Battle of the Upper Baetis
Encyclopedia
The Battle of the Upper Baetis was fought in 211 BC
between a Carthaginian force led by Hasdrubal Barca
(Hannibal's brother) and a Roman force led by Publius Cornelius Scipio
and his brother Gnaeus
. The immediate result was a Carthaginian victory in which both Roman brothers were killed. Before this defeat, the brothers had spent seven years (218BC - 211BC) in Hispania
, which in turn had limited the resources available to Hannibal who was simultaneously fighting the Romans
in Italy.
These two battles also represent the only victories in major land battles in which Hannibal was not in command of the Carthaginian armies during the 2nd Punic War.
in the Battle of Dertosa
in the spring of 215 BC, the Romans had secured their bases in the north of Ebro. They then proceeded to win over some Iberian tribes, raid Carthaginian lands in the South of the Ebro, with Publius Scipio raiding as far South as Saguntum in 214 BC. Both the Romans and Carthaginians faced and put down Iberian tribal revolts. The Scipios received no reinforcement from Italy, where Hannibal Barca had the Romans hard pressed.
Hasdrubal meanwhile had been reinforced by 2 armies, respectively led by his younger brother Mago Barca
and Hasdrubal Gisco
. These armies fought several indecisive battles with the Scipio brothers during 215-211 BC. The Scipios had persuaded Syphax
, A Numidian king, to open hostilities against Carthage with a Roman trained Army in 213 BC. On the whole, the situation in Iberia was stable enough for Hasdrubal Barca to shift to Africa to put down a rebellion of Syphax
, in 213/212 BC. Hasdrubal Barca returned to Iberia in late 212 BC, bringing 3,000 Numidians to Iberia under Masinissa
, the future king of Numidia.
On other fronts, while Hannibal had managed to win over Capua
, capture Tarentum
and generally retain his hold over Lucania
, Bruttium and Apulia
, the Romans had retaken several Italian towns and had besieged both Capua
and Syracuse
.
Gnaeus Scipio arrived at his objective first. However, Hasdrubal Barca had already ordered the armies of Hasdrubal Gisco, Indibilis and Mandonius
(friendly Iberian chieftains to the Carthaginians), to join Mago near Castulo. Hasdrubal Barca held his ground against Gnaeus Scipio, staying within his fortified camp, then managed to bribe the Celt-Iberian mercenaries to desert Gnaeus Scipio. This led to Hasdrubal's army outnumbering that of Gnaeus Scipio. Hasdrubal bided his time, avoiding any battles with the Romans.
With the Numidian horse attacking from the flank, the Roman assault on the iberians began to slacken. When Mago and Hasdrubal Gisco arrived with their combined armies, the Romans finally, after a grim struggle, broke and fled, leaving Publius Scipio and most of their comrades dead on the field. Mago gave the Numidians enough time to loot the dead before force marching the army towards Hasdrubal Barca's position. A few handful of Roman survivors managed to reach their camp.
. Rome sent some 10,000 troops under Cladius Nero in late 211 BC to reinforce their forces in Iberia. Nero scored no spectacular victories, while the Carthaginians did not launch a coordinated assault on the Romans in Iberia. With the arrival of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, the son of Publius Scipio with another 10,000 troops in 210 BC, the Carthaginians would regret their inaction in the Battle of Cartagena in 209 BC.
With the Carthaginian armies in Iberia failing to eliminate the Romans, Hannibal would not get any reinforcements from Iberia during the crucial year of 211 BC, when the Romans were besieging Capua.
211 BC
Year 211 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Maximus and Maximus...
between a Carthaginian force led by Hasdrubal Barca
Hasdrubal Barca
Hasdrubal was Hamilcar Barca's second son and a Carthaginian general in the Second Punic War. He was a younger brother of the much more famous Hannibal.-Youth and Iberian leadership:...
(Hannibal's brother) and a Roman force led by Publius Cornelius Scipio
Publius Cornelius Scipio
Publius Cornelius Scipio was a general and statesman of the Roman Republic.A member of the Corneliagens, Scipio served as consul in 218 BC, the first year of the Second Punic War, and sailed with an army from Pisa to Massilia , with the intention of arresting Hannibal's advance on Italy...
and his brother Gnaeus
Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus
Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus was a Roman general and statesman.His father was Lucius Cornelius Scipio, son of the patrician censor of 280, Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus. His younger brother was Publius Cornelius Scipio, father of the most famous Scipio – Scipio Africanus...
. The immediate result was a Carthaginian victory in which both Roman brothers were killed. Before this defeat, the brothers had spent seven years (218BC - 211BC) in Hispania
Hispania
Another theory holds that the name derives from Ezpanna, the Basque word for "border" or "edge", thus meaning the farthest area or place. Isidore of Sevilla considered Hispania derived from Hispalis....
, which in turn had limited the resources available to Hannibal who was simultaneously fighting the Romans
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
in Italy.
These two battles also represent the only victories in major land battles in which Hannibal was not in command of the Carthaginian armies during the 2nd Punic War.
Strategic situation
After the defeat of Hasdrubal BarcaHasdrubal Barca
Hasdrubal was Hamilcar Barca's second son and a Carthaginian general in the Second Punic War. He was a younger brother of the much more famous Hannibal.-Youth and Iberian leadership:...
in the Battle of Dertosa
Battle of Dertosa
The Battle of Dertosa, also known as the Battle of Ibera, was fought in the spring of 215 BC on the south bank of the Ebro River across from the town of Dertosa. A Roman army, under the command of Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus and Publius Cornelius Scipio defeated a similarly sized Carthaginian...
in the spring of 215 BC, the Romans had secured their bases in the north of Ebro. They then proceeded to win over some Iberian tribes, raid Carthaginian lands in the South of the Ebro, with Publius Scipio raiding as far South as Saguntum in 214 BC. Both the Romans and Carthaginians faced and put down Iberian tribal revolts. The Scipios received no reinforcement from Italy, where Hannibal Barca had the Romans hard pressed.
Hasdrubal meanwhile had been reinforced by 2 armies, respectively led by his younger brother Mago Barca
Mago Barca
Mago, son of Hamilcar Barca, also spelled Magon, Phoenician MGN, "God sent" , was a member of the Barcid family, and played an important role in the Second Punic War, leading forces of Carthage against the Roman Republic in Hispania, Gallia Cisalpina and Italy...
and Hasdrubal Gisco
Hasdrubal Gisco
Hasdrubal Gisco or Hasdrubal son of Gisco was a Carthaginian general who fought against Rome in Iberia and North Africa during the Second Punic War. He should not be confused with Hasdrubal Barca, the brother of Hannibal....
. These armies fought several indecisive battles with the Scipio brothers during 215-211 BC. The Scipios had persuaded Syphax
Syphax
Syphax was a king of the ancient Algerian tribe Masaesyli of western Numidia during the last quarter of the 3rd century BC. His story is told in Livy's Ab Urbe Condita .-Biography:...
, A Numidian king, to open hostilities against Carthage with a Roman trained Army in 213 BC. On the whole, the situation in Iberia was stable enough for Hasdrubal Barca to shift to Africa to put down a rebellion of Syphax
Syphax
Syphax was a king of the ancient Algerian tribe Masaesyli of western Numidia during the last quarter of the 3rd century BC. His story is told in Livy's Ab Urbe Condita .-Biography:...
, in 213/212 BC. Hasdrubal Barca returned to Iberia in late 212 BC, bringing 3,000 Numidians to Iberia under Masinissa
Masinissa
Masinissa — also spelled Massinissa and Massena — was the first King of Numidia, an ancient North African nation of ancient Libyan tribes. As a successful general, Masinissa fought in the Second Punic War , first against the Romans as an ally of Carthage an later switching sides when he saw which...
, the future king of Numidia.
On other fronts, while Hannibal had managed to win over Capua
Capua
Capua is a city and comune in the province of Caserta, Campania, southern Italy, situated 25 km north of Naples, on the northeastern edge of the Campanian plain. Ancient Capua was situated where Santa Maria Capua Vetere is now...
, capture Tarentum
Taranto
Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
and generally retain his hold over Lucania
Lucania
Lucania was an ancient district of southern Italy, extending from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Gulf of Taranto. To the north it adjoined Campania, Samnium and Apulia, and to the south it was separated by a narrow isthmus from the district of Bruttium...
, Bruttium and Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
, the Romans had retaken several Italian towns and had besieged both Capua
Capua
Capua is a city and comune in the province of Caserta, Campania, southern Italy, situated 25 km north of Naples, on the northeastern edge of the Campanian plain. Ancient Capua was situated where Santa Maria Capua Vetere is now...
and Syracuse
Syracuse, Italy
Syracuse is a historic city in Sicily, the capital of the province of Syracuse. The city is notable for its rich Greek history, culture, amphitheatres, architecture, and as the birthplace of the preeminent mathematician and engineer Archimedes. This 2,700-year-old city played a key role in...
.
Prelude
The Scipio brothers had hired 20,000 Celt-Iberian mercenaries to reinforce their army of 30,000 foot and 3,000 horse. Observing that the Carthaginian armies were deployed separately from each other, with Hasdrubal Barca and 15,000 troops near Amtorgis, and Mago Barca, Hasdrubal Gisco with 10,000 troops each further to the West of Hasdrubal, the Scipio brothers planned to split their forces. Publius Scipio decided to take 20,000 Roman and allied soldiers and attack Mago Barca near Castulo, while Gnaeus Scipio took one double legion (10,000 troops) and the mercenaries to attack Hasdrubal Barca. This stratagem would lead to 2 battles, the Battle of Castulo and the Battle of Ilorca to take place within a few days of each other.Gnaeus Scipio arrived at his objective first. However, Hasdrubal Barca had already ordered the armies of Hasdrubal Gisco, Indibilis and Mandonius
Indibilis and Mandonius
] Indibilis and Mandonius were chieftains of the Ilergetes , an ancient Iberian people of the Iberian Peninsula. Polybius speaks of the brothers as the most influential and powerful of the Spanish chieftains in that time period. Livy calls one of the chieftains of the Ilergetes "Indibilis",...
(friendly Iberian chieftains to the Carthaginians), to join Mago near Castulo. Hasdrubal Barca held his ground against Gnaeus Scipio, staying within his fortified camp, then managed to bribe the Celt-Iberian mercenaries to desert Gnaeus Scipio. This led to Hasdrubal's army outnumbering that of Gnaeus Scipio. Hasdrubal bided his time, avoiding any battles with the Romans.
Battle of Castulo
As Publius Scipio neared Castulo, he was harassed by the Numidian light cavalry under Masanissa day and night. When informed that Indibilis with 7,500 Iberians was moving across his line of retreat, Publius Scipio decided not to face Mago but attack the Iberian chieftain, fearing that he would be surrounded by Carthaginian forces. He left 2,000 soldiers under a legate, Tiberius Fonteus, in his camp, and marched out to attack the Iberians at night. Scipio marched all night and caught Indibilis and his men by surprise in early morning, and with a 18,000 to 7,500 advantage, began to gain the upper hand in the ensuing action. However, the Iberians managed to hold off the Romans in the confused night battle just long enough for Masanissa to arrive, whom Scipio had hoped to evade undetected, but had failed to do so.With the Numidian horse attacking from the flank, the Roman assault on the iberians began to slacken. When Mago and Hasdrubal Gisco arrived with their combined armies, the Romans finally, after a grim struggle, broke and fled, leaving Publius Scipio and most of their comrades dead on the field. Mago gave the Numidians enough time to loot the dead before force marching the army towards Hasdrubal Barca's position. A few handful of Roman survivors managed to reach their camp.
Battle of Ilorca
Gnaeus Scipio had lost the advantage of numbers with the desertion of the mercenaries. Although unaware of Publius Scipio's fate, Gnaeus decided to withdraw towards northern Iberia after Mago and Hasdrubal Gisco arrived with their armies. The Romans moved out of their camp leaving his camp fires burning and made for Ebro at night. The Numidians located them the following day, their attacks forcing the Romans to take position on a hilltop for the night near Ilorca. The main Carthaginian army arrived during the night, now made up of the forces of Hasdrubal Barca, Hasdrubal Gisco and Mago. In desperation, the Romans tried to create a defensive wall with baggages and saddles, as the ground was too stony for digging. The Carthaginians easily overran this, and Gnaeus was killed in the fighting, most of his army was destroyed.Aftermath
The Roman fugitives fled north of Ebro, where they eventually gathered a hodge-podge army of 8,000 soldiers. The Carthaginian commanders made no coordinated attempts to wipe them out and send help to Hannibal BarcaHannibal Barca
Hannibal, son of Hamilcar Barca Hannibal's date of death is most commonly given as 183 BC, but there is a possibility it could have taken place in 182 BC. was a Carthaginian military commander and tactician. He is generally considered one of the greatest military commanders in history...
. Rome sent some 10,000 troops under Cladius Nero in late 211 BC to reinforce their forces in Iberia. Nero scored no spectacular victories, while the Carthaginians did not launch a coordinated assault on the Romans in Iberia. With the arrival of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, the son of Publius Scipio with another 10,000 troops in 210 BC, the Carthaginians would regret their inaction in the Battle of Cartagena in 209 BC.
With the Carthaginian armies in Iberia failing to eliminate the Romans, Hannibal would not get any reinforcements from Iberia during the crucial year of 211 BC, when the Romans were besieging Capua.