Historical Figures
Scipio Africanus
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Scipio Africanus was a Roman general and statesman whose command in the Second Punic War proved decisive in Rome's victory over Carthage. Rising to prominence despite his youth, he was given proconsular command in Spain at about twenty-five years old following his father's death in battle, and used it to drive Carthaginian forces from the Iberian peninsula. His crowning achievement came at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC, where he defeated Hannibal and effectively ended the war, earning him the honorific epithet Africanus. Despite his military renown he later faced political opposition, notably from Cato the Elder, and withdrew from public life to his villa at Liternum.
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Disputed
Birth YearWikipedia gives 236 or 235 BC as the two candidate birth years; 236 BC is recorded here. Cross-Tradition Connections
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1. Wikipedia: Scipio Africanus
WikipediaLead sectionQuote, Lead section
Scipio's defeat of Hannibal at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC is one of the feats that earned him the agnomen Africanus, the nickname "the Roman Hannibal", and recognition as one of the finest commanders in military history.
1. Wikipedia: Scipio Africanus
1. Wikipedia: Scipio Africanus
1. Wikipedia: Scipio Africanus
WikipediaParticipant In: The Punic Wars, Lead section, Battle of ZamaQuote, Participant In: The Punic Wars, Lead section, Battle of Zama
Often regarded as one of the greatest military commanders and strategists of all time, his crowning achievement was the defeat of Hannibal at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC, which earned him the honorific epithet Africanus ("the African").
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