Transcript Tale of the Tape Ilipa, 206 BC

Ilipa
[?], 206 BC
Strategic Context
In 218 BC, Hannibal Barca leads a Carthaginian army from Spain across the Alps to
invade the Roman Empire. Despite consistently defeating Roman armies in Italy for over
a decade, Hannibal is unable to defeat Rome, and eventually loses the imitative. The
decisive defeat of Hasdrubal Barca at the Battle of the Metaurus in 207 BC isolates
Hannibal from reinforcements in Italy and leaves him struggling for survival. Hasdrubal
Gisco still fields a large army in Spain which skirmishes with a Roman army led by Scipio
Africanus. The opposing sides now meet in a climactic battle at Ilipa.
To view animation on PC: hit F5
To view animation on Mac: hit ⌘ + enter
Stakes
+ A Roman victory would end
Carthaginian rule in Iberia and allow
Rome to assume control.
+ A Carthaginian victory would keep
control of Iberia and maintain hope that
Hannibal could be reinforced in Italy.
No Image
Available
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
Ilipa, 206 BC
Strength
Romans
Carthaginians
Scipio Africanus
Hasdrubal Gisco
45,000 infantry
3,000 cavalry
50,000 infantry
4,500 cavalry
32 war elephants
Well
Well
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
Mediterranean c. 218 BC
The battlefield consists of a grassy plain between low hills to the north and south.
Carthaginians
(Hasdrubal)
N
Romans
(Scipio)
For several days, Hasdrubal and Scipio deploy their forces in the same array each morning only to withdraw each time. Both commanders place
their hardened veterans at the center with their cavalry and less reliable Spanish allies on the wings. Hasdrubal possesses war elephants, which
he deploys in front of his Spanish allies, and numerical superiority. Scipio, however, is always careful to deploy after Hasdrubal.
Carthaginians
(Hasdrubal)
N
Symbol guide
Romans
Carthaginians
Veteran infantry
Veteran infantry
Allied infantry
Allied infantry
Cavalry
Cavalry
Camp
Camp
Carthaginians
(Hasdrubal
RomansGisco)
50,000
(Scipio infantry
Africanus)
4,500 cavalry
45,000
infantry
32 warcavalry
3,000
elephants
War elephant
Romans
(Scipio)
Hasdrubal’s
Scipio
undertakes
center
a
infantry
complex
remain
march
fixed
to deployment
position
with
few
hisother
best
options
troops
for
while
an his
attack
flanks
on
Hasdrubal’s
to
disintegrate.
weaker
wings
Hasdrubal’s
while
his
own
only
Spanish
lasting
advantage,
allies
advance
his
Hasdrubal
becomes
familiar
with
Scipio’s
and
the
daily
routine
in
which
hecontinue
leisurely
deploys,
followed
Scipio,
A few
days
later,
Scipio
For
several
days,
Hasdrubal
and
Scipio
deploy
their
forces
in the
same
array
each
morning
only
toalways
withdraw
eachby
time.
Both
commanders
place
Hasdrubal
strengthens
his
camp’s
defences
for
the
inevitable
Roman
assault
but
as
darkness
falls,
his
army
begins
to
but
cavalry,
remain
is wasted
outside
when
of combat.
are
The
easily
attack
defeated
istheir
veryat
by
effective;
the Roman
cavalry
after
front
being
rankallies
is
trampled
shattered
once
and
byof
war
hiselephants
war
elephants
fleeing
are
in
panicked
panic.
into
instead
orders
hisveterans
troops
tothey
eat
and
arm
themselves
dawn,
andHasdrubal’s
raids
Hasdrubal’s
camp
with
his
cavalry
inagain
asome
huge
display;
Hasdrubal
rushes
his
troopsScipio
out
to
their
hardened
at
the
center
with
cavalry
and
less
reliable
Spanish
on
the
wings.
Hasdrubal
possesses
war
elephants,
which
desert.
Hasdrubal
opts
to
slip
away
during
the
night
but
Roman
scouts
report
their
disappearance
and
Scipio
orders
a
the
field
unfed.
Hasdrubal
does
not
notice
until
the
Romans
are
too
close
to
carry
out
a
safe
redeployment
that
Scipio
has
reversed
his
deployment,
placing
his
rampaging
encircles
the
backwards,
Carthaginian
stunning
infantry
his
but
cavalry
is
halted
and
delaying
by
a
sudden
any
cloud-burst
action
by
them.
that
The
pours
Carthaginian
down
much
infantry
water,
muddling
are
completely
the
ground
immobilized
to
a
standstill.
as
any
attempt
Instead
he deploys in front of his Spanish allies, and numerical superiority. Scipio, however, is always careful to deploy after Hasdrubal.
pursuit.
escapes
to center.
one
ofInstead
the
highest
butown
his
army
isfor
virtually
destroyed.
veterans
onHasdrubal
the
wings
and
allies
the
of attacking
immediately,
Scipio
waits
the Roman
scorching
heat to fatigue the hungry Carthaginians.
to help
the
Carthaginians
their
troubled
are
wings
able
to
orat
escape
break
Scipio’s
to camp.
center
wouldsummits
expose
their
flanks
to
other
units.
Carthaginians
(Hasdrubal)
N
Symbol guide
Romans
Carthaginians
Veteran infantry
Veteran infantry
Allied infantry
Allied infantry
Cavalry
Cavalry
Camp
Camp
Carthaginians
(Hasdrubal
RomansGisco)
50,000
(Scipio infantry
Africanus)
4,500 cavalry
45,000
infantry
32 warcavalry
3,000
elephants
War elephant
Romans
(Scipio)
Ilipa, 206 BC
Casualties & Aftermath
Romans:
Carthaginians:
≈2,000
48,500
or
or
4%
89%
Carthaginian rule in Iberia was ended at Ilipa and never returned. Two years
later, Scipio landed in Africa to threaten Carthage itself. This forced Hannibal to
return to Africa and face Scipio in the decisive Battle of Zama in 202 BC, which
Scipio won, ending the Second Punic War.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
The Art of Battle:
Animated Battle Maps
http://www.theartofbattle.com
By Jonathan Webb, 2009