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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: Animated Battle Maps http://www.theartofbattle.com By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©