Battle fought between Scipio Africanus of Rome and a combined Carthaginian and Numidian army late in the Second Punic War
Rome's decisive victory at the Great Plains forced Carthage into peace talks and set the stage for the final Battle of Zama, ending the Second Punic War.
Key Facts
- Date
- 203 BC
- Carthaginian force size
- approximately 30,000 men
- Iberian reinforcements
- 4,000 warriors
- Distance from Utica
- 120 kilometres (75 mi)
- Notable capture
- Syphax, Numidian king, captured at Cirta
- Conflict
- Second Punic War
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
After a Roman night attack destroyed the Carthaginian and Numidian camps near Utica and inflicted heavy casualties, the Carthaginians regrouped at the Great Plains, 120 km from Utica, reinforced by 4,000 Iberian warriors to a total of about 30,000 men. Scipio marched his army to meet them despite being outnumbered.
Following several days of skirmishing, both armies engaged in open battle. Veterans of the Utica debacle on the Carthaginian side fled upon the Roman charge, their morale broken. Only the Iberian contingent held its ground; they were methodically enveloped by the disciplined Roman legions and annihilated, securing a decisive Roman victory.
Syphax and his Numidians were pursued and defeated at Cirta; Syphax was captured and his kingdom passed to the Roman ally Masinissa. Scipio advanced to Tunis, threatening Carthage directly. Peace negotiations began, but Carthage repudiated the draft treaty after Hannibal's return. The war concluded the following year with Carthage's defeat at Zama and acceptance of a punishing peace.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Publius Cornelius Scipio (Africanus).
Side B
2 belligerents
Hasdrubal Gisco, Syphax.