Naval battle of the Second Punic War, fought near the mouth of Ebro River in the spring of 217 BC
Rome's decisive naval victory at the Ebro River secured control of Iberian waters and weakened Carthaginian influence over local tribes during the Second Punic War.
Key Facts
- Date
- Spring 217 BC
- Carthaginian fleet size
- ~40 quinqueremes
- Roman fleet size
- 35 ships
- Carthaginian ships lost
- 29 ships
- Roman commander
- Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus
- Carthaginian commander
- Himilco (naval); Hasdrubal Barca (overall)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Hasdrubal Barca, the Carthaginian commander in Iberia, organized a joint land and naval expedition aimed at destroying the Roman base established north of the Ebro River, seeking to push Rome out of the Iberian Peninsula and consolidate Carthaginian control over the region.
In spring 217 BC, a Roman fleet of 35 ships under Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus launched a surprise attack against a Carthaginian fleet of approximately 40 quinqueremes commanded by Himilco near the mouth of the Ebro River. The Romans inflicted a total defeat on the Carthaginian naval contingent, which lost 29 of its ships in the engagement.
The defeat stripped Carthage of naval dominance around Iberia, securing Roman control of the sea lanes. Rome's enhanced reputation in the region prompted rebellion among several Iberian tribes previously under Carthaginian control, further undermining Carthaginian strategic prospects in the peninsula.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus.
Side B
1 belligerent
Himilco, Hasdrubal Barca.