Today, October 19th in 202BC, the greatest general since Alexander met his match in a young Roman called Publius Cornelius Scipio.I am of course talking about Hannibal Barca of Carthage. These two great rival nations were again at war, 14 years after Hannibal’s greatest triumph at Cannae.
Scipio landed in North Africa with two Legions and purposely marched through Carthage’s most fertile lands. Hannibal who had rushed back from Italy to meet him knew he had to attack before Rome’s new ally, Masinissa of
Numidia joined him. These Numidians were the best light cavalry in the world.
Hannibal had brought his Italian veterans with him and placed them in his third line, but his first two lines were not as reliable. They composed LIgurians, Gauls and Carthage’s own troops. His cavalry were fewer in number and of a lesser quality too. He did have 80 untrained elephants. It was reliance on these elephants that was to prove his undoing.
Scipio was aware what damage elephants could do, so amended the great Roman tactic of a checkerboard infantry formation, each line  to the side of the one in front. Instead, he had his three lines of infantry line up directly behind each other. When Hannibal released his elephants, a large trumpet fanfare was sounded, frightening them. Some turned around and ran amok amongst their own lines. Those that did not, ran inbetween the Roman formations and off the battlefield. Scipio’s cavalry chased off Hannibal’s, but did not stop charging after the beaten enemy and so too left the field…
Hannibal could still have won as his infantry held firm against the Roman Hastati , but his first line which was overlapped began to run when they felt the second line was not supporting them. Hannibal’s second line threw back the Hastati and Scipio had to use his older, more experienced Principes. They were  able to put the Carthaginians to flight. Hannibal personally led his 24000 Italian veterans, well aware the better Numidian cavalry could show up at any time and strike him in the rear. Scipio changed his tactics again. He placed his Hastati in a compact formation and his Principes and spear armed Triari on both flanks. He was going for violence of attack and no longer trying to overlap his adversary. The battle hung in the balance, but was decided by the reappearance of Scipio’s Numidian and  Roman cavalry.
Hannibal did not leave the field until all was lost.
It is thought Carthage’s losses were 20000 and Scipio’s about 2000.