Scipio, Publius Cornelius Scipio Emilian the African the Younger (Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus Junior) (c. 185 - 129 BC), commander and state. activist, orator. Adoptive grandson Scipio the Elder. In 146, as a consul, he captured and destroyed Carthage, ending the 3rd Punic War. In 133, being consul for the second time, he suppressed the Numantine uprising and secured Spain for Rome. The personality and activity of S. was highly valued by Cicero. After S. Jr. military. and political the influence of the Scipio family in ancient Rome ceased.

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Scipio Aemilianus (184-129). Son of Paul Aemilius, adopted by one of the sons of Scipio Africanus. He took part in military campaigns in Macedonia and Spain, fighting alongside his father. As a military tribune in Africa, he settled the division of the kingdom of Massinissa between his three sons (148). In 147, when he had not yet reached the age established for the exercise of this office, he was elected consul by the comitia (people's assembly). In addition, he was entrusted with the command of troops in Africa. Accompanied by his friend and historian Polybius, he directed last battle for Carthage. Standing in front of the city engulfed in flames, he, as if with tears in his eyes, recited a passage from the Iliad: “There will be some day when high Troy will perish, the ancient Priam and the people of the spear-bearer Priam will perish” (Iliad, IV, 164-165, translated by N.I. . Gnedich). His career did not end there: in 133 he captured and destroyed Numancia, the last Celtiberian foothold in Spain.

Used materials of the publishing house: Dridi E. Carthage and the Punic world / Eddie Dridi. - M., 2008, p. 389.

Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilian Africanus the Younger and Numantian
(185-129 BC) - son Lucia Emilia Pavla, adopted by the Scipios, Roman general and political figure. In 168, he took part in the Battle of Pydna, then accompanied his father on a trip to Greece, and together with him entered Rome in triumph. In 151, Scipio Aemilian, legate under the consul Lucius Lucullus, took part in the war against the Celtiberians; in the battle of Intercation, he accomplished the feat of killing the leader of the Spaniards, who challenged him to a duel.

With early III Punic War Scipio Aemilianus re-enlisted in the army and went to Africa as a military tribune. His military skill repeatedly saved the Roman army from inglorious defeat. In 147 Scipio Aemilianus was elected consul and commander-in-chief in the war. In the spring of 146, he captured and destroyed Carthage, for which he received the nickname African.

In 142 Scipio Aemilianus was elected censor; on behalf of the Senate, he traveled at the head of a special mission to Asia and Egypt. In 134, he was elected consul for the second time and appointed commander-in-chief of the Roman troops in Spain. The main enemy of the Romans were the inhabitants Spanish city Numantia. Having surrounded the city with a system of fortifications and depriving it of the support of neighboring tribes, the Romans forced the Numantines to lay down their arms.

Scipio Aemilian returned to Rome in the midst of political turmoil. He proved himself to be a firm opponent of the activities of Tiberius Gracchus, at the same time, the Italian allies found a protector and patron in him. In the midst of a debate in the senate, Scipio Aemilianus died; there is speculation that he was killed by political opponents.

Used materials of the book: Tikhanovich Yu.N., Kozlenko A.V. 350 great. A brief biography of the rulers and generals of antiquity. The Ancient East; Ancient Greece; Ancient Rome. Minsk, 2005.

The commander's father is Lucius Aemilius Paul, the conqueror of Macedonia, his grandfather is the consul Aemilius Paul, who heroically fell at Cannae. Mother - the patrician Papiriya from the consular family of Papiriya Mazonov. AT early age, apparently after the divorce of his parents, the future hero and his brother were given for adoption to the sister houses of Scipio and Fabius. Younger son Paul entered the family of his aunt Emilia, wife of the great Scipio (see Scipio Africanus the Elder): he was adopted by a childless cousin, he became the "grandson" of the great commander and took his name - Publius Cornelius Scipio, with the addition of Emilian, which indicated his blood origin. Later, young Scipio married the granddaughter of his adoptive grandfather, Sempronia, but this royal marriage left without offspring.

Both Aemilians, Scipio and Fabius, grew up in their house. own father, Paul, who was very concerned about the upbringing of his sons: from childhood they were surrounded by Greek teachers and artists. The brothers accompanied their father to the Macedonian War and took part in his triumph. Sixteen-year-old Scipio showed himself to be a born warrior, displaying valor at the Battle of Pydna. But the young man was not interested in public affairs and seemed lethargic. At the age of 18, Scipio became close to the Greek historian Polybius, who came to Rome as a hostage. A friendship began between them, reminiscent of the relationship of father and son. Under the influence of a wise mentor, Publius changed his character, constantly exercising his willpower and civic activity. In the mid 1550s. in the house of Scipio, another Greek friend appeared - the young Stoic philosopher Panetius. The Roman friends of Publius (Gaius Lelius the Younger, Lucius Furius, Spurius Mummius, and others) formed a circle that spread the fashion for stoicism among aristocratic youth. This circle also patronized the young comedian Terence, rumor attributed to Scipio and Lelia secret co-authorship with the playwright. By the age of 30, Publius had lost both fathers (his own and adopted), his mother and his grandmother-aunt. Having inherited the vast fortune of the Scipios, he ceded his share of Paul's inheritance to his brother, to the astonishment of the prudent Romans.

In 151, during a great anti-Roman uprising in Spain, Scipio voluntarily enlisted in the army, captivating timid youth with his example. In the war, he distinguished himself with great personal courage: he defeated the enemy leader in single combat, he was the first to make his way inside the besieged Intercation. During a break between battles, he visited the Numidian king Masinissa in Africa and tried to settle military clash between Numidia and Carthage, which led to the start of the 3rd Punic War. When it broke out (149), Scipio, as a military tribune, entered the headquarters of his older friend, the consul Manilius. His opinion often prevailed in military councils. During the unsuccessful campaign of Manilius to Neferis, Scipio's cavalry valiantly covered the retreat of the Roman army and saved several stragglers of the cohorts. Aemilian also pulled over the head of the Carthaginian cavalry, Fameya, with 12 hundred horsemen, to the Roman side. locals surrendered their fortifications only to Scipio, relying on his faithful word.

Upon his return to Rome, Scipio sought edility, but before the due age he was elected consul for 147. He began his command with the restoration of discipline: he stopped duels and looting campaigns, drove dealers and women out of the camp. The siege acquired an intense character: with the help of a moat and a sea dam, Carthage was completely blocked from land and sea, and famine began in it. The outer Carthaginian army capitulated at Neferis. In the spring of 146, Roman troops broke through the port into the city. After 6 days of fierce fighting, the Carthaginian Kremlin - Birsa fell. Looking at the fire of the fortress, Scipio wept, quoting Homer: “There will be some day and sacred Troy will perish ...”; a little later, by order of the senate, he burned the remnants of the great city. In Rome, Aemilian celebrated the most magnificent of all the previous triumphs, appropriating nothing from the rich booty. His property was the nickname that previously belonged to the adoptive grandfather - African.

For 12 years after the destruction of Carthage, Aemilian was in the thick of civil affairs. His circle hatched a project agrarian reform, carried out later by the Gracchi. In 142, Scipio was elected censor and held a qualification in the strict Cato spirit, declaring a return to the mores of his ancestors. In the same years, the satirist Lucilius, a friend of Aemilian, scourged the depraved morals of the people and the nobility. Scipio's civic position can be defined as liberal conservatism. He had a negative attitude towards the dominance of his caste - nobility, had friends among the "new people" and in the middle strata of Roman society, sympathized with the needs of the common people, but did not allow the participation of the crowd in political struggle. Order was the norm for him, rebellion was evil. The most important civic act of Scipio is the support of democratic laws introducing secret ballot in people's assembly(139, 137). This measure weakened the influence of the all-powerful nobility in the comitia. In 136-35, Scipio led an embassy mission in the East, which successfully settled many international issues. The modesty and friendly tone of the ambassadors surprised the Greeks and Egyptians. In Egypt, Scipio showed a particular interest in nature and the sights of the country.

In 134 Scipio received a consulship (bypassing the recent adopted law on the prohibition of repeated consulates) to wage war in Spain, where for 8 years the Romans unsuccessfully besieged the city of Numantia. The Roman army under Numantia was in a state of extreme decay, its honor was tarnished by defeats and two shameful treaties with the enemy. Enemies of Scipio in the Senate achieved a ban on the new military recruitment. The commander, like his "grandfather", was forced to wage war at his own expense. Emilian's friends gave funds and made up a detachment of 500 volunteers, 3 thousand Italian allies signed up for the army, money and funds came from foreign kings (from Syria, Numidia, Pergamum, etc.). In Spain, as in Africa, Scipio first of all revived the army: he got rid of the ballast, strictly regulated the life of soldiers and officers, tempered them in earthworks. At the beginning next year he surrounded the city with a moat and a wall and blocked the river Dueris. In the tenth year of the siege (133) Numantia surrendered because of a severe famine. On his own initiative, Scipio burned the city, the population was sold into slavery. With the neutral Spanish tribes, Publius established lasting peace. His triumph was poor, but his fellow citizens gave him a second honorific nickname - Numantian.

During the siege of Numantia in Rome, the transformations of Tiberius Gracchus took place, which ended in his death. Scipio publicly condemned the rebellion and approved the murder of a relative. Upon his return to Rome, he became the main opponent of the agrarian triumvirs. On his initiative, the bill on the right of people's tribunes to be re-elected for a second term was rejected, agrarian commission the right to determine the legal status of disputed lands was taken away. In the spring of 129, one of the Senate meetings turned into a stormy celebration of the defender of order. The next morning, Scipio Africanus the Younger was found dead in his bed. Rumors about the murder spread around the city, the Gracchans were accused and even Sempronia, the wife of the deceased, the sister of the Gracchi. With a huge gathering of people, Scipio was taken out of the house with his face covered and buried in the family cemetery of the Aemilia. The hero's inheritance, in addition to real estate, amounted to only 33 pounds of silver and two pounds of gold. In the eyes of his contemporaries and descendants, Scipio the Younger remained a model of Roman valor and honor. Polybius compared his pet with a wonderful work of art, Plutarch placed his biography in tandem with the biography of Epaminondas, the Greek "knight" without fear and reproach (these biographies are lost).

Scipio African Jr. Scipio African Jr.

Scipio the African Jr., (Scipio Emilian; Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Minor, Scipio Aemilianus) (c. 184-129 BC), Roman commander. In 146 he captured and destroyed Carthage, ending the Third Punic War. Roman tradition depicts Scipio Africanus as a zealous admirer of Hellenic culture, an adherent of old Roman customs.
The commander's father - Lucius Aemilius Paul, the conqueror of Macedonia, grandfather - the consul Aemilius Paul, who heroically fell at Cannae (cm. CANN). Mother - the patrician Papiriya from the consular family of Papiriya Mazonov. At an early age, apparently after the divorce of his parents, the future hero and his brother were given up for adoption in the sister houses of the Scipios. (cm. Scipio) and Fabiev. The youngest son of Paul entered the family of his aunt Emilia, the wife of the great Scipio (see Scipio the African Senior (cm. Scipion African Senior)): he was adopted by a childless cousin, he became the "grandson" of the great commander and took his name - Publius Cornelius Scipio, with the addition of Emilian, which indicated his blood origin. Later, the young Scipio married the granddaughter of his adoptive grandfather, Sempronia, but this dynastic marriage was left without offspring.
Both Emilian, Scipio and Fabius, grew up in the house of their own father, Paul, who was very concerned about the upbringing of his sons: from childhood they were surrounded by Greek teachers and artists. The brothers accompanied their father to the Macedonian War and took part in his triumph. Sixteen-year-old Scipio showed himself to be a born warrior, showing valor at the Battle of Pydna. (cm. PIDNA). But the young man was not interested in public affairs and seemed lethargic. At the age of 18, Scipio became close to the Greek historian Polybius. (cm. POLYBIUS) taken to Rome as a hostage. A friendship began between them, reminiscent of the relationship of father and son. Under the influence of a wise mentor, Publius changed his character, constantly exercising his willpower and civic activity. In the mid 1550s. in the house of Scipio, another Greek friend appeared - the young Stoic philosopher Panetius. The Roman friends of Publius (Gaius Lelius the Younger, Lucius Furius, Spurius Mummius, etc.) formed a circle that spread the fashion for stoicism among aristocratic youth (cm. STOICISM). This circle also patronized the young comedian Terence (cm. TERENCE), rumor attributed to Scipio and Lelia secret co-authorship with the playwright. By the age of 30, Publius had lost both fathers (his own and adopted), his mother and his grandmother-aunt. Having inherited the vast fortune of the Scipios, he ceded his share of Paul's inheritance to his brother, to the astonishment of the prudent Romans.
In 151, during a great anti-Roman uprising in Spain, Scipio voluntarily enlisted in the army, captivating timid youth with his example. In the war, he distinguished himself with great personal courage: he defeated the enemy leader in single combat, he was the first to make his way inside the besieged Intercation. During a break between battles, he visited the Numidian king Masinissa in Africa (cm. MASINISSA) and tried to settle the military clash between Numidia and Carthage, which led to the start of the 3rd Punic War (cm. Punic Wars). When it broke out (149), Scipio, as a military tribune, entered the headquarters of his older friend, the consul Manilius. His opinion often prevailed in military councils. During the unsuccessful campaign of Manilius to Neferis, Scipio's cavalry valiantly covered the retreat of the Roman army and saved several stragglers of the cohorts. Aemilian also pulled over the head of the Carthaginian cavalry, Fameya, with 12 hundred horsemen, to the Roman side. The locals surrendered their fortifications only to Scipio, relying on his faithful word.
Upon his return to Rome, Scipio sought edility (cm. LUCRETIA), but before the due age was elected consul (cm. CONSULS) for 147 years. He began his command with the restoration of discipline: he stopped duels and looting campaigns, drove dealers and women out of the camp. The siege acquired an intense character: with the help of a moat and a sea dam, Carthage was completely blocked from land and sea, and famine began in it. The outer Carthaginian army capitulated at Neferis. In the spring of 146, Roman troops broke through the port into the city. After 6 days of fierce fighting, the Carthaginian Kremlin - Birsa fell. Looking at the fire of the fortress, Scipio wept, quoting Homer: “There will be some day and sacred Troy will perish ...”; a little later, by order of the senate, he burned the remnants of the great city. In Rome, Aemilian celebrated the most magnificent of all the previous triumphs, appropriating nothing from the rich booty. His property was the nickname that previously belonged to the adoptive grandfather - African.
For 12 years after the destruction of Carthage, Aemilian was in the thick of civil affairs. His circle hatched a project of agrarian reform, subsequently carried out by the Gracchi (cm. GRACHIS). In 142 Scipio was elected censor. (cm. censors) and held a census (cm. CENZ) in a strict Catonian spirit, declaring a return to the mores of their ancestors. In the same years, the satirist Lucilius (cm. LUCILIUS Guy), a friend of Emilian, scourged the depraved morals of the people and the nobility. Scipio's civic position can be defined as liberal conservatism. He had a negative attitude towards the dominance of his caste - nobility (cm. NOBILITY), had friends among the "new people" and in the middle strata of Roman society, sympathized with the needs of the common people, but did not allow the participation of the crowd in the political struggle. Order was the norm for him, rebellion was evil. The most important civil act of Scipio is the support of democratic laws on the introduction of secret ballot in the popular assembly (139, 137). This measure weakened the influence of the all-powerful nobility in the comitia. (cm. COMMISSIONS). In 136-35, Scipio led an embassy mission in the East, which successfully settled many international issues. The modesty and friendly tone of the ambassadors surprised the Greeks and Egyptians. In Egypt, Scipio showed a particular interest in nature and the sights of the country.
In 134, Scipio received a consulate (bypassing the recently adopted law on the prohibition of repeated consulates) to wage war in Spain, where for 8 years the Romans unsuccessfully besieged the city of Numantia (cm. NUMANTIA). The Roman army under Numantia was in a state of extreme decay, its honor was tarnished by defeats and two shameful treaties with the enemy. Enemies of Scipio in the Senate achieved a ban on the new military recruitment. The commander, like his "grandfather", was forced to wage war at his own expense. Emilian's friends gave funds and made up a detachment of 500 volunteers, 3 thousand Italian allies signed up for the army, money and funds came from foreign kings (from Syria, Numidia, Pergamum, etc.). In Spain, as in Africa, Scipio first of all revived the army: he got rid of the ballast, strictly regulated the life of soldiers and officers, tempered them in earthworks. At the beginning of the next year, he surrounded the city with a moat and a wall and blocked the river Dueris. In the tenth year of the siege (133) Numantia surrendered because of a severe famine. On his own initiative, Scipio burned the city, the population was sold into slavery. Publius established a lasting peace with the neutral Spanish tribes. His triumph was poor, but his fellow citizens gave him a second honorific nickname - Numantian.
During the siege of Numantia in Rome, the transformations of Tiberius Gracchus took place, which ended in his death. Scipio publicly condemned the rebellion and approved the murder of a relative. Upon his return to Rome, he became the main opponent of the agrarian triumvirs. On his initiative, the draft law on the right of people's tribunes to be re-elected for a second term was rejected, the agrarian commission was deprived of the right to determine the legal status of disputed lands. In the spring of 129, one of the Senate meetings turned into a stormy celebration of the defender of order. The next morning, Scipio Africanus the Younger was found dead in his bed. Rumors about the murder spread around the city, the Gracchans were accused and even Sempronia, the wife of the deceased, the sister of the Gracchi. With a huge gathering of people, Scipio was taken out of the house with his face covered and buried in the family cemetery of the Aemilia. The hero's inheritance, in addition to real estate, amounted to only 33 pounds of silver and two pounds of gold. In the eyes of his contemporaries and descendants, Scipio the Younger remained a model of Roman valor and honor. Polybius compared his pet to a beautiful work of art, Plutarch (cm. PLUTARCH) placed his biography in tandem with the biography of Epaminondas (cm. EPAMINOND)- the Greek "knight" without fear and reproach (these biographies are lost).

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- (Publius Cornelius Spiceon Emilianus) (c. 185 c. 129 BC) commander, winner of Hannibal in the III Punic War A good commander, like a good doctor, takes up the blade only in extreme need. Neither Rome fall while Scipio stands, nor Scipio ... ... Consolidated encyclopedia aphorisms

- (Scipio Africanus Junior) (c. 185 129 BC) Roman commander. In 146 he captured and destroyed Carthage, ending the 3rd Punic War. Roman tradition depicts Scipio Africanus as an ardent admirer of Hellenic culture, an adherent of ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Scipio Africanus the Younger.- SCIPION AFRICAN the Younger, Publius Cornelius Scipio Emilian the African the Younger (Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus Junior) (c. 185 - 129 BC), Rome. commander. In 146 he captured and destroyed Carthage, completing the 3rd Punic ... ... Biographical Dictionary

- (Scipio Africanus Junior) (about 185 129 BC), Roman commander. In 146 he captured and destroyed Carthage, ending the 3rd Punic War ... encyclopedic Dictionary

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The future ancient politician and military leader Scipio Africanus was born in Rome in 235 BC. e. He belonged to the Cornelii, a noble and influential family of Etruscan origin. Many of his ancestors became consuls, including Father Publius. Despite the fact that the Scipios (a branch of the Cornelian family) were influential in the political arena, they did not differ in wealth. Another important feature this family was Hellenized (susceptibility to Greek culture), when it was not yet widespread.

The beginning of a military career

Scipio Africanus, whose childhood is practically unknown, began to fall into the Roman chronicles after, in 218 BC. e. elected military career. She determined his entire future. The choice was not random. Just in this year, Rome declared war on its southern neighbor Carthage. This Phoenician state was the republic's main rival in the Mediterranean. Its capital was in northern Africa. At the same time, Carthage had many colonies in Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and Spain (Iberia). It was to this country that Scipio's father, the consul Publius, was sent. His 17-year-old son went with him. In Spain, the Romans were to face Hannibal.

At the end of 218, Scipio Africanus first took part in major battle. It was the battle of Ticin. The Romans lost it because they underestimated their enemy. But Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus himself only became famous under Ticinus. Upon learning that his father was attacked by enemy cavalry, the young warrior rushed alone to the aid of the consul. The horsemen fled. After this episode, Cornelius Scipio Africanus was awarded for his courage honorary award in the form It is significant that the brave young man defiantly refused him, declaring that feats are not done for the sake of recognition.

Further information about the young man is contradictory. So it is not completely established whether he participated in subsequent battles with the Carthaginians of that period. These inaccuracies are due to the fact that antique era left us many sources that directly refute each other. At that time, chroniclers often resorted to falsifications to denigrate their enemies, while others, on the contrary, overestimated the merits of their patrons. One way or another, there is a version that in 216 BC. e. Scipio Africanus was a military tribune in the army that fought at the Battle of Cannae. If this is true, then he was extremely lucky to stay alive and avoid captivity, because the Romans then suffered a crushing defeat from the troops of Hannibal.

Scipio was distinguished by a strong character and bright. An episode is known when, having learned about the desire of several commanders to desert due to the defeats of the republic, he burst into the tent of the conspirators and, threatening them with a sword, forced them to swear allegiance to Rome.

roman avenger

Scipio's father and uncle died during that time. From the family, only his older brother Lucius remained (his mother died in childbirth). In 211 BC. e. Publius put forward his candidacy for the post of curule aedile in order to support a relative in his own political campaign. In the end, both were elected. Scipio the African Senior began his own civilian career, which would later also be marked by numerous successes.

Shortly before being elected aedile, the military man participated in the successful siege of Capua. After the capture of this city, the Roman authorities began to consider a plan for a campaign in Spain. In this country, the Carthaginians had many cities and ports, which were sources of food and other important resources for the victorious army of Hannibal. So far, this strategist has not been defeated, which meant that the Romans needed a new strategy.

It was decided to send an expedition to Spain, which was supposed to deprive Hannibal of his rear. Due to the endless defeats at the people's assembly, none of the generals dared to put forward their candidacy. No one wanted to stand up after another defeat. At this critical moment, Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus offered to lead the army. His father and uncle died the day before. For the military, the campaign against Carthage became personal. He spoke of revenge for the defeat of Rome, after which he was elected proconsul. For a 24 year old young man it was an unprecedented success. Now he had to justify the aspirations and hopes of his fellow citizens.

Spanish campaign

In 210 BC. e. Scipio the African senior, together with the 11,000th army, went to Spain by sea. There he joined forces with the local propraetor's army. Now he had 24,000 men in his hands. Compared with the Carthaginian contingent in the Pyrenees, this was a rather modest army. There were three Phoenician armies in Spain. The commanders were Hannibal's brothers Magon and Hasdrubal, as well as the namesake of the latter Hasdrubal Giscon. If at least two of these troops united, then Scipio would have been threatened with inevitable defeat.

However, the commander was able to take advantage of all his minor advantages. His strategy was completely different from that followed by his predecessors, who suffered defeat from the Carthaginians. Firstly, it used cities as its bases north of the river Iber, once founded by Greek colonists. Scipio Africanus especially insisted on this. The brief biography of the strategist is full of episodes when he made extraordinary decisions. The Iberian campaign was just such a case. Scipio understood that there was no point in landing in the south, where the enemy positions were especially strong.

Secondly, the Roman commander turned for help to the local population, dissatisfied with the rule of the Carthaginian colonizers. These were the Celtiberians and the northern Iberians. The army of the republic acted in concert with the partisans, who knew the area and the roads there very well.

Thirdly, Scipio decided not to give a general battle immediately, but to gradually wear down the enemy. To do this, he resorted to fleeting raids. There were four in total. When another army the Carthaginians were defeated, the Romans returned to their bases, there they regained their strength and again went into battle. The commander tried not to stray too far from own positions so as not to be cut off from the rear. If you add up all these principles of a strategist, then you can understand what Scipio the African Senior became famous for. He knew how to make the most optimal decision and always used his own advantages and weaknesses of the enemy with maximum efficiency.

Conquest of Iberia

The first serious success of Scipio in Spain was the capture of New Carthage - major port, which was a stronghold of the regional rule of the African colonists. AT ancient sources the story of the conquest of the city was supplemented by a plot that became known as "the generosity of Scipio Africanus."

Once, 300 Iberian hostages of a noble family were brought to the commander. Also, the Roman soldiers gave Scipio as a gift a young captive, distinguished by rare beauty. From her, the commander learned that the girl was the bride of one of the hostages taken. Then the leader of the Romans ordered her to be given to her fiancé. The prisoner thanked Scipio by bringing his own large detachment of cavalry into his army and since then faithfully served the republic. This story has become widely known thanks to the artists of the Renaissance and modern times. Many European masters (Nicola Poussin, Niccolo del Abbate, etc.) depicted this ancient story in their pictures.

Scipio achieved a decisive victory in Spain at the Battle of Ilipa in 206 BC. e. Commander-in-Chief Hasdrubal Giscon fled to his homeland. After the defeat in Carthage, they decided to abandon the Iberian possessions. Roman power was finally established in Spain.

Homecoming

At the end of 206 BC. e. Scipio Africanus returned triumphantly to Rome. Publius Cornelius spoke to the Senate and announced his victories - he managed to defeat four enemy armies and drive the Carthaginians out of Spain. During the absence of the commander in the capital, in power, he had many envious enemies who did not want the political take-off of the strategist. This first opposition was led by Quintus Fulvius Flaccus. The Senate denied Scipio a formal ritual of triumph. However, this did not prevent the commander from becoming a real folk hero. Ordinary Romans enthusiastically greeted the winner.

However, the war with Carthage was not yet over. Although the Punic power in Spain remained in the past, the enemies of Rome still controlled North Africa and some islands mediterranean sea. Scipio went to Sicily. If the Republic succeeded in recapturing this island, it would become an excellent springboard for a further attack on North Africa. Having landed in Sicily, the commander with a small army was able to enlist the support of local population(mostly Greek colonists), promising him to return all the property lost during the ongoing war.

African campaign

In the summer of 204 BC. e. Scipio, together with an army of about 35 thousand people, left the Sicilian coast and went to Africa. There it was to be decided whether the Roman Republic would become a key power in the ancient Mediterranean. It was those successes of the commander in Africa that made him known as Scipio Africanus. Photos of his busts and sculptures from different parts of the Roman state show that he really became a legendary figure for his compatriots.

First attempt to take Utica ( Big City northeast of Carthage) ended in nothing. Scipio, along with his army, wintered right on the African coast, without owning at least some significant settlement. At this time, the Carthaginians sent to their own the best commander A letter to Hannibal demanding that he return from Europe to his homeland and defend his country. In order to somehow stretch the time, the Punians began to negotiate peace with Scipio, which, however, ended in nothing.

When Hannibal arrived in Africa, he also arranged for a meeting with the Roman general. The following proposal followed - the Carthaginians leave Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and Spain in exchange for a peace treaty. However, Publius Cornelius refused to accept such terms. He objected that the republic already actually controlled all these lands. Scipio, for his part, proposed a tougher version of the agreement. Hannibal refused. It became clear that bloodshed was inevitable. The fate of Hannibal and Scipio Africanus was to be decided in a face-to-face confrontation.

Battle of Zama

The decisive Battle of Zama took place on October 19, 202 BC. e. On the side of the Roman Republic, the Numidians, the indigenous people, also spoke out. African continent. Their help was invaluable to the Latins. The point was that the Romans long time puzzled over how to neutralize Hannibal's most formidable weapon - elephants. These huge animals terrified the Europeans, who had never dealt with such beasts. Archers and riders sat on elephants, shooting their enemies. Such a "cavalry" had already demonstrated its effectiveness during Hannibal's attack on Italy. He led the elephants through the high Alps, which led the Romans into even more confusion.

The Numidians, on the other hand, were well aware of the habits of elephants. They understood how to neutralize them. It was these animals that the Africans took up, eventually offering the Romans best strategy(about it below). Concerning numerical ratio, then the aspect ratio was about the same. Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus short biography which already consisted of many campaigns, brought to Africa a well-knit and well-coordinated army, which unquestioningly carried out the orders of its long-term commander. The Roman army consisted of 33,000 infantry and 8,000 cavalry, while the Carthaginians had 34,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry.

Victory over Hannibal

The army of Publius Cornelius met the attack of the elephants in an organized manner. The infantry made way for the animals. Those on high speed swept through the formed corridors without hitting anyone. In the rear, numerous archers were waiting for them, who fired at the animals with dense fire. The decisive role was played by the Roman cavalry. First, she defeated the Carthaginian cavalry, and then hit the infantrymen in the rear. The ranks of the Punians trembled and they ran. Hannibal tried to stop them. Scipio Africanus, however, got what he wanted. He turned out to be the winner. The Carthaginian army lost 20 thousand killed, and the Roman - 5 thousand.

Hannibal became an outcast and fled far to the east. Carthage admitted defeat. The Roman Republic received all of his European and insular possessions. The sovereignty of the African state was significantly undermined. In addition, Numibia gained independence, which became a faithful ally of Rome. Scipio's victories ensured the dominant position of the republic throughout the Mediterranean. A few decades after his death, the Third Punic War, after which Carthage was finally destroyed and turned into ruins.

War with the Seleucids

The next ten years passed peacefully for the commander. He took up his political career, for which he had not had enough time before because of regular campaigns and expeditions. To understand who Publius Cornelius Scipio the African Senior is, it is enough to list him civil positions and titles. He became consul, censor, senate trailer and legate. The figure of Scipio turned out to be the most significant in the Roman politics of his time. But he also had enemies in the face of the aristocratic opposition.

In 191 BC. e. the commander again went to war. This time he traveled east, where Rome was in conflict with the Seleucid Empire. The decisive battle took place in the winter of 190-189. BC e. (due to conflicting sources) exact date unknown). According to the results Syrian war King Antiochus paid the Republic a huge indemnity of 15 thousand talents, and also gave her land in modern western Turkey.

Judgment and death

After returning to his homeland, Scipio faced a serious problem. His opponents in the Senate initiated against him trial. The commander (together with his brother Lucius) was accused of financial dishonesty, theft of money, etc. Was appointed state commission, which forced the Scipios to pay a large fine.

This was followed by a period of behind-the-scenes struggle with the opponents of Publius Cornelius in the Senate. His main antagonist was Mark Porcius Cato, who wanted to get a censorship position and sought to destroy the faction of supporters famous military leader. As a result, Scipio lost all his posts. He went into self-imposed exile on his estate in Campania. There Publius Cornelius spent Last year own life. He died in 183 BC. e. at the age of 52. Coincidentally, his main military opponent Hannibal, who also lived in exile in the east, died at the same time. Scipio was one of the most prominent people of his time. He managed to defeat Carthage and the Persians, and also made a distinguished career in politics.