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The third century before the common era was a time of empire-making and empire-breaking especially in the western Mediterranean, where a conflict was brewing that would shape the future of the known world. |
Second Punic War (218-201BC)
(- threads, 48 posts)
 Publius and Cnaeus Cornelius Scipio
Historical Thread
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"This is not an army, it is the remnants of one." Publius Scipio upon seeing the army that was to beat him at Ticinus and Trebia, Livy Ab Urbe Condita XXI.40
The next generation of the growing military reputation of the Scipionic branch of the Cornelii clan following Lucius Cornelius Scipio arose his two sons, Publius and Cnaeus. Consul with Marcus Claudius Marcellus in 222BC, Cnaeus and his colleague defeated the Gauls in the Po valley taking Milan and making it Roman territory. However, when it came to the Second Punic War, it was Publius's turn to be consul. While preparing to invade Spain, Publius was forced to deal with an uprising of Italian Gauls. As the consul moved to the River Rhone, he found that Hannibal had crossed the Alps and the Rhone ahead of him and was pushing towards Italy. After sending his brother to Spain, Publius turned to face Hannibal. They met at Ticinus and the consul was wounded in a cavalry skirmish (supposedly he was saved from death by his son, the future Africanus). Joined by his fellow conul, T. Sempronius Longus, Publius again met Hannibal at Trebia. The Romans were heavily defeated but most of the discredit went to Longus who was in command while Publius was recuperating. He then went to join his brother in Spain, who had already won a naval victory at the mouth of the Ebro and a land battle at Cissa. In Spain, the Scipios lined up against Hasdrubal and Mago Barca. The Romans won the support of the Spaniards and with it a string of successes in battle. However, the Carthaginians sent heavy reinforcements to Spain and bribed the Spaniards to change sides leaving the Scipios outnumbered and isolated. Desparate to rejoin his brother, Publius committed to battle against one of the three large armies converging on him, but harassed by cavalry raids he and a lot of his men were killed. Cnaeus tried to fortify a hilltop but his small amry was eventually swamped and crushed by the overwhelming Carthaginian forces. In a single month Rome lost two of her best generals. In 211BC, the Carthaginian victory south of the Ebro was complete.
