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Home , 204 BC, Masinissa, Numidia, Numidians, Numidian cavalry, Principes

Historical Background garrison in Utica and Hasdrubal's newly-raised army, withdrew for the Scipio's defeat of Hasdrubal Gisgo at Ilipa winter to a ridge overlooking the port. in 206 B.C. was the beginning of the end for Most of Scipio's winter was spent trying to convince that his best chance

Carthage. now controlled Spain, for retaining his throne lay with the 's main recruiting ground, and, with slowly Romans. Syphax, however, was too far being strangled in Italy for lack of support, Hasdrubal had to gone in enjoying his marriage with . Smitten as he was, Syphax shore up the Carthaginian position in . Almost as bad as was still aware that his best chance was the defeat at Ilipa for the Carthaginians was the loss of in joining neither camp, but playing off the Carthaginians against the Romans. , the great Numidian general, who had gone Scipio let him go on for a few weeks over to the Romans after the battle. with his fruitless negotiations for an end to the war and then, with a meta- physical shrug, decided that the easiest Hasdrubal had to rebuild Carthage's had a true consular army or whether his way to solve this impassee was to relationship with and her invasion force was mostly men from the destroy Syphax. That, however, would present king, Syphax. And he had just original Cannae legions that had been not be easy, as a combined Hasdrubal- the means at hand: his beautiful, young languishing since their humiliation ... or Syphax army would be much larger daughter, Sophonisba. Syphax took one some combination thereof. Whatever, than Scipio's legions. look at Sophonisba and was immedi- his "legions" seem to have been ately smitten; says he was "... reinforced to about 6000 men and 300 To this end, early in 203 B.C., he aflame with desire," a violence of cavalry each. And the low cavalry renewed his siege efforts at Utica while, passion he attributes to this typical numbers meant that he would need the at the same time, putting forth peace bunch of half-civilized barbarians. . feelers to both Hasdrubal and Syphax. (Livy, ever the patrician snob.) A The latter two, assuming that the arrival marriage followed quickly, which Immediately upon landing (about 16 of a new Carthaginian fleet off Utica marriage immediately put a crimp in miles NE of Utica, some 30 miles from would place Scipio in an extremely Scipio's military schemes. (He was Carthage), Scipio set about laying waste dangerous position, fell for what was already having considerable political to the countryside, at which point he actually a Scipionic ruse. Early one problems - especially from his base in was joined by the "exiled" King morning, probably in late March, Scipio Sicily - with the Fabians, who were Masinissa and a small force of sent out Laelius and Masinissa with doing much to undermine his effective- Numidian cavalry. Masinissa was still about half his army. Laelius marched ness.) Syphax and Masinissa - the great heavily involved in his battle for control directly to Syphax's camp, caught the Numidian cavalry leader who, just of Numidia with Syphax. Having napping, and set it on fire. recently, had come over to the Roman suffered several recent setbacks at his side - both considered themselves King hands, Masinissa now viewed the For the Numidians - and the of Numidia. Syphax, however, con- chance to side with the Romans as a Carthaginians - it was a major trolled the actual country; Masinissa major opportunity in his efforts to disaster. Instantaneous panic siezed was a "king" sans portfolio. reclaim the throne. the Numidian camp, a panic which instantly spread to the Carthaginians. In 204 B.C., Scipio arrived in Africa for Scipio, wasting little time, marched on Thousands died in the blaze, and even what he considered to be the last phase Utica. After thumping a small army more simply ran off and went home. In in the campaign to end the war. His under Hanno (...Lord knows which about an hour, and with virtually no army numbered approximately 25,000+ Hanno) at the Tower of Agothocles, he contact, Scipio had temporarily men. Exactly what this army was laid siege to the port. This brought destroyed two armies. comprised of is an interesting question, Hasdrubal Gisgo and a relief force to the consisting of deciding whether Scipio site. Scipio, now caught between the

Hasdrubal, however, was not finished. now a separate entity, the back two Many of his better soldiers quickly acting as offensive reserves which could gathered into the nucleus of a second be used, when needed, to extend his army, and Hasdrubal started to recruit a own lines and outflank the enemy. new army in the interior. But he still Although, in the subsequent battle of needed Syphax. Syphax, however, had Zama, Scipio chose to be somewhat pretty much had it with this sort of more conservative - certainly a thing, and, despite entreaties from tribute to the genius of Hannibal - Sophonisba to remain faithful to her the development of Roman military father, Syphax was on the point of tactics and organization had taken a packing it in when 4000 Celtiberian sharp turn. The Romans, conservative mercenaries, recently hired by Carthage, to the end, were not that quick to either arrived in his camp on the way to adopt or adapt all of Scipio's ideas, Carthage. Just how this influx of veteran but by the advent of troops stiffened his spine - either by 100 years later, Scipio's ideas had newly found bravura or heavily applied been translated into the "" threats - is beside the point. Syphax system, the ultimate expression of hastily rounded up what he could find the power of Rome's infantry. and headed back to rejoin Hasdrubal, who was now encamped in an area We know what happened to Scipio (see called The Great Plains, alongside the Zama in SPQR); but what of his upper River Bagradas, about 75 miles antagonists, Hasdrubal and Syphax, and southwest of Utica. The total force the kingdom-seeking Masinissa? amounted to about 20 -to-30,000 men Hasdrubal was quickly hounded out of (depending on who you read), although, the country and sentenced to death. He unfortunately, many were raw recruits. tried to raise a local army to get himself back in favor, but as soon as Hannibal When Scipio saw this new threat returned from Italy the latter took it developing, he left some of his men to over (although he did commute the continue with the siege of Utica and sentence). Hasdrubal, however, was still marched the remainder of his army, the butt of Carthage's need for a about 12-to-15,000, into the interior to flanks exposed, the moved scapegoat, and, in 202 B.C., he killed confront Hasdrubal. Hasdrubal, forward to engage and pin the center of himself to escape being lynched by a although somewhat suprised to see the Carthaginian line. As soon as this vigilante gang of local "patriots". Scipio approach - he and Syphax had was effected, the principes and the , Hasdrubal Gisgo was an astute, capable assumed that Scipio would not abandon acting as separate, mobile divisions, politician who should never have been the siege - were eager to give battle, split off to the right and left, extending given military command. Caven assuming that their great numerical the Roman front line, outflanking the considers him the worst Carthaginian superiority would negate what they Carthaginians. As soon as this maneu- general of the war, and his "results" in were quickly coming to recognize as ver had been completed, Hasdrubal's both Spain and Africa seem to lend Scipio's superior tactical ability. True, fate was sealed. The Carthaginian and credence to this assessment. However, much of their army was untested, but Numidian foot fled in a panic as the he was facing Scipio in all of these the 4000 were considered circle started to close, while the Spanish battles, and Scipio was formidable to be "elite". Celts stood their ground until annihi- enough to make any commander with lated. Although both Syphax and less than exceptional talents look bad. Both armies deployed in fairly typical Hasdrubal escaped, their army manner: in the center, ceased to exist ... the second time In the meantime, Masinissa, with cavalry on the wings. Scipio even in less than a year that Scipio had Laelius, hurried west to to seize used the standard, three line, hastati- destroyed a Carthaginian army Syphax's kingdom, while Syphax tried principes-triarii, set up. Not much was on their home ground. to raise yet another army. The Romans standard after that, though. For once, quickly dispatched this motley group, the Romans' cavalry proved superior The Great Plains was, in Brian Caven's capturing Syphax in the process as (Masinissa had come up with some words, "... the most sophisticated of Masinissa raced on to Cirta to take over. additional Numidians), and both Scipio's battles ...". Scipio had com- The first person to greet him on the Laelius and Masinissa had little trouble pletely abandoned the standard three steps of the palace was Sophonisba ... in routing the Carthaginian-Numidian line, hit the center approach that had and Masinissa instantly fell in love. cavalry off the field. With Hasdrubal's become Roman military dogma. Each Whether Sophonisba felt the same of his three heavy infantry lines was way or was simply being politically Roman military invention, but that The Game acute is beside the point, although her Sophonisba, like all other "booty", was To play Great Plains, players need subsequent actions seem to lend much property of Rome. And Scipio had no a copy of SPQR II - the 2nd edition weight to the former. Whatever, by the intention of giving her to Masinissa. (1994 rules). The necessary counters are time Laelius arrived, Masinissa and found either in SPQR or on this issue's Sophonisba were married. With a display of Romanticism worthy countersheet. We have duplicated some of Scott and Byron, Masinissa made his counters that were published in Scipio, however, with his prisoner, choice. He returned to his beloved, told and Africanus in this the now, lago-like Syphax, whispering her what Scipio had demanded - and issue's countersheet so that players all sorts of tabloid-level information in what her status would be - and handed lacking those modules will be able to his ear, quickly perceived that the her a vial of poison. Her great hatred play this scenario. Masinissa-Sophonisba marriage could for anything Roman still burning, and easily deprive him of what he had just fearing being separated from her newly- Map won on the battlefield, especially as the found love, Sophonisba drank the Use the Cannae map from SPQR; it Queen was still Hasdrubal's daughter poison and died. resembles the Great Plains battlefield ... and a staunch supporter of the (at least what our sources say is the Carthaginian cause. Taking Masinissa The following day a somewhat subdued battlefield) rather remarkably. The aside, he not-so-subtley reminded Masinissa was "crowned" King of Aufidus river would be the Bagradas Masinissa that not only was the latter's Numidia by Scipio. river, and the Numidian left/Roman new, kingly status the direct result of right was flanked by gradual ridges.

Balance Favors Scipio

Although Scipio is outnumbered almost 2-1, numbers - as we SPQRers know - mean little. Scipio has far better troops - except for Hasdrubal's Celtibereans - weapon and system superiority, and he has himself. The Carthaginian Player has a chance, but it depends on Syphax getting the best out of a motley group of Numidians.

For competition play, we suggest ignoring the Carthaginian Cavalry TQ rule, below, and using the Point Bid Method, as outlined in SPQR II. \ Difficulty This is one of the more straightforward battles in the system, with few "extra" rules and a fairly low number of counters. This is, thus, a good battle to introduce novices to GBH, as it plays in an evening.

Carthaginian Cavalry Morale Triarii Retreat Edge The Carthaginian and Numidian cavalry The Triarii have a Movement Allowance Each army retreats to the rear of their had suffered a fearful blow to both their of '5' (not the "4" printed). They can lines. numbers and their morale at Utica. In move as an independent line; they do not ' words, "... their spirit had use the Triarii Doctrinal Restrictions. Winning been broken by the earlier defeats they They can use Manipular Line Extension, Army Withdrawal Levels are: had suffered." To represent this, on any and they can stack with each other (and and all TQ checks that must be made for with Cohorts). Rome: The Withdraws these cavalry, the Carthaginian player when units worth 110 Rout Points have adds two (+2) to the dieroll. If you wish Design and Historical Note: Scipio had been eliminated. to add to game balance, ignore this rule, long ago abandoned the idea of Triarii as a as it is included for historicity, only. Last Gasp Defensive line. At the Great Carthage-Numidia: The C-N Army Plains they were trained - and used -as a withdraws when 90 Rout Points have fully-mobile attack column. been eliminated.