Manius was still suspicious. “Masinissa, with all due respect, I would like you to stay here until I can confirm your identity.”
“As you wish,” replied Masinissa.
Manius dispatched two couriers to ride to Scipio’s camp and to return with someone who could positively identify Masinissa.
Two hours later, Silanus arrived from Scipio’s camp and was escorted to the Southern Pass. He rode around the wall and met with Masinissa and introduced him to Manius. Three hours later, Masinissa’s entire cavalry and infantry were through the Pass and enroute to join Scipio. Silanus remarked to Manius that his ditch and wall should stop Vermina, but added, “He can ride south to get around these mountains, but it will add an extra five days to his journey. Perhaps, that’s the best we can hope for.”
After Silanus departed, Manius told Rasce to send patrols south on the other side of the mountain. If he was in the wrong position to block Vermina, he wanted Rasce to notify him as early as possible so he could shift his forces south.
After weeks of waiting, Scipio rejoiced when Masinissa arrived. He brought with him 6,000 infantry and his invaluable 4,000 horsemen. Scipio’s army was now complete and he could focus his efforts on engaging Hannibal.
Blue Flag Hannibal’s Position at Seba Biar (Google Maps)
Red flag Scipio’s Position at Sakiet Sidi Youssef (Google maps)
Scipio ordered his army to move to El Kef, 24 miles to the east, but upon hearing that Hannibal had beaten him there, he stopped after marching 12 miles. He found high ground alongside the River Kseub that overlooked a broad open field. Hannibal moved through El Kef and made his camp four miles from Scipio’s in a large flat area suitable for cavalry and elephants. He had chosen the battlefield. Very soon, Hannibal discovered that Scipio’s camp controlled access to the river and its drinking water. Scipio’s men could easily descend the hill and gather all the water they needed. Hannibal’s men had to travel far to get water to avoid Scipio’s patrols. What would normally be an inconvenience turned into a major problem for Hannibal. His horses and elephants required large quantities of water daily. He was also running short of rations for his men.
To buy time to gather supplies, Hannibal sent envoys to Scipio’s camp to open talks. Hannibal even proposed modest peace terms along the lines of those earlier exchanged between Carthage and Rome. Scipio would have none of it. His army was ready to fight! The terrain suited his advantage in cavalry and his men were rested, well fed and eager to engage. No more delays!
The day after Masinissa and his men passed through the blocking position, Rasce rode into Ouled. He was in a hurry. He found Manius and said, “We spotted an army about 15 miles to the west and they appear to be headed this way. It’s a mixed force of infantry and cavalry. I think Vermina is coming straight for us.”
“Keep me informed of their progress.” Manius summoned his staff and Commanders. He told them, “Rasce believes Vermina is about 15 miles to the west. Since it’s late in the day, I expect him to make camp shortly. We should see them tomorrow around noon. I’ve also just learned that the Proconsul has moved his camp closer to El Kef. He is now only four miles from Hannibal. I expect they will engage within a day or two. If we can delay Vermina here tomorrow, I’m hoping that even if he goes south around the mountain, he will be too late to influence the battle. If it plays out like that we will have accomplished our mission. Notify the troops. Put out listening posts tonight.”
The following day around 10:00 A.M. Rasce informed Manius that Vermina’s cavalry scouts were only five miles east of the Northern Pass. Manius disseminated this information and rode to the Southern Pass. He reasoned that the scouts would report to Vermina that the Northern Pass was blocked and advise him to proceed to the Southern Pass.
Manius climbed a tower to get a better view. As he climbed the stairs, he was reminded of his wound at Lake Benacus.
When the scouts reported to Vermina that the Northern Pass was blocked by a palisade that ran from one side of the canyon to the other, he found it hard to believe. Two weeks earlier, a courier from Hannibal had traversed this Pass with a message pleading for Vermina to bring his troops and cavalry to El Kef. Vermina had to see for himself. He gathered a cavalry escort and rode to the Northern Pass. He got within 400 yards of the wall when a storm of scorpio arrows began ripping the air all around him. He turned his horse around and raced west, but not before nine horses were hit. Their screams were terrible. Some of the braver men rode back to pick up their fellow horsemen who were running on foot to get away.
Vermina rode back to his marching men and redirected them to the Southern Pass. He sent scouts to determine if that Pass was clear. They galloped off.
An hour later they returned and told Vermina that this Pass was also defended. Out of curiosity, Vermina rode to the Pass. From a safe distance, he could see the wall. He rode back to his men and called a halt. He gathered his Commanders and announced that they now had to go around the mountain to Souk Ahoras and turn east to Sakiet Sidi Youssef, which would add five days to the march. He reluctantly set off.
When Manius saw that Vermina was headed south to go around the mountain, he dispatched couriers to inform the Proconsul that Vermina would be approaching his position from the west. He then alerted the Legions to pack up and get on the road. “We are headed to Sakiet Sidi Youssef, Scipio’s former camp.”
Manius marched the Legions 14 miles to Khedara and prepared marching camps for the night. The following day, they marched the remaining seven miles to Sakiet, a major east-west corridor leading to El Kef. Manius placed his Legions in two camps astride the road and planned to fight from the camps. He had no intentions of being caught in the open opposing 4,000 horsemen.
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Battle of Zama
There were vast difference between Scipio and Hannibal and the armies of each commander. Scipio was 34 years old and in the peak of his physical and mental prowess. He had fought major battles in 207 BC and 206 BC. His staff was honed to produce quick results and his men were the best in the Roman Army. They had endured years of hardships, marching, and battle. They were tough, professional, and highly disciplined.
Hannibal was 45 years old. His days of defeating the Romans at Trebbia, Lake Trasimene, and Cannae were now 14 to 16 years in the past. For the last several years, he and his army had been blockaded in southern Italy and mostly inactive. He felt he could rely on his 14,000 veterans that returned with him to Africa, but was unsure of Mago’s 12,000 men since they contained so many Gauls and Ligurians. The third element of his army was comprised of Carthaginians, Numidians, desert people, and some Macedonians. These men were nothing more than green recruits barely trained, and not battle tested. He had to rely on his mostly untrained elephants to break up the Roman formation and trust that his cavalry would contain Scipio’s numerically superior horsemen. Cannae taught him the devastating effect that cavalry could have when attacking the rear of an enemy formation.
Two days later, in September 202 BC, the two large armies moved from their camps into the open field that separated them. Hannibal had a slight edge in troop strength, perhaps 40,000 in total, but was at a distinct disadvantage in cavalry. He had only 4,000 compared to Scipio’s 7,000 to 8,000 horsemen. Scipio’s army was comprised of about 30,000 Legionaries and 6,000 Numidians. Hannibal aligned his men facing northwest. Scipio’s men faced southeast.
Scipio and his staff devised a plan to counter Hannibal’s elephants, which had the potential to wreak his formation and scatter his troops. Scipio formed his men into a standard triplex acies, but then had the Maniples of the three lines form rows with one Maniple directly behind the other. He then separated the rows of Maniples to open nine lanes that ran from the Hastati in the front to the Triarii in the rear. He placed his light troops in the gaps in the first line to make it appear solid from the Carthaginian perspective.
The intent was that the charging elephants would be funneled down the lanes and killed in the rear. Some of the light
troops were equipped with heavy four foot long poles tipped with sharpened metal points. These brave men were expected to charge the elephants while dodging arrows and spears coming down from the boxes atop the elephants and strike at the animals soft under belly. Some of the cavalry was also given horns to blow to frighten the elephants into reversing their course, and charging back into their own men.
Hannibal placed Mago’s 12,000 Gauls, Ligurians, local desert people, and some Balearic Islanders in his first line. They were experience warriors and would give the Roman Hastati a hard time. He formed his second line with the 14,000 men that were recently recruited. They consisted of Carthaginians, Numidians, and a smattering of Macedonians under a man named Sopater. His third line consisted of his 14,000 trusted veterans from Italy. The first two lines were fairly close to each other, but he held his third line about 220 yards to the rear of the second line. Hannibal was wary of Scipio’s penchant to send his men around his first line to envelop the enemy’s second and third lines. Hannibal hoped that by the time the Romans had cut through his first two lines, their swords would be so dulled from use that they would be ineffective.
He had one more trick. Since his greatest concern was Scipio’s superior cavalry, Hannibal instructed his horsemen to flee the field when the enemy charged and draw the Roman and Numidian cavalry away from the battlefield. Once they were a good distance away, they could turn and fight. He didn’t want the enemy cavalry to return and attack his third line in the rear like his cavalry had done to the Romans at Cannae.
Scipio watched Hannibal deploy his men and was puzzled at the large distance that separated his first two lines from his third. He turned to Silanus. “What do you make of that? Why is that third line so far to the rear?”
Silanus looked across the field and said, “I think Hannibal expects his first two lines to eventually break and run to the rear. He could be trying to spare his third line all that chaos.”
Scipio thought for a moment. “If the first two lines do, in fact, run to the third line, Hannibal’s third line will extend well beyond our flanks with all those extra men. We’ve got to be prepared to extend our line to match his.”
The two armies stood facing each other in what they both knew was a historic battle to the death. Hannibal gave the signal and the elephants that were positioned in front of Mago’s men began to run at the Roman line. The Romans sent up a great shout mixed with horns to scare the elephants. Some did turn and ran into Hannibal’s Numidian cavalry. When they scattered, Masinissa saw his chance and led his 4,000 horsemen in a charge at the disorganized Numidians. They retreated. Laelius who commanded the other wing of Scipio’s cavalry also charged at his Carthaginian opponents. They also retreated and led the Romans away from the battle, as Hannibal had planned.
Most of the elephants ran in a straight line at the Romans. The Maniple shifted left or right to avoid them and the light troops opened the gaps. They elephants chose the easy path and ran down the lanes inflicting minimal damage on the Maniples. Scipio’s plan had worked. Once the elephants passed, the Roman lines surged forward. Hannibal charged with his first and second line. The Hastati and first line of the Carthaginians rushed at each other. Pila and spears were exchanged and bodies began to litter the field. Soon it was close combat with shield and gladius. The Hastati pushed Mago’s men back and they tried to pass through the second line to escape.
Hannibal told his second line not to let them pass. Some fighting broke out between the two lines, but most of Hannibal’s first line ran to the flanks of the second line and continued to fight. Hannibal rushed his extended second line forward and drove back the Hastati with heavy losses. Scipio sent the Principe forward to help the Hastati restore his battle line. The Principe and Hastati drove Hannibal’s untrained second line back until they ran into the veteran third line. Like the second line had done earlier, the third line would not allow the men to run through their ranks and disrupt their cohesion. Survivors from the first and second lines went to the flanks of the third line.
Scipio and Hannibal needed time to reorganize their formations and a strange pause in the battle occurred. Scipio was waiting for his cavalry to return, and encouraged the pause. He instructed the Legions to drink water and put a fresh edge on their swords.
He was now facing Hannibal’s third line of 14,000 veterans and several thousand survivors from Hannibal’s first two lines. As a result, Hannibal’s new battle line extended beyond Scipio’s flanks.
Scipio hastily divided his Principe and his Triarii each into two parts. He sent the two halves of the Principe to the left and right of the Hastati who still stood in the center. The two halves of the Triarii then moved alongside the Principe. The length of Scipio’s battle line now matched that of Hannibal’s.
When Hannibal saw that Scipio’s best fighters were now on the flanks, he divided his veterans and sent them to the flanks so they stood opposite the Triarii and Principe. The survivors of Hannibal’s first two lines now faced the Hastati in the center. Hannibal held his position waiting for Scipio to attack. Scipio’s extended line surged forward and smashed into Hannibal’s men. The struggle was bloody with neither side gaining an advantage.
Then, just as it had happened at Cannae many years earlier, Masinissa and Laelius raised a huge cloud of dust as they rode to rejoin the battle. When Hannibal’s cavalry stopped retreating and turned to fight, they were quickly overwhelmed and defeated. Now the Romans rode straight into the rear of Hannibal’s line and caused immediate panic. Hannibal and his aides knew it was over and planned their escape. The veterans were trying to fight the Roman infantry in the front and the cavalry’s long spears in the rear. It was impossible and there was nowhere to run. The slaughter went on for hours.
Soon it was quiet and the battle of Zama was history. Scipio’s Legionaries and superb cavalry had beaten the great Hannibal on the field of battle. Hannibal had lost 20,000 killed and another 20,000 captured. Scipio lost 2,500 men from the Hastati and suffered 4,000 wounded. Scipio’s cavalry and the quality of his Legionaries had carried the day.
After the battle, Manius’ couriers rode hard to tell him the good news.
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Souk Ahras in the west, Sakiet in the center, El Kef in the east (Google maps)
That evening the couriers arrived from Scipio’s camp with breath taking news. Scipio had defeated Hannibal near El Kef and he was sending Tribune Cnaeus Octavius with two Legions and a cavalry force of 5,000 to intercept Vermina.
The following day, Octavius arrived at Manius’ camp at Sakiet with his cavalry. His two Legions were still marching. Manius and Octavius devised a plan to trap Vermina between their two forces. Octavius said, “When the Legions arrive, I will place one Legion south of Haddada and conceal them in the hills overlooking the Souk Ahras-Sakiet road. The other Legion will conceal itself north of Haddada. I will circle my cavalry behind Vermina’s army after they pass by and come at him from the west. I propose that we initiate the attack at dawn tomorrow at the sound of my trumpets.”
Manius said, “That sounds like a good plan. Before dawn, we will form up and begin marching the two miles towards Haddada in battle order. We will extend on both sides of the road with my cavalry on both flanks.”
It took Vermina three days to march his army and cavalry the 37 miles from Ouled to Souk Ahras. The following morning he led his army east in the direction of Sakiet, which lay 28 miles in the distance. Two days later he stopped his advance at Haddada. He could see Manius’ two Legion camps blocking his way east, but had no idea that 20,000 Legionaries and 5,000 cavalry would attack his army the next morning.
Manius led the Legion out of camp at 3:00 A.M. Five hundred yards short of Haddada, he had the men lay down to await the signal to attack. The Legions in the hills began to silently move down hill closer to Haddada. Octavius had his horsemen in position about a mile from the enemy camp. At 5:00 A.M. the cavalry began moving forward. Octavius pulled up about 400 yards from the sleeping Numidians and sign
aled his trumpets to sound the attack. The low pitch trumpets rumbled ominously in the night’s stillness and were soon echoed by the trumpets of the four waiting Legions. Manius’ men jumped to their feet and began trotting forward. The Legions in the hills scrambled to get down on the flat ground around Haddada. The vice was closing!
Vermina’s men knew immediately they were under attack, but didn’t know which way to face. Romans were coming at them from all directions. Vermina’s cavalry tried to escape west and ran into Octavius’ experienced horsemen. They were cut down to a man. The four Legions unleashed their deadly pila at the confused Numidians and they dropped throughout their camp. Thirty minutes later, it was over. Like Zama, it was a decisive Roman victory. Twelve hundred Numidians were captured and the rest killed, including Vermina.
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After taking care of their dead, Proconsul Scipio ordered his Legions back to Utica. The Carthaginian Senate asked for Scipio’s terms. They had no more options. All their Commanders were dead or on the run. Scipio presented his terms: Carthage was to surrender all but 10 of its warships; fight no wars without Rome’s approval; recognize Masinissa as King of the Numidians; and pay Rome 5,000 talents of silver. The terms were accepted. The 16 years war between Carthage and Rome was over.”
Epilogue
Rome was overjoyed with Scipio’s victory and rewarded him with a Triumph upon his return to Italy. He was also given the agnomen “Africanus.” He refused many other honors that were offered such as Dictator for Life. Scipio avoided politics, but accepted an assignment in 193 BC to go to Africa to help settle a dispute between Carthage and Masinissa. Scipio eventually retired to the town of Liternum, 150 miles south of Rome, and died in 183 BC at the age of 53.
Legio XVII: Battle of Zama Page 41