Page 70 - History of War - Issue 01-14

Leaders
Leaders Men

Men

ROMAN GENERALS

The Romans conquered vast acres of land, defeating anyone
who dared challenge them. But who were the men behind
these seismic campaigns? History Of War takes a look…

rom the formation of the Roman Republic Not everything went smoothly: the Romans fell
in 509BC, through the Roman Empire’s foul of Germanic tribesmen at the Battle of the
zenith around 117AD, and even up Teutoburg Forest (9AD), where they lost three
until the Fall of Rome and the Empire’s full legions (an estimated 15-20,000 soldiers
adoption of Constantinople as its capital gave up their lives during this battle alone). This
F in 330AD, war played a key role in Roman prompted remorse on the part of Augustus when
expansion across the northern hemisphere. The he heard of the defeat (the Romans never again
Romans undertook land-grab on a huge scale, attempted to push east of the Rhine, save for
their successes down not only to the political some retaliatory skirmishes). But there’s no
capabilities of their elite, but to their military denying the vast successes the Romans had in
might and the strategic ability of their Generals. subsuming massive tracts of mainland Europe,
They were responsible for the Republic’s and Britain, the Middle East and North Africa.
Empire’s expansion through war, gradually Here, History Of War picks ten of the most
completing the “Romanisation” of the provinces. infl uential Generals in Roman military history…
250BC 200BC 150BC

250BC 240BC 230BC 220BC 210BC 200BC 190BC 180BC 170BC 160BC 150BC 140BC 130BC

SCIPIO AFRICANUS

Getty Images GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC
LIVED 236-183BC
SCIPIO’S COMMAND OF THE ROMAN ARMIES IN SPAIN
STARTED at an early age – he was just 25 years old when he
was commissioned by Rome to defeat the Carthaginians and
their leader, Hannibal. At this time, the latter was stationed in Italy,
where he had established an almost impenetrable defence, so Scipio
attacked Hannibal’s base in Spain, despite a previous failed attempt
that had seen both of the Roman Commanders in charge killed. Scipio,
however, was successful; he captured the Carthaginian headquarters
in Cartagena in 209BC and, a year later, captured Hannibal’s brother,
Hasdrubal, by disguising the strength of his forces (hiding heavily armed
and armoured troops behind a front screen of light infantry).
Scipio’s fi nest hour, however, came during the Battle of Zama in
North Africa in 202BC, where he fi nally managed to defeat Hannibal
himself, forcing his old nemesis’ return to Carthage on the edge of
Lake Tunis. The Carthaginian Commander
used enraged war elephants in an attempt
to trample Scipio’s marauding troops, but DID YOU KNOW?
the Roman General simply ordered his men It was Scipio Africanus
to open ranks, allowing the beasts to who adopted the Spanish
stampede through without causing signifi cant short, stabbing sword as
casualties. Hannibal was later forced to the weapon of choice for
make a peaceful truce with Rome, bringing his troops. Its success in
close combat resulted in
an end to the 17-year-long First Punic War. it becoming the standard
weapon of the Roman army.
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