Scipio Africanus in the Second Punic War

352 Pages·1930·14.979 MB·English

by  Howard Hayes Scullard

Scipio Africanus in the
Second Punic War
Cambridge Univenity Press
Fetter Lane, London
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Sdpio l\fricanus in the
Punic War
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BY
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HOWARD H. SCULLARD, M.A., PH.D.
SometilM &holar of St John", Col/4•. Ctlflfbridl•
Cla11i.cal Tutor, Hadney and N-,
Collqe, London Univwrity
THIRLWALL PRIZE ESSAY
1929
CAMBRIDGE
AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.
MCMXXX
'To
THE MEMORY
OF
MY FATHER
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN
CON'tEN'fS
Page
.
Preface .
Xl
...
Select Bibliography
Xlll
Chapter I. ANCIENT AUTHORITIF.S FOR THE PERIOD 1
Quellenkritik, p. 1. (1) Polybius, p. 2. (2) Polybius, sources
-literary: Greek, Sosylus and Silenus, p. 6; Roman, p. 9.
(J) Polybius' sources-oral: Laelius, p. 10. (4) ~
Scipionic Legend and Polybius' attitude to it, p. 13. e
content and development of the Legend, p. 14. (s) Polybius
and Scipio, p. 16. (6) Livy and his sources, p. 19. The
Roman annalists; Coelius, p. 20. Use of Polybius, p. 23.
(7) Appian, p. 25. His attitude to Scipio, p. 27. Dio
Cassius, p. 28. Diodorus, p. 29. Minor authorities, p. 30
Chapter II. RoME, SCIPIO, AND SPAIN 32
• •
(1) Rome's domestic and foreign policy, p. 32. The power
of the noble families, p. 32. Agrarian interests v. imperia
lism, p. 34. (2) Scipio's youth, p. 36. Scipio at the
Ticinus, p. 37. His aedileship, p. 38. Election to the
Spanish command, p. 39. (J) Spain. Aims of the elder
Scipios, p. 41. Spain as a theatre of war, p. 43. Methods
and campaigns of the two Scipios, p. 45. Their offensive
and failure, p. 49. Cause of the disaster, p. 51. Misuse of
their victory by the Carthaginians, p. 52. Exploits of
Marcius and Cl. Nero, p. 53
Chapter III. NEW CARTHAGE 56
•
Scipio's first winter in Spain, p. 56. His plans for 209,
p. 58. Pc,sition of the Carthaginians, p. 59. Laqueur's
theory of the contradictions in Polybius, p. 61. Feasibility
of attacking New Carthage, p. 63. The march thither, p. 67.
Polybius' account of the capture of the town, p. 69. Its
difficulties: the strength of the morning attack, the ebb,
and Mago's negligence, p. 70. Difficulties solved if the ebb
can be abolished as the rationalistic interpretation of a
popular fiction, p. 71. The rationalising is then due to
.
Vl CONTENTS
Laelius or Polybius, p. 72. Fatal objections to this theory,
p. 73. Attempts to explain a regular tidal action, e.g.
Laqueur's view or a theory of a Carthaginian offensive,
p. 74. The nature of the ebb and the effect of the wind,
p. 76. Climatic conditions of Cartagena, p. 78. Theory of
extraordinary tidal action applied to the difficulties, p. So.
The wading of the lagoon as part of Scipio's plan, p. 81.
Further contradictions in Polybius, p. 82. Livy's account;
the importance of the wind and the fleet; Livy's relia
4
bility, p. 84. Scipio's plans and an account of the capture
of the town, based on the above theories, p ..8 8. Events after
the fall of the town, p. 92. The importance of the army
manCJ!uvres and of the Spanish sword, p. 94. The effect
and value of the exploit, p. 97
Chapter IV.
BAECULA • 100
Sources, p. Spanish alliances, p. Carthaginian
100. 101.
determination to fight, p. The choice of a site for
103.
battle, p. 104. The battle, p. 1o6. The tactics; possible
criticism, p. 108. Hasdrubal's retreat and Scipio's use of
the victory, p. Criticism of Scipio's action in letting
112.
Hasdrubal reach Italy, p. 114. Weakness of such criticism:
too difficult to stop Hasdrubal, Scipio's object was to hold
Spain, and the danger of Hasdrubal in Italy is magnified,
p. n6
Chapter V. ILIPA AND LAST STEPS IN SPAIN 120
Situation in, and sources for, 207, p. 120. Events; Orongis,
p. 121. Situation in 206, p. 125. Topography of Ilipa, p. 126.
The battle; Scipio's tactics, p. Difficulties of the
129.
account, and criticism of the tactics, p. 134. Scipio's visit
to Africa, p. 140. Punitive expeditions, p. 143. Mutiny in
the Roman army, p. 147. The attempt on Gades, p. 150.
Expedition against the revolted Spanish tribes; battle of the
Ebro; its importance, p. Is 1. Final arrangements in Spain,
p. 156
Chapter VI. THE INTERLUDE • 160
Scipio's consulship, p. 160. Clash of political, imperial
and military views, p. 162. Scipio's strategic aims, p. 164.
Scipio's preparations, p. 166. The incident at Locri, p. 170.
Pleminius, p. 171. Scipio sails for Africa, p. 175
..
CONTENTS Vil
Chapter VII. FIRST YEARISN AFRICA •
•
Africa as a theatre of war, p. 176. Strategy adopted in
attacking Carthage, p. 178. State of the native kingdoms,
p. 180. Where did Scipio intend to land?, p. 184. The
first cavalry engagement, p. 189. The battle of the Tower
of Agathocles, p. 191. The siege of Utica, p. 195. Results
of the first campaign, p. 197. Peace negotiations, p. 199.
The burning of the Carthaginian camps, p. 202. Cartha
ginian efforts to recruit, p. 205. Difficulties of the account,
p. 2o6. Battle of the Great Plains, p . .210. Scipio's tactics,
p. 212. The Carthaginian naval attack, p. 214. Defeat of
Syphax and story of Sophonisba, p. 216. Both sides ready
for peace, p. 219. The terms, p. 220. Delay in their ratifica
tion, p. 222. Party politics and opposition to Scipio, p. 223.
Hannibal leaves Italy, p. 225. Violation of the truce, p. 226
Chapter VIII. THE LAST CAMPAIGN • 229
Hostilities recommence, p. 229. Strategic aims of Scipio
and Hannibal, p. 230. Anecdote of the spies, and the
interview of the generals, p. 232. The inferior tradition on
Zama, p. 235. Hannibal's formation, p. 237. The Roman
formation, p. 238. The Polybian account of the battle,
p. 240. Theories built to bridge its difficulties; the tactical
aims of Scipio and Hannibal, p. 241. De Sanctis' theory
and objections to it, p. 246. Result of the battle, p. 248.
Carthage and Rome ready for peace, p. 250. The terms of
the Peace, p. 253. The effect of the Peace, p. 259. Fulfil
ment of the Peace, and Scipio's return, p. 260
Chapter IX. SCIPIO, THE SOLDIER, THE MAN,A ND
HIS WORK • • 262
A. The Soldier. Military needs v. the Constitution; Scipio's
position, p. 263. Influence of his personality, p. 264. Develop-
ment of Roman tactics and Scipio's reforms, p. 266. Scipio's
strategic aims, p. 270. His strategy of invading Spain
and Africa, p. 272. Organising ability, treatment of allies,
etc., p. 273. His military position, p. 274 • • • •
B. The Man and his Work. Misunderstanding and neglect
of Scipio, p. 275. His character; man of action and mystic,
p. 276. Comparison with Lord Curzon, p. 278. Scipio's
personal qualities, p. 280. Inspiration of Alexandc;.,r,p . 282.
Scipio's effect on the cultural life of Rome, p. 283. Scipio,
imperialist, statesman and politician, p. 284. Scipio at the
centre of Republican Rome, p. 286
...
V1ll CONTENTS
Appendix I (to chapter 289
111) •
The Topography of New Carthage
Appendix II (to chapter 1v) . 300
The Site of the Battle of Baecula
Appendix III (to chapter v) .
The Chronology of the Spanish Campaign
Appendix IV (to chapter VIII) . 310
" Zama" and the Site of the Battle
Appendix V 318
•
Notes on the African Campaign.
(i) The Forces of the Romans and Carthaginians
(ii) Chronology
Index .
329
ILLUSrrRArrIONS
PLATES
.
I. Baecula . Frontispiece
• • • •
. . .
II. Ilipa facing p.
• • • 128
III. Cartagena . . ,,
• • 294
PLANS
The Battle of Baecula p.
• • • • 110
. . .
The Battle of Ilipa. 135
.
The Battle of the Ebro
• • 152
.
The Battle at the Tower of Agathocles
193
. .
The Burning of the Camps
• 193
.
The Battle of the Great Plains
• 193
The Battle of '' Zama"
• • • • 193
.
Carthago Nova (C artagena)
290
MAPS
. . .
Spain
• • 42
.
North Africa . • • • • 177