And in spite of great odds, and a lack of support or even belief from Rome, he conquered Hannibal himself. In Rome’s most desperate hour, he had risen to conquer Iberia and challenge the might of Carthage. Scipio returned to Rome a hero, where he earned the name Africanus. The fighting was long, fierce and bloody, and was only decided when the returning Roman cavalry re-entered the fray and smashed into the Carthaginian rear. Then, Scipio’s superior cavalry successfully countered Hannibal’s, and the field was clear for a straight-up clash of infantry. However, Scipio’s counter was artful the elephants encountered many traps, javelinmen, and trumpeters, who sowed fear and confusion among them, and his infantry carried out an elaborate manoeuvre, side-stepping the remaining elephants so they passed through channels in their ranks. His plan was simple: a massive frontal charge with war elephants would punch holes into the Roman lines, which the Carthaginian infantry would then exploit. The Battle of Zama saw Hannibal take a sledgehammer approach. Hannibal, languishing in stalemate after his Italian campaign ground to a halt, was recalled to Africa, and the stage was set for a showdown between two of history’s greatest generals. The tide was turning heavily in Rome’s favour, and Carthage knew it. Scipio achieved a stunning ambush against a more balanced force, slaughtering an estimated 40,000 Carthaginian and Numidian troops. Landing near Utica, Scipio’s army naturally drew the attention of Carthage, by this time allied with Numidian forces under Massinissa. If he and his men crossed into Africa, they would do so with the Senate’s permission, but they would do so alone. Conservative elements of the Senate – perhaps fearful of Carthaginian reprisal – refused Scipio any military support, however. There, he found many veterans of prior Roman defeats at the hands of Carthage, and through his inspiring presence and force of will, mustered a compact but highly-motivated force, poised to strike into Africa and the Carthaginian homelands. This was something of a veiled insult from certain jealous, powerful senators, as a posting to Sicily was generally seen as a punishment. Scipio had achieved the foothold he needed to ultimately conquer Iberia.Īt just 31 and with Iberia under his belt, Scipio was elected Consul and awarded the Sicilian garrison. In a surprise assault, Scipio captured Nova Carthago, and afterward conducted himself and his men with such humanitarian candour that he won many local supporters. Impressed by the young Scipio’s determination and noble bearing, they approved. Scipio approached the Senate and stridently offered to lead an army into Iberia. However, when his father and uncle fell in battle against Hannibal’s brother Hasdrubal in 211 BC, everything changed. Surviving the comprehensive Roman defeats at Ticinus, Trebia and Cannae, he learned much about Carthaginian tactics, often fighting alongside his father. Both sides begin with multiple allies and client states, and can undermine their opponents’ support by diplomatic means.īorn into the Scipio branch of Rome’s powerful Cornelia family in 236 BC, Scipio would come to be known by many names: Scipio Africanus, Scipio the Elder, Scipio The Great – but it would take a long war and many battles before he distinguished himself as the great hero of the Roman Republic.Įntering military service at a young age, he witnessed slaughter aplenty as Hannibal rampaged through Italy. Rome and Carthage both feature new civil tech-tree branches focused on diplomacy. Syracuse, the Arevaci and the Lusitani all start with a single region, offering a significantly different and more formidable challenge than playing as one of the two great empires. The major powers of the time, Rome and Carthage, begin at loggerheads but with a number of key regions and client states under their control. You enter the war as Carthage or Rome, command the noble Hellenic city-state of Syracuse, or, for the first time in ROME II, play an Iberian faction as the Arevaci or the Lusitani.Ĭlick on the picture above to display the Panoramic Screenshot of Hannibal’s Forces at CapuaĪ more detailed representation of the western Mediterranean than the ROME II map, with players able to expand across 19 provinces dotted with resources and settlements.ĭirect Link Here (Right-click to download) Can you recreate their remarkable strategies, or can you do better? How will you change history? One of the most famous in history, the conflict demonstrated the tactical genius of great rival generals Scipio and Hannibal. 9 New Playable Factions for Total War™: ROME IIĭropping you into the Western Mediterranean at the outbreak of the 2nd Punic War, Hannibal at the Gates features a new campaign map focused on the period that brought the ancient-world superpowers of Rome and Carthage to all-out war.7 Compact, focused Multiplayer Campaign.