions had done and lack of pay or loot. Another insurrection occured among some Spanish tribes headed by Indibilis. As soon as Scipio recovered, he quelled the mutiny by using the large loot gained from the Spanish conquest. He then proceeded to attack Indibilis and handed him a defeat which stopped the Spanish tribes rebellion for the time being. Scipio then proceeded to capture Gades. This completed Roman conquest in Spain. However it would not be until Augustus reign that all of Spain would become completely pacified and annexed. Fierce fighting occurred there for time to time which handed Rome some heavy casualties.

[Guest Scanderbeg]

Just did some editing and revisions.

[Guest Scanderbeg]

Very very cool site. Moving animations for Second Punic War battles

 

Moving Animations website

[Hamilcar Barca]

Good stuff Skanderberg, always enjoyable to read.

 

On the topic of casualties, Cassius Dio recorded 15,000 Carthaginians falling at Ilipa in contrast to 800 Romans; However, its hard to say how reliable these figures are or what they're based on. It seems most of the army was slaughtered after they retreated a few days latter; Livy claims only 4,000 men including Hasdrubal survived afterwards.

[Guest Scanderbeg]

None of the sources I looked seemed to have casualties list for the battle....

Dio seems quite far away from the Punic Wars. Then again, he probably had hands on sources we don't ave anymore. It seems pretty wierd that Dio's numbers so ignored.

[Hamilcar Barca]

It is interesting that he did have those figures because his actual write up of Ilipa was very brief and uninformative.

 

edit* When I said Cassius Dio I meant Appian, sorry.

[Guest Scanderbeg]

Either way the time periods don't really seem to gap between them when considering the Punic Wars.

[Primus Pilus]

You may have noticed I stickied the 3 pages by Scanderbeg and Hamilcar Barca. I'd hate for these to get lost in the forum as time goes by.