the opponents of hannibal: fabius maximus and scipio africanus

The opponents of Hannibal:Fabius Maximus

and Scipio Africanus

By Josh Byrne

Sources of Scipio and Fabius Polybius Livy's Histories Plutarch Appian Cassius Dio Occasional reference by Valerius

Maximus

Scipio Africanus Fabius Maximus

Quintus Fabius Maximus

VerrucosusCunctator

“The delayer”

"To be turned from one's course by

men's opinions, by blame, and

by misrepresentati

on shows a man unfit to

hold an office.”

Background 280 BC – 203 BC, probably participated in the

first Punic war Proceeded through the political ranks, became

consul five times and Censor (in charge of the census and public morality) and dictator twice

Appointed dictator after the disastrous battle of Lake Trasimene. Rome had lost consul Gaius Flaminius and consular armies in major battles, Hannibal was on the doorsteps of Rome

Fabius and Hannibal Rome had suffered two crushing defeats at the battle of

Lake Trasimene and the Battle of Trebia, despite numerical superiority

Fabius adopts a combined war of attrition and guerrilla warfare, known today as “Fabien strategy” from which he gets his name cunctator “the delayer”

Did not engage Hannibal directly. Recognised Hannibal's military ingenuity and his weaknesses, over extended supply lines, the need to win over Rome's allies and the Hannibal’s mercenaries which effectively meant a time schedule

Sent out small raiding parties to harass the enemy, posted lookouts, employed scorched earth policies and made sure that Hannibal could not march onto Rome without abandoning his supply routes, Mediterranean ports

Aftermath Fabius’ strategy prove unpopular, as it was seen as

cowardice. Lack of unity among military commanders made it less effective, Fabius Master of the Horse (first lieutenant) a political enemy of Fabius attacked Hannibal when he was away, Fabius had to rescue him

Gaius Terentius Varro decides to attack Hannibal directly after Fabius is not reappointed dictator and Gaius becomes consul

Result is the disastrous battle of Cannae, and the people of Rome elect Fabius as dictator again

Fabius continued the strategy until Hannibal eventually sought peace terms with Rome

Publius Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanu

s“The Roman Hannibal”

Background Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, 235–183 BC Came from a wealthy patrician family the Cornelii Scipiones : Joined the Roman army at a young age and fought in the disastrous battles of Ticinus, Trebiaand and Cannae After the defeat in the aforementioned battles, group of politicians thought of putting forward peace into senate debates, to which Scipio stormed the politicians meeting and swore them at sword point to continue the fight Secured the office of quaestor (public treasurer) at 24. Initial opposition because members of the senate had to be 30 years and over, however this was overlooked because of his audacity and patriotism

Hispanic campaign 211 BC Scipio’s father and one of his uncles dies, Scipio offers to take over the new army that would be sent to Hispania Scipio was still young, yet he was so enthusiastic and his renowned reputation sealed the job. Unanimously agreed and sent as proconsul (governor of a province) historian Livy said that no one else wanted the job of leading the new army, as many considered it a “death sentence” Scipio surprised and captured the headquarters of the Carthaginian forces in Hispania, New Carthage, aided by division between Hannibal's three other brothers who were stationed there. He treated the prisoners with great care, eventually securing support of the Hispanic tribes to bolster his forces

The theatres of the Second Punic War

Hispanic campaign Had his first major set piece skirmish at the battle

of Battle of Baecula against Hasdrubal Barca. Scipio victories, but does not pursue Hasdrubal and the remaining Carthaginian forces

206 BC Scipio wins over Hispanic chiefs and achieved decisive victory over the Carthaginians at the Battle of Llipa against Mago and Hasdrubal Gisco

Carthaginians evacuate Hispania, after Iberian base of operations taken by Scipio’s forces. Scipio returns home to Rome

African campaign 205 BC Scipio unanimously elected as a roman consul

( highest elected position is roman society) Wishes to go to Africa and be given an army but denied by

the senate because of envious politicians Goes to Sicily to raise an army, his reputation drew

volunteers from all over Italy, effectively made Sicily an army training camp. When an inquirer came, he found a well trained army and Scipio pleaded for financial and military support from the senate to go to Africa. Fabius Maximus denied this support considering it too dangerous to go to Africa

Scipio heads to Utica (modern day Tunisia) where he destroys the Numidian and Carthaginian armies by lighting their camps on fire and routing the panicked men in the Battle of the Great Plains. Both Livy and Polybius estimated that Scipio’s men inflicted roughly 40,000 casualties

The Battle of Zama With Scipio marching

onto Carthage, Hannibal was forced to came back to Carthage, and the two forces fought on a plain between Utica and Carthage in what is now called the Battle of Zama

Hannibal's forces: 51,000 including 80 elephants and 6,000 cavalry

Scipio’s forces: 43,000 including 3000 roman cavalry and 6000 Numidian cavalry

Both armies organised their infantry in the middle and their cavalry on the flanks. Hannibal had his elephants at the front as indicated by the blue squares

Battle formations at Zama,Red = Roman

Blue = Carthaginian

A 19th century depiction of the Battle of Zama

The Battle of Zama Phase II

Scipio divided his army into sections, allowing Hannibal's elephants to run through his army where the Romans killed many and drove others back

The Numidian horsemen drove back Hannibal's cavalry before attacking Hannibal's army from behind and finishing off the battle

Scipio returned to Rome in triumph and earned the nickname Africanus. He became and Censor and died in around 183 BC (speculation)

Bibliography Websites http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scipio_Africanus http://s978.photobucket.com/albums/ae262/HistoryTwistOfLime/?action=view&current=QuintusFabiusMaximus.jpg&mediafilter=images http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl http://www.myartprints.com/kunst/roman/publius_Scipio_africanus_c234_hi.jpg&imgrefurl http://www.myartprints.com/a/roman-1/publius-Scipio-africanus-1

Bibliography Websites http://www.myartprints.com/a/roman-1/publius-Scipio-africanus-1.html http://history-world.org/Scipio_africanus.htm http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/529046/Scipio-Africanus-the-Elder http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/romansag/g/FabiusMaximus.htm

Bibliography Further reading Polybius. "The Histories" Titus, Livius “Livy”. “History of Rome” H. H. Scullard, Scipio Africanus: Soldier and Politician,

Thames and Hudson, London, 1970. H. H. Scullard, Scipio Africanus in the Second Punic

WarThirlwall Prize Essay (University Press, Cambridge, 1930)

Theodore Ayrault Dodge, Hannibal, Da Capo Press; Reissue edition, 2004

B.H. Liddell Hart, Scipio Africanus: Greater Than Napoleon, W Blackwood and Sons, London, 1926; Biblio and Tannen, New York, 1976