Scipio Africanus | Timeline

Colorization by Alessandro Tomasi

Publius Cornelius Scipio "Africanus" (236/235–183 BC) was a Roman general and statesman, most notable as one of the main architects of Rome's victory against Carthage in the Second Punic War. Often regarded as one of the best military commanders and strategists of all time, his greatest military achievement was the defeat of Hannibal at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC. This victory in Africa earned him the epithet Africanus, literally meaning “the African,” but meant to be understood as a conqueror of Africa. (Intro from Wikipedia)

January(?) 1(?), 236 B.C. - Rome, Roman Republic - Publius Cornelius Scipio is born

August(?) 1(?), 218 B.C. - Genoa, Italy - Publius Cornelius Scipio (his father) embarks his legions for Spain while Hannibal crosses the Pyrenees. He takes his 17-year-old son as leader of a small cavalry contingent =(START)

September 27, 218 B.C. - Massilia (Marseille, France) - At Massilia while Hannibal crosses the Rhône River

September 30, 218 B.C. - Roquemaure, Rhône River, France - Scipio (father) reaches the Carthaginian camp 3 days after they had left it, loosing an opportunity to stop them. He decides to pursue Hannibal to block him from entering Italy

November 30(?), 218 B.C. - Ticino River, Northern Italy - Scipio (father) and his cavalry run across Hannibal - Battle of Ticinus - Carthaginian victory - Scipio (father) is badly wounded, but in the confusion, his son cuts his way through to his wounded father and escorts him away from the fight, saving him from being either captured or killed. Scipio (son) is widely acclaimed for the heroic feat. Tiberius Sempronius Longus assumes the command while Scipio (father) recuperates

December 22, 218 B.C. - Trebia River, near Placentia, Northern Italy - Battle of the Trebia - Carthaginian victory (There's no certainty if he participated, but it is likely that he did)

January(?) 1(?), 216 B.C. - Rome - Young Scipio uses the reputation he had gained by saving his father's life to start his public career and run at the elections for military tribune. He is elected

July 25, 216 B.C. - Cannae, Apulia, SE Italy - Consuls Gaius Terentius Varro and Lucius Aemilius Paullus arrive at Cannae with a 85,000-strong army (including Scipio)

August 2, 216 B.C. - Cannae - Battle of Cannae - Catastrophic defeat for the Romans: +50,000 killed. Scipio survives and takes charge of some 10,360 survivors, together with another military tribune, Appius Claudius Pulcher

August 3(?), 216 B.C. - Canusium (Canosa di Puglia, Apulia) - 4,000 of the survivors, including Scipio, elude the carthaginian cavalry and make their way SW to Canusium

April(?) 1(?), 215 B.C. - While in Rome - In Catalonia, his father wins the Battle of Ibera/Dertosa against Hasdrubal Barca

January(?) 1(?), 213 B.C. - Rome - Scipio is elected for the post of "Curule Aedile", a magistracy post that supervisioned the markets, the food supply, public games, festivals and public buildings

January(?) 1(?), 211 B.C. - While in Rome - Battle of the Upper Baetis - Carthaginian victory. Both Scipio's father (Publius Cornelius Scipio) and uncle (Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio) are killed in battle

March 1, 211 B.C. - Rome - As a member of the Salii (a religious college dedicated to Mars), Scipio and other members of the Salii perform war Dances during the celebrations in honor of the Roman God of War

April(?) 1(?), 210 B.C. - Rome - Scipio is elected pro-consul and commander-in-chief of all Roman forces in Hispania. 10,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry are assigned to him (to add to the strenght of the forces already in Hispania)

August(?) 1(?), 210 B.C. - Ostia - Scipio sets sail to Hispania with 30 quinqueremes

September(?) 1(?), 210 B.C. - Empurium (Empuries, NE of Girona) - Scipio lands in Hispania in late Summer

September(?) 15(?), 210 B.C. - Tarraco (Tarragona, Spain) - The army marches overland to the Roman headquarters in Tarraco

April(?) 1(?), 209 B.C. - Mouth of River Ebro (between Barcelona and Valencia) - Scipio begins his march toward Carthago Nova with 28,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry, leaving Junius Silanus with 3,000 infantry and 500 cavalry to safeguard the territory north of the river

April(?) 15(?), 209 B.C. - Carthago Nova (Cartagena, Spain) - Scipio arrives in Carthago Nova in 14 days and takes up a position on the peninsula to blockade the city

April(?) 16(?), 209 B.C. - Carthago Nova - Scipio captures Carthago Nova

December(?) 1(?), 209 B.C. - Tarraco - Returns with his forces and hostages to Tarraco, where he winters

March(?) 1(?), 208 B.C. - Tarraco - Scipio begins his march toward Baetica (Andalucia)

April(?) 1(?), 208 B.C. - Baecula (Santo Tomé, NE of Jaén - Spain) - Battle of Baecula - Roman victory

September(?) 1(?), 208 B.C. - Tarraco - After the battle, Scipio leaves 11,000 troops in the field and withraws to his base at Tarraco

March(?) 1(?), 206 B.C. - Tarraco - Scipio begins another march toward Baetica (Andalucia)

April(?) 1(?), 206 B.C. - Ilipa, near Seville, Iberia - Battle of Ilipa - Roman victory

May(?) 1(?), 206 B.C. - Italica, 9km NW of Seville - Founds the settlement of Italica

July(?) 1(?), 206 B.C. - Tarraco - Scipio leaves Junius Silanus with 10,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry in the field and returns to Tarraco after a 70-day march, stopping to conduct diplomacy and to sort out the affairs of numerous communities

October(?) 1(?), 206 B.C. - Cirta (Constantine, Algeria) - Pays a visit to the Numidian princes Syphax and Massinissa, arriving at the port at the same time of carthaginian general Hasdrubal Gisco. He concludes an agreement with Syphax, gaining for Rome a vital source of cavalry and detriving Carthage of the same.

October(?) 5(?), 206 B.C. - Carthago Nova - Returns to Carthago Nova in 4 days

October(?) 11(?), 206 B.C. - Ilorci (Lorquí, NW of Murcia) - After receaving news that wealthy communities near the silver mines north of Carthago Nova had refused to fulfill their treaty obligations, Scipio marches from Carthago Nova and reaches Ilorci in 5 days. After the city is assailed, during which Scipio is wounded, all population in killed and the city is burned to the ground

December(?) 1(?), 206 B.C. - Tarraco - Returns to Tarraco and puts the government of Hispania in the hands of Junius Silanus at Tarraco and Marcius Septimus in Carthago Nova, setting sail to Rome with 10 ships

January(?) 1(?), 205 B.C. - Rome - Returns to Rome and is met with "unexampled joy and acclamation". He gives an account of his actions in Hispania to the Senate, before formally resigning his command

March(?) 1(?), 205 B.C. - Rome - Scipio is elected Consul at the age of 31. Tries to go to Africa but is prevented by his enemies in Rome

March 15, 205 B.C. - Rome - Assumes his new office on the Ides of March

July 1(?), 205 B.C. - Messina, Sicily - Scipio arrives in Sicily in June or July with the objective of training his forces

August(?) 1(?), 205 B.C. - Locri, Calabria - Scipio seizes an opportunity to take the calabrian coastal town of Locri from the Carthaginians. Hannibal is forced to withraw

January(?) 1(?), 204 B.C. - While in Syracuse, Sicily - Re-elected Consul for 204 B.C.

April(?) 1(?), 204 B.C. - Lilybaeum (Marsala), western tip of Sicily - Scipio sails for Utica with over 35,000 hardened troops

April(?) 5(?), 204 B.C. - near Cape Farina, NE of Utica, Tunisia - Three days later, Scipio lands near Cape Farina, causing panic among Carthaginian civilians

October(?) 1(?), 204 B.C. - Utica, Tunisia - Scipio lays siege to Utica

November(?) 15(?), 204 B.C. - N. Of Medjerda River, Tunisia - Unable to take Carthage right away, Scipio lifts the siege to Utica after 40 days and withraws to winter at a strong position north of Medjerda River, near the coast 

April(?) 1(?), 203 B.C. - Utica - Battle of Utica - Roman victory

April 30(?), 203 B.C. - Medjerda River, Tunisia - Battle of the Great Plains - Roman victory

October 18(?), 202 B.C. - Zama, Carthage (Siliana, Tunisia) - Peace conference with Hannibal Barca

October 19, 202 B.C. - Zama - Battle of Zama - Roman decisive victory. End of the Second Punic War

December 17, 202 B.C. - On his way to Tunis, Tunisia - Scipio receives intelligence that Verminia, with a Numidian army, was on his way. The romans engage them and defeat them

March(?) 1(?), 201 B.C. - Lilybaeum (Marsala), western tip of Sicily - Scipio lands at Lilybaeum

May(?) 1(?), 201 B.C. - Rome - Returns to Rome in triumph. After his triumph parade he is given the nickname of "Africanus" (The African)

April 1(?), 199 B.C. - Rome - Elected Patrician Censor, the most distinguished magistracy in Rome

January(?) 1(?), 194 B.C. - Rome - Scipio is elected Consul for 194 B.C.

June(?) 1(?), 194 B.C. - Placentia (Piacenza, N. Italy) - Joins the other Consul Tiberius Sempronius Longus in Placentia, after his army is forced to withraw from Cisalpine Gaul after being attacked by the Boii

December(?) 1(?), 194 B.C. - Rome - Returns to Rome to preside at the elections for 193 B.C.

June(?) 1(?), 193 B.C. - Carthage, Tunisia - Travels to Carthage to mediate a conflict between the Carthaginians and Numidian king Massinissa

December(?) 1(?), 193 B.C. - Rome - Scipio campaigns for Publius Scipio Nasica and Caius Laelius for consulship

January(?) 1(?), 190 B.C. - Rome - Scipio's younger brother Lucius is elected Consul. Scipio declares that he would prefer to serve as his brother's legate

July 1(?), 190 B.C. - Brundisium (Brindisi, SE Italy) - Lucius Scipio's army begins assembling in Brundisium

August(?) 1(?), 190 B.C. - Apollonia (Pujan, near Fier, Albania) - The Scipios land at Apollonia with 13,000 infantry and 500 cavalry

September(?) 1(?), 190 B.C. - Amfissa, Central Greece - Amfissa is besieged and taken by the Scipios

September(?) 4(?), 190 B.C. - Pella, Macedon - Scipio arrives in Pella in just 4 days and visits King Philip of Macedon

October(?) 1(?), 190 B.C. - Hellespont (Dardanelles Strait, Turkey) - The Scipios reach the Hellespont

December(?) 1(?), 190 B.C. - Hellespont - The Scipios cross the Hellespont in 30 ships sent by the praetor Aemilius Regilus

December 30(?), 190 B.C. - Near Magnesia ad Sipylum (Manisa, Turkey) - Battle of Magnesia - Roman-Pergamene victory, marking the end of the macedonian phalanx's dominance on battlefields

September(?) 1(?), 189 B.C. - Rome - The Scipios return to Rome, via Corinth, Greece

January(?) 1(?), 188 B.C. - Rome - Lucius Scipio and Aemilius Regillus each celebrate a triumph. Lucius adopts the name "Asiagenus" to emulate his brother

January(?) 1(?), 187 B.C. - Liternum (Giugliano, Campania, Italy) - Retires to Liternum, 19km north of Naples, disillusioned with Roman politics and envious politicians

August(?) 1(?), 183 B.C. - Liternum - Scipio Africanus dies during the Summer of 183, aged 53 =(END)

Hannibal | Timeline

Colorization by Alessandro Tomasi

Hannibal (247 – between 183 and 181 BC) was a Carthaginian general and statesman who commanded the forces of Carthage in their battle against the Roman Republic during the Second Punic War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest military commanders in history. (Intro from Wikipedia)

January(?) 1(?), 247 B.C. - Carthage, Tunisia - Hannibal Barca is born

August(?) 1(?), 237 B.C. - Gades (Cádiz, SW Spain) - Hamilcar Barca (and 9-year-old son Hannibal) land at Gades in the summer of 237 B.C.

January(?) 1(?), 236 B.C. - Peñiscola, Valencia, Iberia - 10-year-old Hannibal takes an oath to his father: "I swear so soon as age will permit...I will use fire and steel to arrest the destiny of Rome"

January(?) 1(?), 235 B.C.(?) - Carthage, Tunisia - Sent back to Carthage to continue his education

January(?) 1(?), 228 B.C. - W. of Toledo, Iberia - Witnesses the death of his father, Hamilcar Barca, by drowning in battle. 18-year-old Hannibal becomes an officer under Hamilcar's successor, Hasdrubal the Fair (his brother-in-law) =(START)

January(?) 1(?), 224 B.C. - Carthago Nova (Cartagena, Spain) - At the age of 25 he becomes commander of Hasdrubal's cavalry in the field

January(?) 1(?), 221 B.C. - Carthago Nova - 26-year-old Hannibal is elected Chief Commander of the army in Hispania after Hasdrubal is killed by an assassin

June(?) 1(?), 221 B.C. - Carteia (Between Gibraltar and Algeciras) - Lays siege to Carteia

September(?) 1(?), 221 B.C. - Alithia (Central-Eastern Spain) - Attacks and storms the Olcades' strongest center, Alithia, which surrenders

January(?) 1(?), 220 B.C. - Central Spain - Battle of the River Tagus against the Carpetani - Carthaginian victory

December(?) 1(?), 220 B.C. - Carthago Nova (Cartagena, Spain) - Retires to Cartagena to winter. Sends embassies to the Padane Gauls (gallic tribes in the Po Valley, Northern Italy)

January(?) 1(?), 219 B.C. - Helmantica (Salamanca) | Arbucala (Toro), Northern central Spain - Storms the Vaccaen strongholds of Helmantica and Arbucala

May 1(?), 219 B.C. - Saguntum (Sagunto, Valencia, Spain) - Hannibal lays siege to Saguntum

December 1(?), 219 B.C. - Saguntum - The last defences of Saguntum are overrun by the Carthaginians. Hannibal sells all the inhabitants as slaves and distributes the booty from the sacking of the city to his soldiers

January(?) 1(?), 218 B.C. - Carthago Nova - Returns to Carthago Nova for the winter of 219-218 B.C.

May 30, 218 B.C. - Carthago Nova - Hannibal sets out to the Alps with 82,000 heavy infantry, 12,000 cavalry and 37 elephants

July 15, 218 B.C. - Ebro River, Spain - Hannibal crosses Ebro River

July 25(?), 218 B.C. - Catalonia - Spends July and August subduing the peoples living in Catalonia. He leaves Hanno with 11,000 soldiers there. 10,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry are sent back to Carthago Nova

August(?) 1(?), 218 B.C. - Col de la Perche, Pyrenees, France - Hannibal crosses the Pyrenees at Col de la Perche

September 15, 218 B.C. - Illiberis (Elne), near Perpignan, SW France - Hannibal's army columns reunites and encamps at Illiberis with 50,000 heavy infantry and 9,000 cavalry

September 27, 218 B.C. - Pont St.Esprit, Rhône River, France - Hannibal camps at Roquemaure, on the western shore of the Rhône River. The Carthaginian army crosses the River in 3 days, 40km north of Roquemaure, at Pont St.Esprit

October 17, 218 B.C. - Col du Petit Saint-Bernard, French Alps - Hannibal begins the crossing of the Alps at Col du Petit Saint-Bernard

November 1, 218 B.C. - Ivrea, Piedmont, NW Italy - The Carthaginian army reaches the "foot of the Alps" after 15 days crossing

November 15(?), 218 B.C. - Turin, Italy - Hannibal captures Turin

November 30(?), 218 B.C. - Ticino River, Northern Italy - Hannibal runs across Scipio (father) and his cavalry - Battle of Ticinus - Carthaginian victory

December 22, 218 B.C. - Trebia River, near Placentia, Northern Italy - Battle of the Trebia - Carthaginian victory

January(?) 1(?), 217 B.C. - Alessandria, Piedmont - Winter near Alessandria

April 1(?), 217 B.C. - Around Arretium (Arezzo, Italy) - Hannibal decides to find a more reliable base of operations farther south

June 21, 217 B.C. - Near Passignano, Lake Trasimene, Central Italy - Battle of Lake Trasimene - Carthaginian victory (25,000 romans killed or captured). The road to Rome was open

September 1(?), 217 B.C. - Mount Callicula, Campania, Italy - Battle of Ager Falernus - Carthaginian victory

October(?) 1(?), 217 B.C. - Geronium, Molise, Italy - Battle of Geronium - Carthaginian victory

June 1(?), 217 B.C. - Geronium - Hannibal and the Carthaginian Army begin their march to Cannae

August 2, 216 B.C. - Cannae, Apulia, SE Italy - Battle of Cannae - Catastrophic defeat for the Romans: +50,000 killed. The city of Capua defects to Hannibal

December(?) 1(?), 216 B.C. - Capua, 25km N. of Naples, Italy - Hannibal goes into winter quarters in Capua and makes it his new base

August 1(?), 215 B.C. - Capua - Conducts campaigns against Nola and Casilinum from Capua

December(?) 1(?), 215 B.C. - Arpi, Apulia, Italy (N. of Foggia) - Goes into winter quarters at Arpi

August(?) 1(?), 214 B.C. - Beneventum (Benevento, Campania) - Battle of Beneventum - Roman victory

December(?) 1(?), 214 B.C. - Salapia, Apulia (between Cerignola and Manfredonia) - Goes into winter quarters at Salapi. The romans recapture Casilinum

August(?) 1(?), 213 B.C. - 80km from Tarantum (Taranto, SE Italy) - Hannibal establishes camp 80km from Tarantum during the Summer

March 1(?), 212 B.C. - Tarantum (Taranto, SE Italy) - Hannibal captures Tarantum in a surprise attack but fails to obtain control of the citadel, which commanded its harbour

August(?) 1(?), 212 B.C. - Capua - First battle of Capua - Carthaginian victory

October(?) 1(?), 212 B.C. - Silarus (Sele) River, Italy - Battle of the Silarus - Carthaginian victory (15,000 romans killed)

November(?) 1(?), 212 B.C. - Herdonia (Ordona, Foggia) - First Battle of Herdonia - Carthaginian victory (16,000 romans killed)

December(?) 1(?), 212 B.C. - Tarantum (Taranto, SE Italy) - Winter quarters at Tarantum

April(?) 1(?), 211 B.C. - While in Tarantum - Hannibal fails to relieve the besieged Capua and the city falls to the romans

December(?) 1(?), 211 B.C. - Tarantum - Winter quarters at Tarantum

June(?) 1(?), 210 B.C. - Herdonia - Second Battle of Herdonia - Carthaginian victory

December(?) 1(?), 210 B.C. - Tarantum - Winter quarters at Tarantum

April(?) 1(?), 209 B.C. - Canusium (Canosia di Puglia, Apulia) - Battle of Asculum - Carthaginian Victory

May(?) 1(?), 209 B.C. - While in Caulonia (Monasterace, Reggio Calabria) - The romans sack Tarantum while Hannibal destroys a 8,000 strong roman detachment at Caulonia

August(?) 1(?), 208 B.C. - Petelia, Calabria - Battle of Petelia - Carthaginian victory

December(?) 1(?), 208 B.C. - Metapontum (Metaponto, 40km from Taranto) - Winter quarters at Metapontum

April(?) 1(?), 207 B.C. - Grumentum (Gromento Nova, S. of Potenza) - Battle of Grumentum - Minor roman victory

June 23, 207 B.C. - While in Apulia - Hasdrubal Barca is defeated and killed in the battle of the Metaurus. Hannibal decides to withraw to Calabria

July(?) 1(?), 207 B.C. - Bruttium (Calabria) - Withraws to Brutium (Calabria) after learning of Hasdrubal Barca's defeat and death in the battle of the Metaurus

June(?) 1(?), 206 B.C. - Vicinity of Locri, Calabria - Scipio Africanus takes Locri from the Carthaginians. Hannibal is forced to withraw

December(?) 1(?), 205 B.C. - Crotone, Calabria - Winter quarters at Crotone

August(?) 1(?), 204 B.C. - Crotone - Battle of Crotona - inconclusive

December(?) 1(?), 204 B.C. - Crotone - Recalled to Carthage to direct the defence against a roman invasion under Scipio Africanus. Rome was free of her worst enemy

October(?) 1(?), 203 B.C. - Leptis Parva, Tunisia - Lands at Leptis Parva with 24,000 men

December(?) 1(?), 203 B.C. - Hadrumetum (Sousse, Tunisia) - Winters at Hadrumetum

October 18(?), 202 B.C. - Zama, Carthage (Siliana, Tunisia) - Peace conference with Scipio Africanus

October 19, 202 B.C. - Zama - Battle of Zama - Decisive Roman victory

January(?) 1(?), 196 B.C. - Carthage - Hannibal is elected shophet(*) of the republic of Carthage. (*) Community leader of chief magistrate

January(?) 1(?), 195 B.C. - Carthage - A Roman embassy arrives in Carthage and demands the surrender of Hannibal as a war criminal. He flees from Carthage to the Seleucid Court, via Tyre and Antioch

January(?) 1(?), 190 B.C. - Ephesus (SW of Selçuk, Turkey) - King Antiochus III gives Hannibal his first military command since arriving at his court 5 years earlier. His orders were to travel to Cilicia (SE Turkey) and supervise the construction of a war fleet there =(changeflag)

August 1(?), 190 B.C. - Off Side, Southern Turkey - Battle of the Eurymedon - Rhodian victory

January(?) 1(?), 182 B.C. - Libyssa, near Nicomedia (Izmit, NW Turkey) - Hannibal Barca commits suicide by poisoning, so as not to fall in the hands of T. Quinctius Flamininus, aged 64-66 =(END)