Battle of Utica ( 203 BC ) The Battle of Utica was fought in 203 BC between armies of Rome and Carthage during their second war for dominance over the Western Mediterranean . By a sudden attack the Roman commander Publius Cornelius Scipio managed to destroy a numerous force of the Carthaginians and their Numidian allies not far from the outflow of the Medjerda River in modern Tunisia . Thus he gained a decisive strategic advantage , switched the focus of the war from Italy and Iberia to the Carthaginian northern Africa and contributed largely for the final victory of Rome . The lead - up to the Roman invasion of Africa in 204 BC . The Romans first invaded ancient Libya ( modern Tunisia ) during the First Punic War . This expedition ended with a disastrous defeat . The second one was to follow only fifty years later . The invasion of Africa was a part of the initial Roman plans for the conduct of the Second Punic War . The Carthaginian leader Hannibal thwarted them when he set out from his base in Iberia , went through western southern Gaul and crossed the Alps in 218 BC . The consul , to whom the expedition to Carthage was entrusted , decided to transfer his army from Sicily to Cisalpine Gaul to defend the north of Italy . This resulted in the battle of Trebia and a series of other heavy defeats of the Romans by Hannibal which put the idea of an assault on the Carthaginian homeland out of question . During the following years the war raged primarily in Italy , Iberia and Sicily , but north Africa was largely spared . The situation changed with the growing fortunes of Rome . By 205 BC the Romans had effectively dealt with two invasions of Italy – that of Hannibal , who was gradually worn out and stripped of allies , and that of Hasdrubal , son of Hamilcar Barca , who was defeated outright in the battle of the Metaurus river . The various Carthaginian forces had been driven off Sicily and Iberia or hemmed in the far south and northwestern corners of the Apennine peninsula . By the fall of Syracuse and the reconquest of the parts of Sicily which had been temporarily lost after the battle of Cannae , the Romans secured a base for naval assault on Carthage . They made use of that by carrying out a number of raids on African soil in 208 , 207 and 205 BC . Since 206 BC , when Publius Cornelius Scipio finally expelled the Carthaginians from Iberia ( see the battle of Ilipa ) , he was preoccupied with the idea that Africa should be the next target . To this end he concluded an alliance with Syphax – one of the most powerful Numidian rulers at the time and an old foe of Carthage – even before he got authority from Rome to lead the future invasion . Even though Scipio was elected consul for 205 BC , he had to endure hard political wrangling before the Senate approved his intentions . His main opponent was Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator ( the Delayer ) , who argued that the expedition to Africa was too risky and that the primary objective was to fight Hannibal in Bruttium . Scipio managed to persuade the senators that his plan was the perfect way to force the Carthaginians out of Italy . Nevertheless , he was not given enough resources and had to spend a whole year in preparations . The Carthaginians were warned of what was coming when Scipio sent his legate C . Laelius with a naval force to plunder the area of Hippo Regius on the African coast west of Carthage ( 205 BC ) . They took various measures to prevent a major Roman invasion . However , the attempt to persuade the Macedonian king Philip to invade Sicily was unsuccessful , and the reinforcements sent to their own commanders in Bruttium and Liguria were not sufficient to revive the war in Italy ( see the articles about the battle of Croton and the Po valley raid ) . Nor was Scipio dissuaded by the defection of Syphax , who took the side of Carthage thanks to the diplomatic skills of Hasdrubal Gisgo and the charms of his daughter , Sophonisba . The beginning of the invasion and the battle of Utica . Scipio brings the war upon Carthage . The invasion of Africa began in 204 BC . Several hundred transport ships carried the Roman army of no more than 35 , 000 soldiers to Cape Farina , about 35 km west of Carthage ( or Pulcrum , see the map ) . By his very arrival Scipio caused much anxiety and fear , and he used the resulting confusion to capture several towns and plunder the countryside . The main Carthaginian commander who opposed him was Hasdrubal , son of Gisgo . He despatched a significant cavalry force in order to stop the depredation and restrict Scipio ’ s manoeuvres , but the Romans destroyed it near the town of Salaeca . Thus the Roman commander received a temporary advantage , which was strengthened when Scipio was joined by Massinissa , a leader of the Massylians ( a Numidian tribe ) . Hasdrubal was impeded by the wavering of Syphax , who “ " failed " . . . " to render them " ( the Carthaginians ) " whole - hearted assistance " ” and thus allowed the Romans to ravage the country with impunity . The siege of Utica . Having collected abundant booty and numerous slaves , in the autumn Scipio moved to Utica . His intention was to capture the ancient Phoenician city and make it a base for his further operations . The direct assault on the walls was repulsed even though it was supported by siege engines and the Roman fleet , so that the Romans had to undertake a regular siege of the city . The emergence of two large armies of the enemy effectively ended the siege very soon . These were the forces of Hasdrubal Gisgo and his son - in - law Syphax , who apparently did not hesitate anymore . Their numerical superiority ( according to the tradition passed by ancient authors such as Polybius and Livy , the army of Hasdrubal amounted to more than 30 , 000 and that of Syphax was twice as many , but these numbers are considered as exaggerated by modern researchers ) forced Scipio to retreat to a promontory not far from Utica , which was later called Castra Cornelia . He fortified the narrow neck of land and set his winter quarters , relying on supplies of corn and clothing that were being sent to him from Sicily , Sardinia and Iberia . Hasdrubal and Syphax built their separate camps some distance from Castra Cornelia . Peace negotiations . Throughout the winter the Carthaginians continued to build up their forces . They prepared a fleet in order to cut the supply routes and blockade fully the Roman army and were awaiting for mercenaries from Iberia and Liguria . The actual hostilities ceased for a time due to the efforts of Syphax to arbitrate for a reconciliation . Hasdrubal accepted the proposed terms , which stipulated that both Rome and Carthage should recall their armies respectively from Africa and Italy , but did not stop the aforementioned military preparations . Peace under such conditions was definitely not the purpose , with which Scipio negotiated with Syphax . At first he used the negotiations as a cover for trying to win over the Numidian to Rome . As these attempts proved to be of no avail , the Roman leader nevertheless continued to send envoys to the Numidian camp . Scipio aimed , firstly , to mislead the enemy that he was insecure and therefore anxious to conclude peace and , secondly , to reconnoitre the position and organization of the enemy . His envoys , who were carefully selected for the latter purpose , informed him that the both camps consisted primarily of huts built from wood , reed and other flammable material . The burning of the camps . On the basis of this information Scipio elaborated his plan for the battle . He knew that the Carthaginian preparations to attack Castra Cornelia were continuing , and with the first signs of the spring he launched a preemptive strike . The ancient authors provide two versions of what happened . According to Livy and Polybius Scipio placed a detachment ( 2 , 000 strong ) on a hill overlooking Utica so as to deceive the enemy ’ s scouts that he was preparing to attack the city . Another small detachment was left to guard the Roman camp against possible attack from the city ’ s defenders . The main forces marched at night , more than 10 kilometers , and reached the camps of Hasdrubal and Syphax before dawn . Scipio separated the army in two halves and ordered Laelius and Massinissa ’ s Numidians to set fire and destroy the camp of Syphax . Laelius and Massinissa left almost no chances for escape of Syphax ’ s warriors , who were caught sleeping and utterly unprepared . The flames that started from the huts outside the palisades spread easily and engulfed the whole camp . All the exits were blockaded by the Romans , and numbers of unarmed soldiers were slaughtered ; others were caught by the flames , as well as many pack animals , or trampled themselves to death at the gates . The same happened with the army of Hasdrubal . Its soldiers were awakened by the news that the neighbouring camp was ignited , and some of them rushed to help the Numidians without arms , thinking that the flames were result of an accident . Scipio waited for this moment of confusion to attack with his part of the Roman army . The Carthaginians could not offer any organized resistance and were crushed . Only their general ( as well as Syphax ) , with a small body of troops , managed to escape . Appian ’ s story . The version of Livy and Polybius is supported by other ancient historians , such as Florus and Frontinus . In “ The Punic Wars ” , a part of his “ Roman History ” , Appian relates another story of the events . According to Appian , Scipio detached only Massinissa and his horsemen to prevent Syphax from rendering help to Hasdrubal . With the bulk of his legionaries the Roman commander attacked suddenly the camp of Hasdrubal and slaughtered almost all of his soldiers , because those who initially made their escape were rounded up by the Roman cavalry . When Syphax knew what was happening , he sent a cavalry detachment to assist Hasdrubal , but these horsemen were met and routed by Massinissa . Fearing that Scipio would turn on him after dealing with Hasdrubal ’ s army , Syphax abandoned his camp and retreated to safety with his army . Aftermath . The Carthaginians suffered heavy casualties and their field forces were virtually eliminated for some time . Some ancient authorities refrain from giving specific numbers , but others give figures between 30 , 000 and 40 , 000 for the men who were killed , and up to 5 , 000 for those taken alive . Almost all sources ( except Cassius Dio ) agree that the losses of the Romans were minimal . Polybius wrote : " . . . " it is not possible to find any other disaster which even if exaggerated could be compared with this , so much did it exceed in horror all previous events . Therefore of all the brilliant exploits performed by Scipio this seems to me the most splendid and most adventurous . " " With one single strike Scipio was able to get rid of the Carthaginian blockade and to renew the offensive operations of the previous summer . What followed shortly afterwards was the battle of the Great Plains , which ended with another crushing defeat of Hasdrubal Gisgo and Syphax . Carthage had to recall its armies from Italy for a last decisive encounter that took place in 202 BC , and resulted in a final defeat and a peace treaty , ending the Second Punic War in 201 BC . Sources and external links . Note : All links were active on October 9 , 2007 Primary sources : Secondary sources : Other links : A comprehensive history of the Second Punic war for German readers : A concise online description of Scipio ' s expedition to Africa : A detailed map of a part of northern Africa in Roman times :