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The Battle of the Great Plains
partof=Second Punic War
Date 203 BC Location Near Utica, North Africa Result Roman victory
Combatants
Roman Republic	Carthaginian
Commanders
Scipio Africanus, Masinissa, Laeliu	Hasdrubal, Syphax
Casualties
Unknown	Rout of whole army

Second Punic War
Saguntum – Lilybaeum – Ticinus – Trebia – Cissa – Lake Trasimene – Ebro River – Cannae – 1st Nola – Dertosa – 2nd Nola – Cornus – 3rd Nola – 1st Capua – Silarus – 1st Herdonia – Syracuse – Upper Baetis – 2nd Capua – 2nd Herdonia – Numistro – Asculum – Tarentum – Baecula – Grumentum – Metaurus – Ilipa – Crotona – Utica – Bagbrades – Cirta – Po Valley – Great Plains – Zama

The Battle of the Great plains

The Lead up to the Battle Hasdrubal and Syphax had both succeded in escaping from their camps which the Roman general Scipio Africanus, and his Numidian allies Masinissa and Laeliu had destroyed. Hasdrubal and Syphax fell back, with a few followers who had also escaped the massacre at the Carthaginian camps the arrival of four thousend mercenaries from Southern Spain made the Carthaginians determined to make one more effort to stop the armies of Scipio Africanus advancing across North Africa. New levies were raised in Carthage and in Numidia, Hasdrubal and Syphax soon found themselves at the head of an army of 30,000 men. Scipio whose command had been extended until the end of the war, marched from his camp at Utica to meet Hasdrubal and Syphax at a place called the great plains in 203BC.

The Battle In the Battle that followed the entire Carthaginian army was routed. Syphax fled back to his kingdom in Numidia however he was pursued by Masinissa and Laelius, captured and brought back to the Roman camp as a prisoner. Masinissa was givern command of Syphaxes kingdom this was the land from which he had origionaly been exilled.

The Aftermath Following the battle the Carthaginians had little choice but to sue for peace with Rome. Scipio proposed a some modest terms for the Carthaginians in a peace treaty, however while the Carthaginians were still considering the treaty they had a sudden change of opinion and decided to recall Hannibal from Italy (who had an army of elite veterans loyal to his command) for one more stand against Rome this would be the battle of Zama which would end the 2nd Punic war and also complete the legend of Scipio Africanus who had grown to be one of Romes greatest generals.