Dusmanul la Poarta!-Partea-38!

 1-Acest articol este copiat !

2-Istoria ramane pasiunea mea nr-1.

“For although the Romans had clearly been defeated in the field, and their reputation in arms ruined, yet because of the singularity of their constitution, and by wisdom of their deliberative counsel, they not only reclaimed the sovereignty of Italy, and went on to conquer the Carthaginians, but in just a few years became the rulers of the entire world.” (Polybius)

By 215 BC, the Second Punic War was spreading across the Mediterranean as the Romans looked to avoid direct conflict with Hannibal after his third crushing victory, at Cannae. In Iberia, Scipio the Elder had returned after the defeat at Trebia and commanded the four Roman legions there alongside his brother, Gnaeus Scipio. They had defeated the naval commander Himilco in a battle at the River Ebro estuary, and now faced Hannibal’s middle brother Hasdrubal looking to rally the Celtiberian tribes to the Carthaginian cause, too wary of their loyalty to leave the peninsula for Italy. In Italy, Hannibal was still an occupying force as the Roman adopted the scorched earth Fabian Strategy, concentrating their legions on defecting towns like Capua and Tarentum. In Sicily, Syracuse’s new king had declared for Carthage, and following a disastrous initial naval assault, the legions dug in for a seemingly futile siege.

The Scipios in Hispania finally forced Hasdrubal to battle following their crossing of the Ebro to besiege Ibera (later known as Dertosa Ilercavonia, modern Tortosa). Both armies had around 25,000 men, the Romans having two of their own and two Italian allied legions, along with local recruits, while Hasdrubal’s army was largely Celtiberian recruits, and complemented by 21 war elephants. The Romans had their legions in the centre and the allies on the flanks, protected by the cavalry, while the Punic forces had the Celtiberians in the centre and the African veterans on the flanks, with cavalry flanking them. Balearic slingers formed a screen in front of the elephants.

Forty years previously some 13,000 Roman legions had been scattered in terror by a hundred elephants at the Battle of Tunis in the First Punic War, but Rome had long since conquered its fear of the terrifying beasts. A trained war elephant would still be a horrifying prospect, often fighting in musk and trained to use its feet, trunks, and steel encase tusks to kill, but they were also vulnerable. The mahouts commanding them were horribly exposed, the elephants could be panicked by loud noises, unfamiliar smells, and missile weapons, and once spooked, they were often as much a threat to their own infantry as the enemy. Hasdrubal’s elephants were thus swiftly dealt with, and the Roman legions in the centre marched on the Celtiberians facing them. Following an initial and brief exchange of javelins, the Iberians fled on first contact. They knew Hasdrubal was looking to win to march in support of his brother, and these local troops had no desire to march far from home to campaign in Italy. This, coupled with the ever-daunting prospect of facing Roman legionaries, made the battle somewhat of a farce as the centre of the Punic line disintegrated. Hasdrubal had heard how Hannibal’s Celtiberians and Gauls had done an excellent job of managing a slow, feigned retreat with the centre of their line at Cannae the year before, so was shocked when his own troops routed with barely a sword thrust at them. These men were already in Italy though, and had already enjoyed a string of successes under the eldest son of the lion’s brood.

The Roman legions now piled through the centre of the Punic formation. Neither side’s cavalry gained an advantage in their skirmishing. The African veterans attempted to turn and face the flanks of the Roman legions, but still faced the Italian allies at their front. The Romans held their formation rather than pursuing the Celtiberians, and now managed to envelop the Carthaginian flanks. The Africans put up a stout resistance, and the Romans suffered many casualties, but their cause was hopeless. The remaining Carthaginian cavalry and elephants fled with Hasdrubal, and the legions looted their camp, capturing the provisions, equipment and treasury. The town of Ibera surrendered to Rome, while the remnants of the shattered Punic army made their way back to Cartagena.

Losses on both sides had been heavy, though Roman victory now left the Scipios firmly established in north-east Hispania, crucially blocking the overland route to Hannibal in Italy. There was no immediate campaign launched against the remaining Punic possessions, rather the Roman strategy of raids, building up a power base, and winning the support of Celtiberian tribes continued. Italy was still suffering the ramifications of Cannae, and as glorious as victory as Ibera was, Rome simply did not have to men or resources to reinforce Hispania and build on it. Twice the Scipios complained to the Senate of lack of support, but still none was forthcoming.

Victory did, however, turn the attention of Carthage. Hannibal’s youngest brother Mago had returned to Carthage following Cannae, to both proclaim his success and press the case for reinforcements to complete the conquest of Rome. He raised an army which was due to land at Locri and support Hannibal, though news of Ibera and declining influence in Hispania – which Carthage relied on for silver ore and other resources – spooked the merchant state. This army was instead rerouted to Iberia, with victory not only preventing the Celtiberian tribes from abandoning Rome, but also now causing a Punic support army to head to that peninsula instead of Italy. Rome may not have been able to withstand the pressure of a second Carthaginian army led by another of the lion’s brood. While easily overlooked, Ibera may well have been the battle that turned the tide of the Second Punic War. Despite this victory, there was still much fighting to be done, and much blood to be shed, as the war would continue raging across the Mediterranean.