Military Career of Scipio Africanus the Elder

Abstract

This research paper asserts the military career of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus the elder. Scipio was the great Roman general and played a significant role in the history of Rome. He inspired his soldiers with his strategy, tactics and confidence. The foremost qualities of Scipio personality were mental ability and moral. He also taught his troops the tactics of the war. This paper also studied the battles of Ilipa and Zama for better understanding of Scipio's military career.

Military Career of Scipio Africanus the Elder

Introduction

In 236 BC, Scipio Africanus was born at noble family in Rome. The first appearance of Scipio in history was with his father in the battle of Ticinus and had a privilege to save his father's life. Scipio nickname was Africanus, and was also known as Scipio the Elder, because of his victory in Africa, at Zama over Hanniba, in 202 BC. Scipio's childhood ended when he joined the army; and in the second Punic war, he struggled against Carthage. Scipio also fought terrible battles of Ticinus, Trebis and Cannae. After the age of 25, Scipio never lost any battle because he did not want to see the Roman force to be defeated. In Spain, he also defeated Cathagian armies. He defeated and drove brother of Hannibal out of Spain. Then from Sicily, he marched into Africa and this act of Scipio forced Hannibal to came back to Africa and left Italy. Scipio adopted some of the tactics of Hannibal and transform it into his own.At the second Punic war at Zama, Hannibal was defeated by Scipio.

Military Career

In the history of Rome, Scipio was one of the greatest Roman general, since he never lost any battle. He inspired his soldiers with his strategy, tactics and confidence. After the death of his father, Scipio offered his services as the next commander the Roman army for the troop sends to Hispania, Italy. Livy affirmed that no other candidates ask for the position as they considered it to be the sentence of death, only Scipio had the courage and bravery to ask for this position. In 209 BC, from Tarraco (Tarrangona) headquarter launched a combined attack by military and navy on the Carthago Nova headquarter of enemy. As he knew that, in Spain, all three enemies were ten days far from the city.

Scipio trained his army new tactics, and in 208 BC, defeated Hasdrubal Barca at Baecula (Bailen) in Baetica Scipio divided his main force to attack the flanks of the enemy and when Hasdrubal ran away, Scipio decided to accomplish his Spain's mission. At the Ilipa battle near Sevilla in 206, defeated enemy's main forces and thus conquered Spain.

In 205 BC, Scipio as an elected diplomat took no notice of Hannibal's and attacked at Africa. In the senate opposed by opposition, with an army consist of volunteers crossed to Sicily. Due to this act of his, he faced criticism by political opponents. In Africa, he landed with 35,000 men overwhelmed ...