209 to 208 BC
Baecula, and Hasdrubal leaves Iberia
The capture of New Carthage gives Rome almost the whole Mediterranean coast of Iberia and cuts the Carthaginian armies off from their base and their port for Carthage. Scipio repairs the walls, leaves a strong garrison and returns to Tarraco. The three Carthaginian generals keep apart and stay on the defensive.
A Carthaginian coin minted in Iberia, its portrait often identified as Hasdrubal BarcaWikimedia Commons, The Ogre at en.wikipedia, Public domain (Hasdrubal coin.jpg)
In spring 208 BC Scipio marches south against Hasdrubal Barca, who holds a plateau near Baecula. Hasdrubal loses many of his Iberian allies but withdraws most of his army with its elephants and treasure, and Scipio does not pursue. Hasdrubal crosses the western passes of the Pyrenees into Gaul, recruits there through the winter and in 207 BC sets out over the Alps to join Hannibal.
Sources
- Polybius, Histories, book 10, 34 to 40.
- Livy, History of Rome, book 27, 17 to 20.
- Dexter Hoyos, Hannibal’s Dynasty (2003).
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