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ZamaOctober 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 asevere peace treaty.

+ A Carthaginian victory would destroy

Romes only army in North Africa, forcing

a more advantageous peace.

By Jonathan Webb, 2009

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HannibalTheCarthaginian.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Old_man.JPG

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Zama, 202 BCStrength

Romans

Well

Carthaginians

Well

Scipio Africanus

29,000 infantry 36,000 infantry

Hannibal Barca

80 war elephants

4,000 cavalry6,500 cavalry

By Jonathan Webb, 2009

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HannibalTheCarthaginian.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HannibalTheCarthaginian.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HannibalTheCarthaginian.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HannibalTheCarthaginian.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Old_man.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Old_man.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Old_man.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Old_man.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HannibalTheCarthaginian.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HannibalTheCarthaginian.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HannibalTheCarthaginian.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HannibalTheCarthaginian.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Old_man.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Old_man.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Old_man.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Old_man.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Old_man.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Old_man.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Old_man.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Old_man.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HannibalTheCarthaginian.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HannibalTheCarthaginian.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HannibalTheCarthaginian.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Old_man.JPG

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Romans

(Scipio)

Carthaginians

(Hannibal)

Laelius Masinissa

Tychaeus

Hannibal

Hannibal deploys his infantry in three lines with his hardened veterans occupying the rear line and his mercenaries and levies occupying the front two lines. He deploys his war

elephants and skirmishers in front of the infantry and the cavalry on the wings. Scipio deploys his infantry in three lines as well: hastati in the front, thenprincipesand finally

veteran triarii.Scipio leaves wide lanes between his formations but hides the gaps with skirmishers. He deploys his cavalry on the wings, Masinissa commanding the stronger

right wing. Hannibal knows Scipios cavalry is superior and gives orders to his cavalry to lure the Roman cavalry far away from the battlefield if defeated.

Hannibal charges with his war elephants and skirmishers which are confronted by Roman skirmishers. As the war elephants approach the

Roman lines, Scipio orders the cavalry to blow loud horns to frighten the beasts which partly succeeds; many elephants turn about and flee. The

Carthaginian left wing is stampeded by rampaging elephants, completely disordering it. Masinissa promptly charges the Carthaginian left wing

and drives it from the field.

Frightened elephants continue to rampage into the Carthaginian ranks, disordering the right wing cavalry. Laelius also

seizes the opportunity to charge the Carthaginian right wing and drive it from the field. Meanwhile, Roman skirmishers

harass the remaining war elephants and carefully lure them down the wide lanes in the infantry to be destroyed in the rear.

Scipio

Scipio redresses his ranks to form a continuous battle line and advances. Hannibal meets the Roman infantry with

only his first two lines of infantry.

Romans

(Scipio Africanus)

29,000 infantry

6,500 cavalry

Carthaginians

(Hannibal Barca)

36,000 infantry4,000 cavalry

NN

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NN

Scipio

Hannibal

Scipio redresses his ranks to form a continuous battle line and advances. Hannibal meets the Roman infantry with

only his first two lines of infantry.

The Roman hastatieventually defeat the Carthaginian front infantry line which must retreat. However, Hannibal orders is second line

infantry to not allow the first line into their ranks resulting in a few initial skirmishes between friendly troops. Trapped between their

own second line and the Roman hastati, the Carthaginian front line is slaughtered although some escape to settle on the wings.

The Carthaginian second line counterattacks aggressively, pushing the Roman hastatibackwards until reinforced by theprincipes. A fierce

struggle ensues but the Carthaginian infantry are again defeated and forced to retreat. Hannibal does not allow these troops to mingle with his

rear line but most have the sense to redeploy on the wings. Hannibals cavalry appears to be carrying out its orders magnific ently as there is no

sign of the Roman cavalry.

Romans

(Scipio)

Carthaginians

(Hannibal)

Romans

(Scipio Africanus)

29,000 infantry

6,500 cavalry

Carthaginians

(Hannibal Barca)

36,000 infantry4,000 cavalry

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NN

Scipio

Triarii TriariiPrincipesHastatiPrincipes

Scipio and Hannibal pause briefly to reorganize their formations. Scipio leisurely deploys theprincipeson the inner wings

and the triariion the outer wings for a balanced line which slightly overlaps the Carthaginian line. Hannibal knows an

advance over the corpse-filled battlefield would be difficult and opts to wait for Scipio to attack his veteran infantry line.

Scipio orders an advance over the gory battlefield. A violent and costly infantry struggle infantry ensues. Neither

side appears to be gaining an advantage and the decision remains in great doubt to both commanders.

As the infantry battle reaches a climax, the Roman cavalry finally return to attack the Carthaginians in the rear. In

an instant, the Carthaginian infantry are annihilated where they stand or violently pursued from the battlefield.

Hannibal

Romans

(Scipio)

Carthaginians

(Hannibal)

Romans

(Scipio Africanus)

29,000 infantry

6,500 cavalry

Carthaginians

(Hannibal Barca)

36,000 infantry4,000 cavalry

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Zama, 202 BCCasualties & Aftermath

Romans: Carthaginians:

5,000

or

14%

30,000

or

75%

By Jonathan Webb, 2009

Hannibal escaped to convince the Carthaginian senate to sue for peace.

Carthage was forced to surrender its fleet, cede land to Masinissas 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 Carthages

recovery within the terms of the peace treaty, that Rome forced him to flee in

196 BC.

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The Art of Battle:Animated Battle Maps

http://www.theartofbattle.com

By Jonathan Webb, 2009