The Battle of Dertosa, also known as the ‘’’Battle of Ibera’’’, was fought in the spring of 215 BC on the south of the Ebro River across the town of Dertosa. A Roman army, under the command of Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus and Publius Cornelius Scipio defeated a similar size Carthaginian army under Hasdrubal Barca. The defeat cost the Carthaginians a chance to reinforce Hannibal at a critical juncture, and the Romans gained the initiative in Hispania. This battle also demonstrates the danger of implementing the Double Envelopment tactic. Combatants Roman Republic Carthage Commanders Publius Cornelius Scipio†, Titus Sempronius Longus Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, Gaius Flaminius†, Fabius Maximus, Claudius Marcellus†, Lucius Aemilius Paullus†, Gaius Terentius Varro, Marcus Livius Salinator, Gaius Claudius Nero, Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus†, Masinissa Hannibal Barca, Hasdrubal Barca†, Mago Barca†, Hasdrubal Gisco, Maharbal, Syphax, Hanno the... Tortosa (Latin Dertusa) is the capital of the comarca of Baix Ebre, in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain, located at 12 metres above the sea, by the Ebre river. ... Carthaginian settlements in the western Mediterranean in the early 3rd century BC. The term Carthage can refer either to an ancient city in North Africa, located on the eastern side of Lake Tunis across from the center of modern Tunis in Tunisia, or to the civilization within the citys... See also Roman Republic (18th century) and Roman Republic (19th century). ... Hasdrubal Barca (d. ... Publius Cornelius Scipio (died 211 BC) was a general and statesman of the Roman Republic. ... Combatants Roman Republic Carthage Commanders Publius Cornelius Scipio†, Titus Sempronius Longus Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, Gaius Flaminius†, Fabius Maximus, Claudius Marcellus†, Lucius Aemilius Paullus†, Gaius Terentius Varro, Marcus Livius Salinator, Gaius Claudius Nero, Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus†, Masinissa Hannibal Barca, Hasdrubal Barca†, Mago Barca†, Hasdrubal Gisco, Maharbal, Syphax, Hanno the... 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. ... Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Hannibal Titus Sempronius Longus Strength 26,000 45,000 Casualties Unknown, but low 20,000 The Battle of the Trebia (or Trebbia) was the first major battle of the Second Punic War, fought between the Carthaginian forces of Hannibal and the Roman Republic in 218... Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Hanno Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus Strength 10,000 infantry, 1,000 cavalry 20,000 infantry (2 Roman and 2 Allied Legions), 2,200 cavalry Casualties 6,000 killed and 2,000 captured unknown, light // Introduction The Battle of Cissa is part of the Second Punic... Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Hannibal Gaius Flaminius † Strength 30,000 soldiers 30,000-40,000 soldiers Casualties 1,500 soliders about 15,000 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... Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Himilco Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus Strength Approximately 40 Quinqueremes Approximately 55 Quinqueremes and Triremes Casualties 4 sunk and 25 captured none sunk or captured Battle of Ebro river was a naval battle fought between a Carthaginian fleet of approximately 40 quinqueremes under Himilco and a... For the eleventh century battle in the Norman conquest of the Mezzogiorno, see Battle of Cannae (1018) Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Hannibal Lucius Aemilius Paullus†, Gaius Terentius Varro Strength 40,000 heavy infantry, 6,000 light infantry, 8,000 cavalry 86,400–87,000 men (sixteen Roman and Allied... 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. ... Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Hasdrubal The Bald Titus Manlius Torquatus Strength 15,000 infantry, 1,500 cavalry +Sardinians (?) + Elephants (?) 20,000 infantry (2 Roman and 2 Allied Legions), 1,200 cavalry Casualties Most killed or captured unknown, // Introduction The battle of Cornus, or Caralis took place when a Carthaginian... 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. ... Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Hasdrubal Barca Publius Cornelius Scipio† Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus† Strength 35,000 foot, 3,000 Numidians, 7,500 Spanish tribals 30,000 foot, 3,000 Horse + 20,000 Celt-Iberian mercenaries Casualties unknown- approximately 22,000 // Introduction The Battle of the Upper Baetis was fought... 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 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. ... 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. ... Combatants Carthage Roman Republic East Numidia Commanders Hannibal Scipio Africanus Masinissa Strength almost 58,000 infantry 6,000 cavalry 80 war elephants 34,000 Roman infantry 3,000 Roman cavalry 6,000 Numidian cavalry Casualties 31,000 killed and wounded 15,000 captured 1,500 killed 4,000 wounded The... The Punic Wars were a series of three wars fought between Rome and the Phoenician city of Carthage. ... The First Punic War (264 to 241 BC) was the first of three major wars fought between Carthage and the Roman Republic. ... The Mercenary War was a uprising of mercenaries in the employ of Carthage in the 3rd century BC. The revolt was a consequence of delays in payment following the defeat of Carthage in the First Punic War. ... Combatants Roman Republic Carthage Commanders Publius Cornelius Scipio†, Titus Sempronius Longus Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, Gaius Flaminius†, Fabius Maximus, Claudius Marcellus†, Lucius Aemilius Paullus†, Gaius Terentius Varro, Marcus Livius Salinator, Gaius Claudius Nero, Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus†, Masinissa Hannibal Barca, Hasdrubal Barca†, Mago Barca†, Hasdrubal Gisco, Maharbal, Syphax, Hanno the... Combatants Roman Republic Carthage Commanders Scipio Aemilianus Hasdrubal the Boetarch Strength 40,000 90,000 Casualties 17,000 62,000 The Third Punic War (149 to 146 BC) was the third and last of the Punic Wars fought between the former Phoenician colony of Carthage, and the Roman Republic. ... This article is about the Spanish river. ... Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus (d. ... Publius Cornelius Scipio (died 211 BC) was a general and statesman of the Roman Republic. ... Hasdrubal Barca (d. ... Roman theater at Mérida; the statues are replicas Hispania was the name given by the Romans to the whole of the Iberian Peninsula (modern Portugal, Spain, Andorra and Gibraltar) and to two provinces created there in the period of the Roman Republic: Hispania Citerior and Hispania Ulterior. ...

Strategic Situation

Italy

After the Battle of Cannae, several towns in Campania, Samnium, Lucania, Apulia and Bruttium had defected to Carthage. Hannibal had spend the 216/215 BC trying to secure a seaport, attacking Neapolis, Cumae and Nola unsuccessfully. A detachment under Mago Barca had secured objectives in Lucania and Bruttium. Leaving Hanno the Elder in command of the army in Bruttium, Mago sailed to Carthage to obtain reinforcements. For the eleventh century battle in the Norman conquest of the Mezzogiorno, see Battle of Cannae (1018) Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Hannibal Lucius Aemilius Paullus†, Gaius Terentius Varro Strength 40,000 heavy infantry, 6,000 light infantry, 8,000 cavalry 86,400–87,000 men (sixteen Roman and Allied... Campania is a region of Southern Italy, bordering on Lazio to the north-west, Molise to the north, Puglia to the north-east, Basilicata to the east, and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west. ... Samnite warriors Samnium (Oscan Safinim) was a region of the southern Apennines in Italy that was home to the Samnites, a group of Sabellic tribes that controlled the area from about 600 BC to about 290 BC. Samnium was delimited by Latium in the north, by Lucania in the south... For the mountain in Canada named after Lucania, see Mount Lucania. ... Apulia (official Italian name: Puglia) is a region in southeastern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Otranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. ... Calabria, formerly Brutium, is a region in southern Italy which occupies the toe of the Italian peninsula south of Naples. ... Bust of Hannibal Hannibal (247 BC – 183/182 BC; sometimes referred to as Hǎnnibal Barca) was a Carthaginian politician and statesman who is considered to be one of the finest military generals in history. ... Mago Barca (also spelled Magon) (243 BC - 203 BC), brother of the Carthaginian General Hannibal, he played a major role in the Second Punic War against Rome. ... Hanno the Elder was a Carthaginian general who served under Hannibal during the Second Punic War. ...

The Romans had fielded several armies, which followed a strategy of avoiding Hannibal in the open field and striking at his allies. The main Roman army under the dictator M. Julius Pera was guarding the direct approach to Rome. Marcus Claudius Marcellus battled Hannibal at Nola and secured Neapolis. The Master of Horse, T. Sempronius Gracchus, was on the field with a third army. Other legions guarded against any Gaulish uprisings in north Italy. Marcus Claudius Marcellus (c. ...

Sardinia

The legion posted in Sardinia suffered from sickness. The praetor, Muscius Scavola, had to collect pay and provisions for the troops locally. This had caused unrest and Hampsicora, a Sardinian chieftain, was fermenting rebellion and requested Carthaginian aid.

Africa

Carthage had raised 12,000 Infantry, 1,500 cavalry and 20 elephants under the command of Mago, which was to sail to Italy escorted by 60 Quinqueremes. Upon receiving the appeal from Sardinia, a similar sized army was raised under Hasdrubal the Bald, for an expedition to Sardinia. A quinquireme was a galley, a warship propelled by oars, developed from the earlier trireme. ...

Spain

Hasdrubal has been on the defensive since the defeat of his fleet at Battle of Ebro River in the spring of 217 BC. He had left Boaster with a force to guard the Ebro line. Boaster had retreated when the Romans had crossed the Ebro, furthermore, he was tricked into surrendering the Spanish tribal hostages held at Saguntum to the Romans. This had caused revolts in Barcid Spain, especially among the Trudetani tribe near Gades in 216 BC. Hasdrubal had received 4,000 foot and 500 horse, with orders to march to Italy after securing Spain. Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Himilco Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus Strength Approximately 40 Quinqueremes Approximately 55 Quinqueremes and Triremes Casualties 4 sunk and 25 captured none sunk or captured Battle of Ebro river was a naval battle fought between a Carthaginian fleet of approximately 40 quinqueremes under Himilco and a...

Gnaeus Scipio had received 8,000 reinforcements under his Brother Publius Scipio after the battle of Ebro River. The brothers enjoyed proconsular rank, and exercised joint command. The brothers adopted an aggressive naval strategy, raiding Barcid possessions in Spain and Balearic Islands. The Scipios recruited auxiliary troops from Spanish tribes, expanded their operational sphere, consolidated their hold and dealt with tribal unrest.

Prelude

The Romans had crossed the Ebro River and laid siege to Ibera, a small Spanish town allied to Carthage. Hasdrubal, leaving Himilco in charge at Cartagena, marched up and besieged a town allied with the Romans across Dertosa. The Scipios moved to engage Hasdrubal, and the armies encamped on a plain between Ibera and Dertosa within 5 miles of each other. After 5 days of skirmishing, the commanders drew out their armies for battle.

Opposing Armies

The Roman Infantry consisted of 2 Roman legions of 10,000 soldiers, 18,000 allied Italian troops. The cavalry was made up of 600 Roman and 1,800 Italian heavy horse. The Romans had recruited an auxiliary force of 2,000 Spanish foot and 400 horse.

Hasdrubal had 15,000 Libyan spearmen, 1000 mercenaries (most Ligurians) and 8,000 Spanish troops in his infantry detachment. The Carthaginian cavalry was made up of 450 Libyan/Punic and 1,200 Spanish heavy horse and 2,300 light Numidian horse. The Carthaginian army also had 20 elephants and 1,000 Balearic slingers.

Deployment before Battle

The Romans posted their troops in traditional manner, with the cavalry on the wings and the infantry in the center. The Roman and Spanish horse was placed on the right wing, the allied Italian horse on the left wing. The infantry line had the Italian troops on the wings next to the Horse, and the Roman legions in the center. 2,000 Roman/Italian troops and the Spanish infantry guarded the Roman camp.

Hasdrubal placed the Libyan and Spanish horse on his left wing facing the Roman horse, and the Numidian light horse on his right wing facing the Italian horse. He placed a phalanx of Libyans infantry, backed up by mercenaries, and next to the Spanish horse facing the Italian foot, and another phalanx of Libyan foot was placed next to the Numidian horse, also facing Italian foot. Between the Libyan infantry phalanxes, facing the Roman legions, was a thinned out Spanish infantry line. The Elephants were divided into two groups of 10 and placed in front of the cavalry on the wings. The Balearic slingers formed a skirmish line in front of the infantry. 2/3,000 troops were left to guard the Carthaginian camp.

Battle

Phase 1

The Roman legions charged the thinned out line of Spanish infantry opposite them, who were driven back almost instantly. The Carthaginian elephants placed on both the wings charged the Roman and Italian cavalry opposite them. The charge proved ineffective, and the elephants played no further role in the battle. The Italian infantry closed to support the Roman legions.

Phase 2

The Libyans and mercenaries placed on the flanks of the hard pressed Spaniards charged the Italian infantry opposite them, and the Italians are pushed back. The Carthaginian cavalry placed on the wings, on the flank of the Libyans close with the Roman and Italian horse, but they only skirmish, and their opponents manage to hold their ground, despite being outnumbered on both wings by their opponents. At this juncture, The Roman legions break the Spanish formation, and the Spaniards flee the battle.

Phase 3

The Carthaginian cavalry, seeing their center break and run, also takes flight on both wings. This dooms the Libyans and the mercenaries, who had the Italians hard pressed. The Libyans and mercenaries continue to fight, inflicting casualties and getting almost wiped out. A few manage to join the rout.

Aftermath

Hasdrubal survived the battle with most of his elephants and cavalry, and a few infantry (mostly Spaniards). The Roman pursuit was not vigorous enough to repeat their success after the Battle of Cissa. Hasdrubal retired to Cartagena, leaving the Romans firmly established on the south of the Ebro. Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Hanno Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus Strength 10,000 infantry, 1,000 cavalry 20,000 infantry (2 Roman and 2 Allied Legions), 2,200 cavalry Casualties 6,000 killed and 2,000 captured unknown, light // Introduction The Battle of Cissa is part of the Second Punic...

Hasdrubal would be reinforced by 2 armies under Mago Barca and Hasdrubal Gisco. The Carthaginians will not mount any effective campaigns north of the Ebro again. Mago Barca (also spelled Magon) (243 BC - 203 BC), brother of the Carthaginian General Hannibal, he played a major role in the Second Punic War against Rome. ... Hasdrubal Gisco was a Carthaginian general during the Second Punic War. ...

The Scipio brothers will operate in the south of Ebro, mounting raids, instigating Spanish tribes to rebel, and building up their powerbase. The Scipios would recieve no reinforcements from Italy. They will fight the Barca brothers and Gisco with varying results until 212 BC, when they will launch a major campaign which will lead to the Battle of the Upper Baetis. Combatants Carthage Roman Republic Commanders Hasdrubal Barca Publius Cornelius Scipio† Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus† Strength 35,000 foot, 3,000 Numidians, 7,500 Spanish tribals 30,000 foot, 3,000 Horse + 20,000 Celt-Iberian mercenaries Casualties unknown- approximately 22,000 // Introduction The Battle of the Upper Baetis was fought...

Importance

Hasdrubal had tried to imitate the tactics used by Hannibal at Cannae. While Hannibal had brought about a spectacular victory, Hasdrubal had suffered a shattering defeat. Some of the factors for this contrasting result are:

• • Hannibal had a better army and staff officers, and better control his troops. The Spaniards of Hasdrubal were lukewarm about leaving Spain, which may have affected morale.
  • The skill of the Carthaginian staff officers at Cannae is demonstrated by the actions of Hasdrubal (not Hasdrubal Barca), commanding the heavy cavalry. His unit charged and broke the Roman horse, regrouped, crossed the battlefield to attack the Italian horse from the rear, again regrouped, then attacked the Roam infantry from the rear. These were extremely complex moves orchestrated with flawless efficiency, a tribute to the skill of the troops and their commander. Hasdrubal Barca did not have such assets at Dertosa.
  • Hannibal had a decisive advantage in Cavalry (10,000 against 6,000) at Cannae and took advantage of this to the fullest. Hasdrubal had a slight advantage (4,000 against 2,800), but failed to take any advantage or devise any formation to gain the upper hand.
  • Hannibal had no elephants at Cannae. Hasdrubal had 20, but he gained no advantage from his use of them.

Strategic Importance

Although the Battle of Dertosa is not given the same importance as the Battle of the Metaurus, it had a critical influence on the strategic course of the war. 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. ...

• • Had Hasdrubal won the Battle, there would have been at least 4 Carthaginian armies operating in Italy by 214 BC, that of Hasdrubal, Hannibal, Mago and Hanno the Elder.

• • The Cornerstone of the strategy Hamilcar Barca had planned depended on undisputed command of the Barcids in Spain, and the ability to draw manpower and wealth from it. The defeat caused Carthage to send Mago Barca, along with Hasdrubal Gisco, a political rival of the Barcids to Spain. This ended the Barcid domination, with far reaching consequences. Also, Hannibal ws never to get reinforcements from Spain.
  • The Romans gained the initiative in Spain, which caused a drain of resources better employed elsewhere. Mago was sent to Spain with the reinforcements meant for Hannibal.
  • Although Hannibal would recieve 4,000 Numidian Horse and 40 elephants in 215 BC, these are pitiful compared to the 17,000 soldiers that would be lost in Sardinia and the 28,000 soldiers that would be tied up in Sicily later. In short, the defeat at Dertosa took away most of the political capital Hannibal had won in Carthage through his victory at Cannae.