Zama
October 19, 202 BC
Strategic Context
In 218 BC, Hannibal Barca leads a Carthaginian army from Spain across the Alps to invade
attack the Roman Empire. Despite consistently defeating Roman armies in Italy for over a
decade, Hannibal is unable to defeat Rome, and eventually loses the imitative. A Roman army
under Scipio Africanus retakes Spain from Hannibal’s subordinates in 206 BC, and then
invades North Africa in 204 BC to take Carthage itself. Scipio defeats Carthaginian ally, King
Syphax of Numidia, with the help of his son Prince Masinissa. Scipio establishes himself while
Hannibal leads the main Carthaginian army in ineffectual skirmishes in Italy. In 203 BC,
Hannibal must abandon Italy to defend Carthage, meeting Scipio at Zama the next year.
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Stakes
+ A Roman victory would leave Carthage
undefended, forcing it to concede to a
severe peace treaty.
+ A Carthaginian victory would destroy
Rome’s only army in North Africa, forcing
a more advantageous peace.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
Zama, 202 BC
Strength
Romans
Carthaginians
Scipio Africanus
Hannibal Barca
29,000 infantry
6,500 cavalry
36,000 infantry
4,000 cavalry
80 war elephants
Well
Well
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
Mediterranean c. 218 BC
N
The battlefield consists of a featureless arid plain, To the southeast and northwest behind each army is a gradual
hill where each sets up camp.
Romans
(Scipio)
Carthaginians
(Hannibal)
Hannibal
attacks
hisinwar
elephants
and
are the
confronted
by
Roman
skirmishers.
Asoccupying
the
warthe
elephants
the Roman
Hannibal
deploys
his with
infantry
three
lines with
hardened
veterans
occupying
rear line and
his
mercenaries
and levies
front cavalry.
two approach
lines. He
deploys
his
war
Frightened
elephants
continue
tohis
rampage
into which
the
Carthaginian
ranks,
disordering
the
right
wing
Laelius
also
Scipio
redresses
his
ranks
to form
askirmishers,
continuous
battle
line
andhis
advances.
Hannibal
meets
the
Roman
infantry
with
elephants
and skirmishers
in front
of thetoinfantry
cavalrytoonfrighten
the wings.the
Scipio
deploysthis
infantry
three linesas
as well:
in the front,
principes,
and finally
lines, Scipio
orders the
cavalry
blow and
loudthehorns
beasts;
partly insucceeds
manyhastati
elephants
turnthen
about
and flee.
The
seizes
the
opportunity
to
the
Carthaginian
right
wing
and drive
it from
the onfield.
Meanwhile,
Roman the
skirmishers
veteran
only
his
triarii.
first
Scipio
leaves
wide
lanes
of charge
infantry.
between
formations
but
hides the
gaps
with
skirmishers.
He deploys
his cavalry
the wings,
Masinissathe
commanding
stronger
right
Carthaginian
lefttwo
winglines
is stampeded
byhis
rampaging
elephants,
completely
disordering
it. Masinissa
promptly
charges
Carthaginian
left wing
wing. Hannibal
knows
Scipio’s cavalry
is superior andand
givescarefully
orders to his lure
cavalry
to lure down
the Roman
cavalry
farlanes
away from
the
battlefield
if defeated.
harass
the
remaining
war
elephants
them
the
wide
in
the
infantry
to
be
destroyed
in
the
rear.
and drives it from the field.
Carthaginians
(Hannibal)
N
Hannibal
Tychaeus
Romans
Carthaginians
Infantry
Infantry
Skirmishers
Skirmishers
Cavalry
Cavalry
War elephants
Symbol guide
Romans
(Scipio)
Laelius
Scipio
Carthaginians
Romans
(Hannibal
Barca)
(Scipio
36,000 Africanus)
infantry
29,000
infantry
4,000 cavalry
Masinissa
6,500
cavalry
80 war
elephants
The
Carthaginian
second
line counterattacks
aggressively,front
pushing
the line
Roman
hastati
untilmeets
reinforced
the principes.
A fierce
The
Roman
hastati
eventually
defeat
the aCarthaginian
infantry
mustbackwards
retreat.
However,
Hannibal
orders
his
second
line
Scipio
redresses
his ranks
to form
continuous
battle
line
andwhich
advances.
Hannibal
the by
Roman
infantry
with
struggle
ensues
but
the
Carthaginian
infantry
are
again
defeated
and
forced
to
retreat.
Hannibal
does
not
allow
these
troops
to
mingle
with
his
infantry
tofirst
not two
allowlines
the first
line into their ranks, resulting in a few initial skirmishes between friendly troops. Trapped between their
only
hisbut
of infantry.
rear line
most have
the sense
to redeploy on the wings. Hannibal’s cavalry appears to be carrying out its orders magnificently as there is no
own second line and the Roman hastati, the Carthaginian front line is slaughtered although some escape to settle on the wings.
sign of the Roman cavalry.
N
Hannibal
Romans
Carthaginians
Infantry
Infantry
Skirmishers
Skirmishers
Cavalry
Cavalry
Carthaginians
(Hannibal)
War elephants
Symbol guide
Romans
(Scipio)
Scipio
Carthaginians
Romans
(Hannibal
Barca)
(Scipio
36,000 Africanus)
infantry
29,000
infantry
4,000 cavalry
6,500
cavalry
80 war
elephants
Scipio
Hannibal
pause
briefly
to
reorganize
their formations.
Scipio
leisurely
deploys
theCarthaginians
principes
the
inner
wings
As theand
Scipio
orders
infantry
an
battle
advance
reaches
overathe
climax,
gory the
battlefield.
Roman
cavalry
A violent
finally
and return
costly
to
infantry
attack
struggle
the
infantryonensues.
in the
Neither
rear.
In
and
the
triarii
on
the
outer
wings
for
a
balanced
line
that
slightly
overlaps
the
Carthaginian
line.
Hannibal
knows
an
sideinstant,
an
appears
the
toCarthaginian
be gaining aninfantry
advantage
are annihilated
and the decision
whereremains
they stand
in great
or violently
doubt to
pursued
both commanders.
from the battlefield.
advance over the corpse-filled battlefield would be difficult and waits for Scipio to attack his veteran infantry line.
Carthaginians
(Hannibal)
N
Hannibal
Romans
Carthaginians
Infantry
Infantry
Skirmishers
Skirmishers
Cavalry
Cavalry
Triarii
Principes
Hastati
Principes
War elephants
Triarii
Scipio
Symbol guide
Romans
(Scipio)
Carthaginians
Romans
(Hannibal
Barca)
(Scipio
36,000 Africanus)
infantry
29,000
infantry
4,000 cavalry
6,500
cavalry
80 war
elephants
Zama, 202 BC
Casualties & Aftermath
Romans:
Carthaginians:
5,000
30,000
or
or
14%
75%
Hannibal escaped to convince the Carthaginian senate to sue for peace. Rome
forced Carthage to surrender its fleet, cede land to Masinissa’s Numidia, and
pay severe reparations. Hannibal was allowed to continue playing a role in
Carthaginian politics. In fact, he was so successful in Carthage’s recovery
within the terms of the peace treaty, that Rome forced him to flee in 196 BC.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
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By Jonathan Webb, 2009