The opponents of Hannibal:
Fabius Maximus
and
Scipio Africanus
By Josh Byrne
Sources of Scipio and Fabius
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Polybius
Livy's Histories
Plutarch
Appian
Cassius Dio
Occasional reference by Valerius Maximus
Fabius Maximus
Scipio Africanus
Quintus Fabius
Maximus Verrucosus
Cunctator
“The delayer”
"To be turned from
one's course by men's
opinions, by blame,
and by
misrepresentation
shows a man unfit to
hold an office.”
Background
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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
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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
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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
Cornelius
Publius
Scipio
Africanus
“The Roman Hannibal”
Background
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Websites
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scipio_Africanus
http://s978.photobucket.com/albums/ae262/
HistoryTwistOfLime/?action=view&current=Q
uintusFabiusMaximus.jpg&mediafilter=images
http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl
http://www.myartprints.com/kunst/roman/pu
blius_Scipio_africanus_c234_hi.jpg&imgrefurl
http://www.myartprints.com/a/roman1/publius-Scipio-africanus-1
Bibliography
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Websites
http://www.myartprints.com/a/roman1/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
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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