It happened in the summer of 202 BC. The preparations were a piece of art itself.It was 54,000 carthaginians against 43,000 romans. Scipio and the legendary Roman legions assembled themselves in three safe, protected lines.The first line is composed of mainly Hastati, they are the "lighter" side of the legion, if you will, ideal for moving around at the same time having adequate defense, a rather not so great armor and a rather large shield. The second line of the army is what the Romans called the Principes. These so called "warriors" was the main body of the Roman army. They wore a good quality armor with a good quality shield, and also a good quality of men, but the good quality of this type of unit comes at the price of flexibility and speed as well. that leaves us to the last line of Scipio's outstanding army, the Triarii . These units are the last resort of the legions of Rome. They are the units they go to in the final moments of a decisive battle. They have a great armor, and great shields. They have excellent defense, leaving them one of best units in the field. But, they have no match in a 100 meter dash, even if they fight a wobbling old turtle. Finally, he assembled his cavalry at the flanks of his main army, the right side consists of Italian horse backs, at the left is made out of superior Numidian cavalry.
Hannibal's army was assembled at almost the exact same way. the first line was made out of inexperienced mercenaries, more like fighting peasants. The second line was composed of Carthaginian levies, soldiers with superior spear weapons, and defense, and that same defense compromises it's speed. The final line of the legendary Carthaginian forces are the war veterans of the whole Italian conquest, making that line a force to be reckoned with. They have not so hot cavaliers, supporting their east and west, mainly because of the defection of the Numidian force and the lack of respect for Hannibal by the Carthaginian higher ups. Above everything else, Hannibal Barca has eighty dominating war elephants.
The battle was one for the ages. The most devastating sight in the battlefield was the huge blubber of the elephants of war. First of all, Hannibal commands his mammals to charge directly at the Roman legions. Slowly but surely, without even breaking a single sweat, Romans simply step away. Stepping away is one of the largest steps ever made in our world's history. Anyway, this stepping away made the elephants go deeper and deeper into enemy territory. The Roman consul, Scipio ordered his men to throw spears into the elephants that made it through the first round of action. The first round of action is the blowing of gigantic horns to confuse the elephants and terrify them to flee back. Oh most elephants flew back all right, but not "fight another day" flew back, it was the "go back, retreat! kill all in your way!" kind of flew back. This elephant rampage devastated the left wing of the army of Barca. Right after, the experts of the Numidian cavalry charge at the left cavalry of Carthage's army. After, they vanish in the horizon fighting till' the end.
The same happened at the other side of the army. Now, that leaves the infantry alone face to face in the battlefield of Eternal Warfare. Romans charge with all their might, the up on coming Roman army make the Carthaginians waver, making some of the mercenaries defect. The first and second line of Hannibal's army move aside so the veterans can deal with the main Roman force. The two large forces meet in a stalemate, clashing together causing pain, agony, despair, and depression. In the scales of balance, the battle is on Hannibal's side, by a single miligram.
Then the whole battle turns, and now by a whopping 100 kilograms in the Scipio side. Just because the cavalry came back to devour the whole army of Hannibal, backstabbing. He managed to escape the battle, suffering great casualties. You can win everything, but when it comes to the last minutes of your life, it's all of nothing.
Maharbal, one of Hannibal Barca's ever loyal generals said, "Hannibal, you know how to earn a victory, but not to use one." He was very right, Hannibal could have finished the Romans for good, he could have controlled the whole world in a single command. Yet, he was way too soft, he gave the Romans another chance, that chance led to his certain death.
