NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Battle of Baecula

The Battle of Baecula was Scipio Africanus’s first major field battle after he had taken command of Roman interests in Spain during the Second Punic War, in which he routed the Carthaginian army under the command of Hasdrubal Barca. Battles of the Second Punic War Created by Panairjdde with GMT (Generic Mapping Tools, gmt. ... The Second Punic War was fought between Carthage and Rome from 218 to 202 BC. It was the second of three major wars fought between the former Phoenician colony of Carthage, and the Roman Republic, then still confined to the Italian Peninsula. ... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC - 200s BC - 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC 160s BC 150s BC Years: 213 BC 212 BC 211 BC 210 BC 209 BC - 208 BC - 207 BC 206 BC... See also Roman Republic (18th century) and Roman Republic (19th century). ... A map of the central Mediterranean Sea, showing the location of Carthage (near modern Tunis). ... Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Major (Latin: P·CORNELIVS·P·F·L·N·SCIPIO·AFRICANVS) (236 - 183 BC) was a general in the Second Punic War and statesman of the Roman Republic. ... The Second Punic War was fought between Carthage and Rome from 218 to 202 BC. It was the second of three major wars fought between the former Phoenician colony of Carthage, and the Roman Republic, then still confined to the Italian Peninsula. ... The Battle of Ticinus (also Tichino or Techino) a battle of the Second Punic War fought between the Carthaginian forces of Hannibal and the Romans under Publius Cornelius Scipio in November 218 BC. It was the first battle to take place on Italian soil. ... The Battle of the Trebia (or Trebbia) was a major battle of the Second Punic War fought between the Carthaginian forces of Hannibal and the Roman Republic in 218 BC. // Prelude Hannibal began the Second Punic War in 219 BC by attacking the Roman-allied city of Saguntum, in modern... The Battle of Lake Trasimene (June 24, 217 BC, April on the Julian calendar) was a Roman defeat in the Second Punic War between the Carthaginians under Hannibal and the Romans under the consul Gaius Flaminius. ... The Battle of Cannae, August 2, 216 BC, was a significant battle of the Second Punic War. ... The First Battle of Nola was fought in 216 BC between the forces of Hannibal and a Roman force led by Marcus Claudius Marcellus. ... The Second Battle of Nola was fought in 215 BC between Hannibals army and a Roman Army under Marcus Claudius Marcellus. ... The Third Battle of Nola was fought in 214 BC between Hannibal and Roman army led by Marcus Claudius Marcellus. ... The First Battle of Capua was fought in 212 BC between Hannibal and a Roman army. ... The Battle of the Silarus was fought in 212 BC between Hannibals army and a Roman force led by Praetor M. Centenius Penula. ... The first Battle of Herdonia was fought in 212 BC between Hannibals Carthaginian army and Roman forces led by Praetor Gnaeus Fulvius. ... The Battle of the Upper Baetis was fought in 211 BC between a Carthaginian force led by Hasdrubal (Hannibals brother) and Roman force led by Publius Cornelius Scipio and his brother Gnaeus. ... The Second Battle of Capua was fought in 211 BC when the Romans besieged Capua. ... The Second Battle of Herdonia of the Second Punic War, was fought in 210 BC between Hannibals army and the Roman forces of Fulvius Centumalus. ... The Battle of Numistro was fought in 210 BC between Hannibals army and a Roman army led by Marcus Claudius Marcellus. ... The Battle of Asculum was fought in 209 BC between Hannibals Carthaginian army, and a Roman force. ... The Battle of Grumentum was fought in 207 BC between Romans led by Gaius Claudius Nero, and Hannibals Carthaginian army. ... The Battle of the Metaurus was a pivotal battle in the ancient conflict between Rome and Carthage, fought in 207 BC near the Metaurus River in Italy. ... The Battle of Ilipa was a battle of the Second Punic War. ... The Battle of Crotona was fought in 204 BC between Hannibals Carthaginian army, and a Roman force led by Sempronius. ... The Battle of Bagbrades (also known as Campi Magni, Great Plains) was fought in 203 BC between a combined Carthaginian and Numidian force, and the Roman army of Scipio Africanus. ... The Battle of Zama, generally accepted to have been fought on or around October 19 of 202 BC, was the final and decisive battle of the Second Punic War. ... Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Major (Latin: PÂ·CORNELIVSÂ·PÂ·FÂ·LÂ·NÂ·SCIPIOÂ·AFRICANVSÂ¹) (235â€“183 BC) was a general in the Second Punic War and statesman of the Roman Republic. ... The Second Punic War was fought between Carthage and Rome from 218 to 202 BC. It was the second of three major wars fought between the former Phoenician colony of Carthage, and the Roman Republic, then still confined to the Italian Peninsula. ...

Prelude

After Scipio’s surprise attack and capture of Carthago Nova, the three Carthaginian armies in Spain remained separated, and their generals at odds with each other, thus giving the Romans a chance to deal with them one by one. Carthago Nova (New Carthage, Carthage already meaning new city in Punic) is the Latin name of the most important Carthaginian coastal trading colony in Spain. ...

Early in 208 BC, Scipio moved against Hasdrubal, whose force wintered at Baecula, on the upper reached of the river Baetis (modern day Guadalquiver). Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC - 200s BC - 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC 160s BC 150s BC Years: 213 BC 212 BC 211 BC 210 BC 209 BC - 208 BC - 207 BC 206 BC... Hasdrubal was the name of several Carthaginian generals, among whom the following are the most important: 1. ...

Upon learning the approach of the Romans, Hasdrubal shifted his camp to a strong defensive position — a high and deep plateau south of Baecula, protected by ravines on the flanks and the river to the front and rear. Moreover the plateau was formed into two steps, on which Hasdrubal posted his light troops on the lower one and his main camp behind.

After his arrival, Scipio at first was uncertain how to attack such a formidable position, but concerned that the other two Carthaginian armies might take advantage of his inaction and join with Hasdrubal, he took action on the third day.

Battle

Before his main attack, Scipio sent one detachment to block the entrance to the valley separating the two armies and one to the road leading north to Baecula, thus providing security to his main force while harassing any Carthaginian attempt to retreat.

After these preliminary deployments were done, the roman light troops advanced against their Carthaginian counterparts on the first step. Despite the steep slope and under a shower of missile attack, the Romans had little difficulty driving back the Carthaginian light troops once they got into hand to hand combat.

After reinforcing his leading force, Scipio derived a pincer attack on the flanks of the Carthaginian main camp, by ordering Gaius Laelius to lead half of the remaining heavy foot to the right of the enemy position, and he himself scaling the left. Gaius Laelius, general and statesman, was a friend of the elder Scipio, whom he accompanied on his Spanish campaign (210 BC - 206 BC). ...

Hasdrubal, meanwhile, was under the impression that the roman attack was only a skirmish (Scipio had hidden his main army in camp until the final attack), failed to properly deploy his main force, thus his ill prepared army was caught on three sides by the Romans.

Despite being trapped, Hasdrubal was able to retreat unmolested with his elephants, his main baggage train, and most of his Carthaginian troops. It appeared that his main losses in the battle were most of his light troops and Spanish allies. This was largely due to the legionnarie's choice to plunder the Carthaginian camp rather than pursue Hasdrubal with any earnest.

Aftermath

After the battle, Hasdrubal led his depleted army over the western passes of the Pyrenees into Gaul, and subsequently into Italy with a mostly Gallic force in an ill fated attempt to join his brother Hannibal. Central Pyrenees The Pyrenees (French: PyrÃ©nÃ©es; Spanish: Pirineos; Occitan: PirenÃ¨us or PirenÃ¨as; Catalan Pirineus; Aragonese: PerinÃ©s; Basque: Pirinioak) are a range of mountains in southwest Europe that form a natural border between France and Spain. ... Hannibals feat in crossing the Alps with war elephants passed into European legend: a fresco detail, 1510, Capitoline Museums, Rome Hannibal (from Punic, literally Baal is merciful to me, 247 BC â€“ 182 BC) was a politician, statesman and considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. ...

Many historians criticized Scipio in letting Hasdrubal escaped from Spain. But a pursuit by the Romans, through unknown, mountainous, and hostile terrains, while leaving two full strength and numerously superior Carthaginian armies to his rear, would just be risking another disaster like the Battle of Lake Trasimene, and highly foolish. The Battle of Lake Trasimene (June 24, 217 BC, April on the Julian calendar) was a Roman defeat in the Second Punic War between the Carthaginians under Hannibal and the Romans under the consul Gaius Flaminius. ...

Instead, Scipio retired his army to Tarraco, and managed to secure alliances with most of the Spanish tribes, who switched side after the Roman successes in Carthago Nova and Baecula. A picture from the air Tarragona Ampitheatre Tarragona is a city located in the south of Catalonia, Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea. ...

Meanwhile, Carthaginian reinforcements landed in Spain during the winter, and would soon launch a final attempt to recover their losses.

References

Categories: 208 BC | Battles of the Second Punic War Basil Henry Liddell Hart (October 31, 1895 _ January 29, 1970) was a military historian and is considered among the great military strategists of the 20th century. ... Field Marshal Sir Nigel Bagnall was Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army, between 1985 and 1989. ... Polybius (ca 203 BC - 120 BC, Greek Î Î¿Î»Ï…Î²Î¹Î¿Ï‚) was a Greek historian of the Mediterranean world famous for his book called The Histories or The Rise of the Roman Empire, covering the period of 220 BC to 146 BC. // Personal experiences As the former tutor of Scipio Aemilianus , the famous adopted...

Contents

Prelude GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Battle

Aftermath

References

Prelude