Dusmanul la Poarta!-Partea-13!

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The Battle of Bagradas River

The Roman invasion of Africa to bring an end to the First Punic War started well. The Consuls Regulus and Longus landed near Aspis (modern Kelibia) on the Cape Bon Peninsula and began ravaging the countryside. With their huge fleet having 90,000 rowers, plus the 26,000-strong legionary expeditionary force, there were a lot of mouths to feed. Some 20,000 slaves were captured, along with vast herds of cattle, and the city of Aspis following a brief siege. Given the logistical difficulties in feeding and supplying such a force in hostile territory, most of the expedition was recalled to Sicily under Longus. Regulus was left with 40 ships, 15,000 infantry and 500 cavalry to winter in Africa. The smaller force did not dent Rome’s hopes for victory – given Carthage operated on a model of using mercenaries from client states, Rome could still triumph by emboldening them to defect and thus leave the former Phoenician city isolated.

Regulus was an experienced commander, having enjoyed a triumph in 267 BC following his victory over the Salentini. He was told to expect reinforcements in the Spring, and continue weakening Carthaginian resistance until then. Regulus ventured inland, capturing the city of Adys, 40 miles south east of Carthage, while the Carthaginians recalled Hamilcar from Sicily with 5,000 infantry and 500 cavalry. The generals Hasdrubal and Bostar joined him, being placed in joint command of an army in similar size to the Roman force, though supplemented with cavalry and elephants. They set up camp near Adys and were surprised by a dawn attack from the Romans from two directions, and although their army was broken they suffered few casualties, including preserving their cavalry and elephants. Regulus’ follow up saw the legions capture Tunis, just ten miles from Carthage, and more of Carthage’s African possessions revolted against their overlord.

Refugees poured into Carthage in flight from Regulus, and food was running short. The city sued for peace, though an arrogant Regulus was so sure of victory that he demanded terms including the ceding of Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica to Rome, paying all of Rome’s war expenses, an annual tribute, needing Roman permission to declare war, the provision of 50 warships, and the reduction of the Carthaginian navy to one ship. Unsurprisingly, the city refused. The Carthaginians continued their recruitment of mercenaries from across the Mediterranean, and large number of fighting men from Greece began to arrive, lured by Carthaginian gold. Among them was a Spartan commander Xanthippus, an expert in deploying and manoeuvring an army.

Xanthippus quickly bonded with the Carthaginian army, and persuaded the Senate that the strongest elements in their force, the cavalry and elephants, could excel on flat ground. Xanthippus himself may have faced such a force under Pyrrhus when the Epirote king attacked Sparta in the 270s BC. Although a committee of Carthaginian generals ostensibly remaining in operational control, Xanthippus became the de facto general of the army over the winter. As the prospect of decisive battle with the legions drew nearer, his skill at manoeuvring the army became more evident, and he assumed full command.

Xanthippus led out the Carthaginian army to engage the legions under Regulus at the Battle of Bagradas River (or Tunis) in 255 BC. His force included 100 elephants, 4,000 cavalry and 12,000 infantry, including 5,000 Sicilian veterans and mercenaries flanking many citizen militia. They set up camp in an open plain, only around a mile away from the Roman force of 15,000 infantry and 500 cavalry. The elephants formed a single line in front of Xanthippus’ centre, with his cavalry equally split into two blocks on the wings. The Romans had a deeper and denser formation than usual, designed to be an anti-elephant formation though one that shortened the frontage of the infantry and made them liable to being flanked. The Roman cavalry was on their flanks, with the velite skirmishers in front of the heavy infantry legionaries. Regulus planned to punch through the elephants with massed infantry, and then overcome the Carthaginian phalanx in its centre as to win the battle before he could be flanked.

The Carthaginian cavalry and elephants opened the battle, swiftly sweeping aside the vastly outnumbered Roman cavalry. The legionaries advanced, banging their swords and javelins to spook the elephants. The Italian allies, who overlapped the elephant line, quickly broke the Carthaginian right, chasing them back to their camp. The rest of the Roman infantry struggled against the elephants, who charged through the ranks to cause massive confusion and cavalries. When reading about such battles it is easy to forget that these were lived human experiences of people with swords and shields facing huge, armoured elephants, often bulls who had been driven to frenzy and trained to kill using hooves, tusks and trunk – a truly terrifying experience for farmers from central Italy. Despite this, some of the legionaries fought through the elephants and attacked the Carthaginian phalanx, only to find them effectively organised to resist them. Some of the Carthaginian cavalry now returned to attack the Roman rear and, having to fight on all sides, the legionaries’ forward momentum was halted.

The Romans still held form as their dense formation jammed them together, but the elephants were still able to rampage through their ranks. The cavalry pinned the legionaries in place and continued to hurl missiles into their flanks. Xanthippus then had the phalanx press forward and the Romans, now packed together, were butchered where they stood. Regulus and a small force fought their way out of the encirclement, but were pursued until he and his remaining 500 men surrendered. Around 13,000 Romans had been killed at Tunis, while only 800 sons of Carthage were lost. A force of 2,000 legionaries which had broken through to the Carthaginian camp, the Italian allies, did manage to escape back to Aspis. Despite this moment of glory, Bagradas River would be Carthage’s only land victory over Rome in the war.

Xanthippus feared the envy of the Carthaginian elite that he had outshone, so took his pay and swiftly returned to Greece rather than continuing to stay and organise their war effort. Regulus died in captivity, though later authors invented the tale of him returned to Rome with terms on condition that, should they not be accepted, he return to Carthage to be tortured to death, and so he advised the Senate to reject the terms, and duly returned to face torture and death, The Romans sent a fleet to evacuate their remaining legions, and the Carthaginian navy mustered to repel them at the Battle of Cape Hermaeum.