Discover Top Posts Tagged with #200s bc

Publius Cornelius Scipio "Africanus"

While the Second Punic War raged on and Hannibal continued to tread around Italy defeating whatever Rome threw at him and raising a ruckus, a young man by the name of Publius Cornelius Scipio took command of the legions fighting Hasdrubal Barca (Hannibal's brother) in Hispania. No man wanted the position, but Scipio's father and brother had already fallen in the Iberian campaign, so despite being only 25 upon assuming command in 211 BCE, he saw no choice but to take on the responsibility.

After successfully conquering the peninsula he returned to Rome to be elected consul in 205 BCE, and presented his plan to defeat Carthage. Instead of attempting to take on Hannibal in Italy, he instead made to sail for Carthage herself and lay siege to the city. Sailing a year later, he defeated a Carthaginian and Numidian force at Utica, and as he threatened to march on the capital city, the Carthaginians were forced to recall Hannibal and his army from the Italian peninsula to come to the defense of their home.

The final showdown of the Second Punic War came on October 19, 202 BCE, as Scipio's Roman host handily defeated the Carthaginian army at Zama, and Carthage was forced to capitulate on humiliating terms, reduced from a major power in the Mediterranean to little more than a mere regional city-state.

For his part, Scipio earned the nickname of "Africanus". Coincidentally, his grandson - by adoption - would give the final blow to Carthage some 50 years later, when Scipio Aemilianus Africanus led the Roman forces against Carthage in the Third Punic War.

#roman army #200s bc #200s bce #3rd century bc #3rd century bce #art #ancient art #military #military history #history #war #Second Punic War #Theme: Punic Wars #punic wars #ancient warfare

After Cannae, Hannibal wandered around Italy for the next decade without fighting any major engagements, simply trying to stir up trouble amongst the local tribes. In 208 BCE, Marcus Claudius Marcellus, a popular consul and considered the greatest general the Romans had, took the head of a newly raised army, intending to finally deal with the Carthaginian threat on the peninsula. Disaster befell him before he could give combat however, as while scouting ahead of his army, he and his co-consul were ambushed and killed by Numidian cavalry. According to tradition, out of respect, Hannibal gave him full honors at a funeral, and sent the cremated ashes to Rome under a flag of truce.

#200s bc #200s bce #roman army #Second Punic War #military #military history #history #war #3rd century bce #3rd century bc #ancient art #Theme: Punic Wars #punic wars #ancient warfare

An Iberian horseman. Considered some of the most talented cavalrymen of the era, Hannibal had some 2,000 present in his army at the Battle of Cannae.

#iberian warriors #200s bc #200s bce #3rd century bc #3rd century bce #cavalry #carthaginian army #Second Punic War #military #military history #history #war #ancient art #Theme: Punic Wars #punic wars #ancient warfare

A relief depicting an Iberian warrior. Although allies of Carthage, a large number who joined Hannibal's army at the outset of his campaign refused to leave the Iberian peninsula, diminishing his force by over 10,000. Their refusal to participate did them little good in the end though. Following the end of the Second Punic War, Rome took control of Hispania, and brutally subjugated the native population.

#200s bc #200s bce #3rd century bc #3rd century bce #iberian warriors #carthaginian army #Second Punic War #military #military history #history #war #art #ancient art #Theme: Punic Wars #punic wars #ancient warfare

The Roman siege of Syracuse depicting the tolleno of Archimedes, a giant lever with a hook or claw on the end that the defenders used to destroy any Roman ships foolish enough to come close to the walls of the city. Similar equipment was supposedly used by attackers at times, placing men in a large basket to be swung over the walls.

#200s BC #200s BCE #siege of syracuse #punic wars #second punic war #3rd century BC #3rd century BCE #ancient warfare #roman army #Art #Theme: Ancient Siege Warfare #siege

The Roman Army repulses the Carthaginian elephants at Zama, turning them back on their own lines.

#battle of zama #roman republic #roman army #200s BC #200s BCE #punic wars #military #military history #history #ancient warfare #war

Drawing of the Roman deployment at Cannae.

#200s BC #200s BCE #battle of cannae #roman army #roman republic #war #military #military history #history #ancient warfare

Painting of elephants beginning their assault on the Roman lines at Zama. The actual scale of the use of elephants at the battle is the subject of much debate.