The Man Who Saved Rome From Hannibal
Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (236 – 183 BC), so named because of his victories in Africa, was one of Rome’s greatest generals and strategists. He conquered Carthage’s Iberian territories in the Second Punic War (218 – 201 BC), and defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC to close out the conflict with a decisive victory. Despite his valuable services, ingratitude was his reward. His rise began in 218 BC, when a young Scipio led a cavalry charge that saved his father, one of that year’s consuls, from encirclement by Carthaginians. Two years later, he survived disaster at the Battle of Cannae, when Hannibal nearly wiped out a Roman army 87,000 strong.
Scipio was one of the few Roman officers to keep their wits about them, and cut their way to safety with 10,000 men. They formed the nucleus of a reconstituted Roman army. In 211 BC, Scipio’s father and uncle were defeated and killed fighting Hannibal’s brother in Hispania. In elections for a new proconsul to lead an army to avenge the defeat, Scipio was the only Roman to seek the position, which others saw as a death sentence. Only twenty five at the time, he was underage to be elected a magistrate. So a special law was enacted to give him command.
