June 207 BC
Nero’s flank march
The Roman left and centre attack first. The Roman cavalry drive off the outnumbered Carthaginian horse, but the Iberians and Ligurians hold their ground, and the elephants break into the Roman lines and spread confusion.
On the right Nero cannot reach the Gauls across the ravine. He takes half of his men, leads them behind the fighting Roman line to the far left and falls on the flank of the Iberians. Attacked in front and flank, the Iberians give way and carry the Ligurians back with them.
Battle on the banks of a river, probably the battle of the Metaurus, panel painting attributed to Paolo Uccello, 15th centuryWikimedia Commons, Paolo Uccello, Public domain (BATTLE ON THE BANKS OF A RIVER, PROBABLY THE BATTLE OF THE METAURUS (207 BCE).jpg)
The Gauls are now attacked by Porcius in front, by Livius on their flank and by Nero from behind. Six elephants are killed by their own drivers and four are captured. Hasdrubal, who has rallied his men wherever the line wavered, rides into a Roman cohort and is killed.
Sources
- Polybius, Histories, book 11, 1 to 3.
- Livy, History of Rome, book 27, 48 to 49.
- Dexter Hoyos, Hannibal’s Dynasty (2003).
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