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8/13/2019 Battle of Zama 5xxxix
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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.JPG8/13/2019 Battle of Zama 5xxxix
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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.JPG8/13/2019 Battle of Zama 5xxxix
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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