A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

356 HASDRUIBAL. HASDRUBAL.
Cun. Scipio was surrounded by their united armies, heavy loss. The defeat, however, can hardly have
his camp taken, and he himself slain, with the been so complete as it is represented by the Roman
greater part of his troops. (Liv. xxv. 32-36; writers, for it appears that Hasdrubal carried off
Appian, Hisp. 16.) his treasure and his elephants in safety, and withThis victory appeared to be decisive of the fate drew unmolested towards the more northern proof the war in Spain; and we do not see what now vinces of Spain. Here he held a consultation with
remained to prevent Hasdrubal from setting out on the other two generals (his brother Mago and Hashis march to Italy. Yet we hear of no measures drubal the son of Gisco), at which it was agreed
tending to this result, and are unable to account that he himself should proceed to Italy, leaving his
for the loss of so valuable an opportunity. But the two colleagues to make head against Scipio in
history of this part of the war has been so effectually Spain. (Polyb. x. 34-40; Liv. xxvii. 17-20.)
disguised, that it is impossible to conjecture the Of the expedition of Hasdrubal to Italy, though
truth. It appears that the remains of the Roman it is one of the most important events of the war,
armies had been collected together by a Roman we have very little real knowledge. The line of
knight, named L. Marcius, who established his his march was necessarily different from that purcamp to the north of the Iberus; and was able to sued by Hannibal, for Scipio was in undisputed
defend it against the attacks of the enemy; but possession of the province north of the Iberus, and
the accounts (copied by Livy from Claudius Qua- had secured the passes of the Pyrenees on that
drigarius and Valerius of Antium) of his great side; hence Hasdrubal, after recruiting his army
victories over the Carthaginian armies, and his with fresh troops, levied among the northern Spacapture of their camps, are among the most glaring niards, crossed the Pyrenees near their western
exaggerations with which the history of this war extremity, and plunged into the heart of Gaul.
has been encumbered by the Roman annalists. What were his relations with the Gallic tribesStill more palpably absurd is the story that the whether the period spent by him among them was
Roman praetor, Claudius Nero, landing in Spain occupied in peace or war-we know not; but, bewith a force of 6000 men, found Hasdrubal en- fore he reached the foot of the Alps, many of them
camped in so disadvantageous a position, that his had been induced to join him, and the mention
whole army must have fallen into the power of among these of the Arverni shows how deep into
Claudius, had he not deluded that general by a pre- the country he had penetrated. The chronology is
tended. negotiation, under cover of which he drew also very obscure. It is certain that the battle of
off his forces. (Liv. xxv. 37-39, xxvi. 17; comp. Baecula was fought in B. C. 209, but whether HasAppian, Hisp. 17, and Zonar. ix. 5, 7; and see drubal crossed the Pyrenees the same year we have
some judicious remarks on this part of Livy's no evidence: he must, at all events, have spent
history by a soldier and a statesman in Raleigh's one winter in Gaul, as it was not till the spring of
History of the World, book 5, ch. 13, sect. 11.) 207 that he crossed the Alps, and descended into
All that'is certain is, that when the youthful P. Italy. The passage of the Alps appears to have
Scipio (the son of that Publius who had fallen in presented but trifling difficulties, compared with
the preceding year) landed in Spain in 211, he what his brother Hannibal had encountered eleven
found the whole country south of the Iberus in'the years before; and he arrived in Italy so much
undisputed possession of the Carthaginian generals. earlier than he was expected, that the Romans had
Their three armies were, however, separated in dis- no army in Cisalpine Gaul ready to oppose him.
tant quarters of the peninsula, probably engaged in Unfortunately, instead of taking advantage of this,
establishing their dominion over the native tribes: to push on at once into the heart of Italy, he alwhile the more settled Carthaginian province was lowed himself to be engaged in the siege of Placomparatively neglected. Of this disposition' centia, and lost much precious time in fruitless
Scipio ably availed himself, and by a sudden blow, efforts to reduce that colony. When at length he
made himself master of New Carthage, the heart abandoned the enterprise, he continued his march
of the enemy's dominion, and the place where their upon Ariminum, having previously sent messengers
principal, stores had been collected. (Polyb. x. 7 to Hannibal to apprise him of his movements, and
-20; Liv. xxvi. 20, 41-48; Appian, H/sp. concert measures for their meeting ip Umbria. But
19-24.) his despatches fell into the hands of the Roman
Hasdrubal had been occupied in the siege of a consul, C. Nero, who instantly marched with a light
small town of the Carpetanians, at the time that detachment of 7000 men to join his colleague,
this blow was struck: we know nothing of the M. Livius, in his camp at Sena, where his army
measures which either he or his colleagues adopted was now in presence of Hasdrubal. Emboldened
in consequence; but we are told that the conquest by this reinforcement, the two consuls proceeded to
of New Carthage co-operating with the personal offer battle to the Carthaginian general; but Haspopularity of. Scipio, caused the defection of many drubal, perceiving their augmented:forces, declined
of the Spanish tribes from'the alliance of Carthage, the combat, and retreated towards Ariminum. The
among others that of Indibilis and Mandonius, Romans pursued him, and he found himself comtwo of the most influential, and hitherto the most pelled to give them battle on the right bank of the
faithful of her supporters. Hasdrubal, alarmed at Metaurus. It is admitted by his enemies that on
this increasing disaffection, determined'to bring this occasion Hasdrubal displayed all the qualities
matters to the issue of a decisive battle, with the of a consummate general, but his forces were
view of afterwards putting in execution his long- greatly inferior to those of the enemy, and his
meditated advance to Italy. But while he was still Gaulish auxiliaries were of little service. The galengaged in his preparations for this purpose, and lant resistance of his Spanish and Ligurian troops is
was collecting. a supply of money from the rich attested by the heavy loss of the Romans; but all
silver mines of Andalusia, he was attacked by was of no avail, and, seeing the battle irretrievably
Scipio in his camp at Baecula, and, notwithstanding lost, he rushed into the midst of the enemy, and
the strength of his position, was forced from it with fell sword in hand, in a manner, says Livy, worthy