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Zama
October 19, 202 BC
Strategic Context
After defeating the Carthaginians in Spain, Scipio Africanus invades North Africa in 204
BC to take Carthage itself. Scipio defeats Carthaginian ally, King Syphax of Numidia,
with the help of his son Prince Masinissa. Scipio establishes himself while Hannibal
Barca leads the main Carthaginian army in ineffectual skirmishes in Italy. Hannibal Barca
returns to defend Carthage in 203 BC and meets Scipio at Zama the next year.
Stakes
+ A Roman victory would leave Carthage
undefended, forcing it to concede to a
severe peace treaty.
+ A Carthaginian victory would destroy
Rome’s only army in North Africa, forcing
a more advantageous peace.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©
Zama, 202 BC
Strength
Romans
Carthaginians
Scipio Africanus
Hannibal Barca
29,000 infantry
6,500 cavalry
36,000 infantry
4,000 cavalry
80 war elephants
Well
Well
By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©
Hannibal
charges
withhis
his
war elephants
and
skirmishers
which
arethe
confronted
by
skirmishers.
As
the war
approach
the
Hannibal
deploys
his infantry
in continue
three
lines with
his
hardened
veterans
occupying
rear line and
hisRoman
mercenaries
and levies
theelephants
front
two lines.
He deploys
hisRoman
war
Frightened
elephants
rampage
into the
Carthaginian
ranks,
disordering
theoccupying
right
wing
cavalry.
Laelius
also
Scipio
redresses
ranks
to to
form
a
continuous
battle
line
and
advances.
Hannibal
meets
the
Roman
infantry
with
elephants
and skirmishers
front of the
and horns
the cavalry
on the wings.
deploys
hispartly
infantry
in three lines
as well:
hastati inturn
the front,
then
principes
and finally
lines, Scipio
orders theincavalry
to infantry
blow loud
to frighten
the Scipio
beasts
which
succeeds;
many
elephants
about
and
flee. The
seizes
the
opportunity
to
the
Carthaginian
wing
and driveHeitdeploys
fromhis
the
field.
Meanwhile,
Roman
skirmishers
veteran
only
his
triarii.
first
Scipio
leaves
lines
wide
lanes
ofcharge
infantry.
between
his formations
but hidesright
thecompletely
gaps
with skirmishers.
cavalry
on the
wings,
Masinissa
commanding
theleft
stronger
Carthaginian
lefttwo
wing
is
stampeded
by rampaging
elephants,
disordering it. Masinissa
promptly
charges
the Carthaginian
wingright
wing. Hannibal
knows
Scipio’s cavalry
is superior andand
givescarefully
orders to his lure
cavalry
to lure down
the Roman
cavalry
farlanes
away from
the
battlefield
if defeated.
harass
the
remaining
war
elephants
them
the
wide
in
the
infantry
to
be
destroyed
in
the
rear.
and drives it from the field.
Romans
(Scipio)
Carthaginians
(Hannibal)
Hannibal
Tychaeus
N
Carthaginians
(Hannibal Barca)
36,000 infantry
4,000 cavalry
Laelius
Scipio
Romans
(Scipio Africanus)
29,000 infantry
Masinissa
6,500 cavalry
The
Carthaginian
second
counterattacks
aggressively,
the
Roman
hastati
backwards
until
reinforced
by
principes.
fierce with
The
Roman
hastati
eventually
defeat
theaCarthaginian
front
infantry
line
must
retreat.
However,
Hannibal
orders infantry
is Asecond
line
Scipio
redresses
hisline
ranks
to form
continuouspushing
battle
line
andwhich
advances.
Hannibal
meets
thetheRoman
struggle
ensues
but
the
Carthaginian
infantry
are
again
defeated
and
forced
to
retreat.
Hannibal
does
not
allow
these
troops
to
mingle
with
his
infantry
tofirst
not allow
the first
into their ranks resulting in a few initial skirmishes between friendly troops. Trapped between their
only
hisbut
two
lines
of line
infantry.
rear line
most
have
the sense
to redeploy on the wings. Hannibal’s cavalry appears to be carrying out its orders magnificently as there is no
own second line and the Roman hastati, the Carthaginian front line is slaughtered although some escape to settle on the wings.
sign of the Roman cavalry.
Hannibal
N
Carthaginians
(Hannibal Barca)
36,000 infantry
4,000 cavalry
Romans
(Scipio)
Scipio
Carthaginians
(Hannibal)
Romans
(Scipio Africanus)
29,000 infantry
6,500 cavalry
Scipio
Hannibal
pause
briefly
to
reorganize
their formations.
Scipio
leisurely
deploys
the Carthaginians
principes
theininner
wingsIn
As theand
Scipio
orders
infantry
anbattle
advance
reaches
over athe
climax,
gory battlefield.
the Roman
Acavalry
violentfinally
and
costly
return
infantry
to attack
struggle
the
infantryon
ensues.
the
Neither
rear.
and
the
triarii
on
the
outer
wings
for
a
balanced
line
which
slightly
overlaps
the
Carthaginian
line.
Hannibal
knows
an
sideinstant,
an
appears
the
toCarthaginian
be gaining aninfantry
advantage
are annihilated
and the decision
whereremains
they stand
in great
or violently
doubt to
pursued
both commanders.
from the battlefield.
advance over the corpse-filled battlefield would be difficult and opts to wait for Scipio to attack his veteran infantry line.
Carthaginians
(Hannibal Barca)
36,000 infantry
4,000 cavalry
Triarii
Carthaginians
(Hannibal)
Hannibal
Principes
Hastati
Principes
Triarii
N
Scipio
Romans
(Scipio)
Romans
(Scipio Africanus)
29,000 infantry
6,500 cavalry
Zama, 202 BC
Casualties & Aftermath
Romans:
Carthaginians:
5,000
30,000
or
or
14%
75%
Hannibal escaped to convince the Carthaginian senate to sue for peace.
Carthage was forced to surrender its fleet, cede land to Masinissa’s Numidia
and pay severe reparations to Rome. Hannibal was allowed to continue playing
a role in Carthaginian politics. In fact, he was so successful in Carthage’s
recovery within the terms of the peace treaty, that Rome forced him to flee in
196 BC.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©
The Art of Battle:
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By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©