Second Punic War | Hannibal’s Invasion of Italy

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[{"p":1,"t":483518},{"p":3,"t":254423},{"p":3,"t":529046},{"p":1,"t":92664},{"p":1,"t":857952},{"p":1,"t":97373},{"p":3,"t":940971},{"p":33,"t":507905},{"p":1,"t":253349},{"p":3,"t":529059}], "sequence": 1, "topics": {} }); </script> <article class="article-content container-lg qa-content px-0 pt-0 pb-40 py-lg-20 content " data-topic-id="483518"> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Second-Punic-War">Second Punic War</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <span class="toc-extra-link selected link-gray-900 mt-15"> Introduction </span> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Second-Punic-War/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Second-Punic-War">Quick Facts & Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Second-Punic-War/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/42/1042-050-F1D06D1D/Mediterranean-Punic-Wars.jpg" data-href="/media/1/483518/1820" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/42/1042-004-25A2A76C/Mediterranean-Punic-Wars.jpg" alt="The western Mediterranean during the Punic Wars" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-related-quizzes"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Quizzes </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/quiz/world-wars"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/69/159669-131-A73FA5E9/Louis-IX-stained-glass-window-France-Crusades.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Louis IX of France (St. Louis), stained glass window of Louis IX during the Crusades. (Unknown location.)" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/quiz/world-wars" >World Wars</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/quiz/the-roman-empire"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/59/152559-131-67C5F744/Roman-Forum-Temple-of-Saturn-Italy-Rome.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Overlooking the Roman Forum with Temple of Saturn in Rome, Italy" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/quiz/the-roman-empire" >The Roman Empire</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/quiz/a-history-of-war"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/45/171645-131-FB9DD0D9/D-Day-soldiers-American-rifles-grenades-beachheads-bunker-June-6-1944.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="D-Day. American soldiers fire rifles, throw grenades and wade ashore on Omaha Beach next to a German bunker during D Day landing. 1 of 5 Allied beachheads est. in Normandy, France. The Normandy Invasion of World War II launched June 6, 1944." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/quiz/a-history-of-war" >A History of War</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-read-next"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Read Next </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/8-deadliest-wars-of-the-21st-century"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/38/168938-131-2FBA7C21/Soldiers-Iraqi-Army-learning-9th-Mechanized-Division-2011.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Iraqi Army Soldiers from the 9th Mechanized Division learning to operate and maintain M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks at Besmaya Combat Training Center, Baghdad, Iraq, 2011. 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mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/secret-service-code-names-of-11-us-presidents" >Secret Service Code Names of 11 U.S. Presidents</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <button class="drawerToggle btn position-sticky border btn-xs btn-white btn-circle rounded-sm d-none d-lg-flex " type="button" aria-label="Toggle Drawer"> <em class="material-icons font-18 text-blue" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="h-100 ml-0 pr-lg-0 "> <div class="h-100 grid gx-0 gx-lg-20"> <div class="h-100 col-sm"> <div class="h-100 infinite-pagination-container d-flex flex-column position-relative"> <div class="position-absolute top-0 h-100 w-100"> <div class="toc-sticky-header d-none d-lg-none bg-gray-50 px-10 px-sm-30 position-sticky w-100 "> <div class="toc-sticky-header-inner-container align-items-center d-flex mx-auto h-100 w-100"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-sm btn-white text-blue border-2 border-gray-100 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.historynet.com/second-punic-war-hannibals-war-in-italy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">HistoryNet - Second Punic War: Hannibal’s War in Italy</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://digitalcommons.denison.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1077&context=ephemeris" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Denison University Libraries - Digital Commons - Hannibal's Importance in the Second Punic War</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/hannibal-and-the-second-punic-war/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Warfare History Network - Hannibal and the Second Punic War</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://dcc.dickinson.edu/nepos-hannibal/second-punic-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Dickinson College Commentaries - The Second Punic War</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.unrv.com/empire/second-punic-war.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">UNRV Roman History - Second Punic War</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.worldhistory.org/Second_Punic_War/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">World History Encyclopedia - Second Punic War</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-important-events/second-punic-war-0018588" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Ancient Origins - The Second Punic War – Hannibal’s Infamous Offensive</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/229157481.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">CORE - Why Hannibal Lost the Second Punic War</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=aujh" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">eorgia Southern University - Why Hannibal Lost the Second Punic War</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: Second Carthaginian War</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written and fact-checked by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-01-24T00:00:00CST" >Jan 24, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Second-Punic-War/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Also called: </dt> <dd>Second Carthaginian War</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Date: </dt> <dd>218 BCE - 201 </dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Participants: </dt> <dd><a href="/place/Carthage-ancient-city-Tunisia">Carthage</a></dd> <dd><a href="/place/ancient-Rome">ancient Rome</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Major Events: </dt> <dd><a href="/event/Battle-of-Cannae">Battle of Cannae</a></dd> <dd><a href="/event/Battle-of-Ilipa">Battle of Ilipa</a></dd> <dd><a href="/event/Battle-of-Zama-Roman-Carthaginian-history">Battle of Zama</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/Battle-of-Trasimene">Battle of Trasimene</a></dd> <dd><a href="/event/Battle-of-the-Trebbia-River">Battle of the Trebbia River</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Key People: </dt> <dd><a href="/biography/Quintus-Fabius-Maximus-Verrucosus">Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Gaius-Flaminius">Gaius Flaminius</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Hannibal-Carthaginian-general-247-183-BCE">Hannibal</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Gaius-Claudius-Nero">Gaius Claudius Nero</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Publius-Cornelius-Scipio">Publius Cornelius Scipio</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>On the Web: </dt> <dd><a href="https://www.historynet.com/second-punic-war-hannibals-war-in-italy/" target="_blank">HistoryNet - Second Punic War: Hannibal’s War in Italy</a> (Jan. 24, 2025)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Second-Punic-War"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> <button class="facts-list-show-more-btn mt-15 p-0 mx-auto btn font-14 d-block font-weight-normal"> <span class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></span> <span class="show-more-label">Show More</span> </button> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref186444"></span>Second Punic War</strong>, second (218–201 <span class="text-smallcaps">bce</span>) in a series of wars between the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Roman-Republic" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Roman Republic</a> and the Carthaginian (Punic) empire that resulted in Roman <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="hegemony" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hegemony" data-type="MW">hegemony</a> over the western Mediterranean.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In the years after the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/First-Punic-War" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">First Punic War</a>, Rome wrested Corsica and <span id="ref186445"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sardinia-island-Italy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sardinia</a> from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Carthage-ancient-city-Tunisia" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Carthage</a> and forced Carthaginians to pay an even greater indemnity than the payment exacted immediately following the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/war" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">war</a>. Eventually, however, under the leadership of <span id="ref186446"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hamilcar-Barca" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Hamilcar Barca</a>, his son <span id="ref186448"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hannibal-Carthaginian-general-247-183-BCE" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Hannibal</a>, and his son-in-law Hasdrubal, Carthage acquired a new base in <span id="ref186447"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-Spain" class="md-crosslink ">Spain</a>, whence they could renew the war against Rome.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In 219 Hannibal captured Saguntum (Sagunto) on the east coast of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Iberian-Peninsula" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Iberian Peninsula</a>. Rome demanded his withdrawal, but Carthage refused to recall him, and Rome declared war. Because Rome controlled the sea, Hannibal led his army overland through Spain and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Gaul-ancient-region-Europe" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Gaul</a> and across the Alps, arriving in the plain of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Po-River" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Po River</a> valley in 218 <span class="text-smallcaps">bce</span> with 20,000 <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/infantry" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">infantry</a> and 6,000 <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/cavalry" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">cavalry</a>. Roman troops tried to bar his advance but were outmatched, and Hannibal’s hold over northern Italy was established. In 217 Hannibal, reinforced by Gallic tribesmen, marched south. Rather than attack Rome directly, he marched on <span id="ref186449"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Capua-ancient-city-Italy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Capua</a>, the second largest town in Italy, hoping to incite the populace to rebel. He won several battles but still refrained from attacking the city of Rome, even after <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="annihilating" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annihilating" data-type="MW">annihilating</a> a huge Roman army at Cannae in 216. The defeat <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="galvanized" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/galvanized" data-type="MW">galvanized</a> Roman resistance. A brilliant defensive strategy conducted by Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator harried the Carthaginians without offering battle. Thus, the two armies remained deadlocked on the Italian peninsula until 211 <span class="text-smallcaps">bce</span>, when Rome recaptured the city of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Capua-Italy" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Capua</a>.</p><div class="md-timeline module-spacing"> <div class="timeline-title text-blue-dark text-uppercase font-weight-bold ml-20 my-15">Second Punic War events</div> <div class="slick-timeline"> <div class="grid"> <div class="col-auto d-flex align-items-center align-self-center hidden-xs"> <button class="slick-timeline--arrow slick-timeline--arrow-prev material-icons">keyboard_arrow_left</button> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="timeline-slides py-10"> <a class="timeline-slide " href="/event/Battle-of-the-Trebbia-River" title="Battle of the Trebbia River"> <div class="image-container"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/images/shared/default-rectangle.jpg?v=3.133.9" class="default " alt="default image" /> </div> <div class="title">Battle of the Trebbia River</div> <div class="text-black">December 218 BCE</div> </a> <a class="timeline-slide " href="/topic/Battle-of-Trasimene" title="Battle of Trasimene"> <div class="image-container"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/images/shared/default-rectangle.jpg?v=3.133.9" class="default " alt="default image" /> </div> <div class="title">Battle of Trasimene</div> <div class="text-black">June 217 BCE</div> </a> <a class="timeline-slide " href="/event/Battle-of-Cannae" title="Battle of Cannae"> <div class="image-container"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/35/190635-050-4707A6E2/Battle-of-Cannae.jpg?w=500&h=500" alt="Battle of Cannae" /> </div> <div class="title">Battle of Cannae</div> <div class="text-black">216 BCE</div> </a> <a class="timeline-slide " href="/event/Battle-of-Syracuse-214-212-BCE" title="Siege of Syracuse"> <div class="image-container"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/42/1042-050-F1D06D1D/Mediterranean-Punic-Wars.jpg?w=500&h=500" alt="The western Mediterranean during the Punic Wars" /> </div> <div class="title">Siege of Syracuse</div> <div class="text-black">214 BCE - 212</div> </a> <a class="timeline-slide " href="/event/Battle-of-Ilipa" title="Battle of Ilipa"> <div class="image-container"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/images/shared/default-rectangle.jpg?v=3.133.9" class="default " alt="default image" /> </div> <div class="title">Battle of Ilipa</div> <div class="text-black">206 BCE</div> </a> <a class="timeline-slide " href="/event/Battle-of-Zama-Roman-Carthaginian-history" title="Battle of Zama"> <div class="image-container"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/198814-050-D4A3405D/Battle-of-Zama-canvas-artist-Giulio-Romano.jpg?w=500&h=500" alt="Battle of Zama" /> </div> <div class="title">Battle of Zama</div> <div class="text-black">202 BCE</div> </a> </div> </div> <div class="col-auto d-flex align-items-center align-self-center hidden-xs"> <button class="slick-timeline--arrow slick-timeline--arrow-next material-icons">keyboard_arrow_right</button> </div> </div> </div> <div class="slick-timeline--dots mb-10"></div> </div><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In 207 <span id="ref186450"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hasdrubal-Carthaginian-general-died-207-BCE" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Hasdrubal</a>, following Hannibal’s route across the Alps, reached northern Italy with another large army supported by legions of Ligurians and Gauls. Hasdrubal marched down the peninsula to join Hannibal for an assault on Rome. Rome, exhausted by war, nevertheless raised and dispatched an army to check Hasdrubal. <span id="ref186451"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gaius-Claudius-Nero" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Gaius Nero</a>, commander of the southern Roman army, slipped away north also and defeated Hasdrubal on the banks of the Metauros River. Hannibal maintained his position in southern Italy until 203, when he was ordered to return to Africa. Italy was free of enemy troops for the first time in 15 years. During the long mainland campaign, fighting had continued as well on Sardinia and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sicily" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Sicily</a>, which had become Rome’s chief sources of food. Aided by internal upheaval in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Syracuse-Italy" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Syracuse</a>, Carthage reestablished its presence on the island in 215 and maintained it until 210. Meanwhile, in Spain, Roman forces maintained pressure on Carthaginian strongholds. The Roman general <span id="ref186452"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Scipio-Africanus" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Publius Scipio</a> won a decisive battle at Ilipa in 206 and forced the Carthaginians out of Spain.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">After his Spanish victory Scipio determined to invade the Carthaginian homeland. He sailed for Africa in 204 and established a beachhead. The Carthaginian council offered terms of surrender but <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="reneged" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reneged" data-type="MW">reneged</a> at the last minute, pinning its hopes on one last battle. The massed Carthaginian army, led by Hannibal, was defeated at Zama. The Carthaginians accepted Scipio’s terms for peace: Carthage was forced to pay an indemnity and surrender its navy, and Spain and the Mediterranean islands were ceded to Rome.</p><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":483518,"pageLength":522,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.133.9' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"MEDIUM","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Second Punic War | Hannibal’s Invasion of Italy | Britannica