"battle of the Second Punic War, fought in the spring of 215 BCE on the south bank of the Ebro River across from the town of Dertosa",battle
The Roman victory at Ibera blocked Carthaginian reinforcements from reaching Hannibal in Italy, potentially altering the outcome of the Second Punic War.
Key Facts
- Date
- Spring 215 BC
- Army size (each side)
- ~25,000 men
- Roman commanders
- Gnaeus and Publius Scipio
- Carthaginian commander
- Hasdrubal Barca
- Decisive factor
- Iberian centre fled without fighting
- Outcome
- Roman victory; Carthaginian camp sacked
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Under pressure from Carthage to send reinforcements to Hannibal in Italy, Hasdrubal Barca was heavily reinforced and marched north in early 215 BC to expel the Romans from Iberia. The Scipio brothers had crossed the Ebro and were besieging the Carthaginian-aligned town of Ibera, prompting Hasdrubal to offer battle.
Two similarly sized armies of approximately 25,000 men each clashed on the south bank of the Ebro. The Iberian troops at the centre of Hasdrubal's line fled without engaging, allowing the Roman legions to break through, wheel outward, and envelop the remaining Carthaginian infantry. Both sides suffered heavy casualties, with Carthaginian losses reported as particularly severe, though Hasdrubal escaped with most of his cavalry.
The Scipio brothers retained control of north-east Iberia and continued subjugating local tribes and raiding Carthaginian territory. Hasdrubal lost his opportunity to march reinforcements to Hannibal at the peak of Hannibal's success, and an army already prepared to sail to Italy was instead diverted to Iberia. Historian Klaus Zimmermann judged this Roman victory as potentially the decisive battle of the entire war.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio, Publius Cornelius Scipio.
Side B
1 belligerent
Hasdrubal Barca.