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

7414 SCIPIO. SCIPIO.
had been placed for security in this town, and and courage, his courtesy and energy, that they
these now fell into the hands of Scipio, who were ready to lay down their lives for him, and
treated them with generosity and kindness; and wished to make him their king.
the hostages of those people, who declared them- The subjugation of Spain was regarded by Scipio
selves in favour of the Romans, were restored as only a means to an end. He seems for some
without ransom. Scipio also found in New Car- time past to have formed in his own mind the
thage magazines of arms, corn, and other necessa- project of transferring the war to Africa, and thus
ries, for the Carthaginians had deposited in this compelling the Carthaginians to recall Hannibal
city their principal stores. The inactivity of the from Italy. He therefore resolved, before returning
Carthaginian generals, meantime, is not explained to Rome, to cross over into Africa, and secure, if
by any of the ancient authorities. Scipio was allowed possible, the friendship and co-operation of some of
to return to Tarraco without molestation, where the native princes. His personal influence had
he remained quietly during the remainder of the already secured the attachment of Masillissa, who
year, as his forces were not sufficiently numerous was serving in the Carthaginian armny in Spain,
to face the enemy in the field, and he was but whose defection from his ancient allies was for
anxious to strengthen himself by alliances with the present to remain a secret; and he trusted
the Spanish- chiefs. In this he was more suc- that the same personal ascendancy might gain the
cessful than he could have anticipated. The still more powerful support of Syphax, the king of
capture of Carthage, as well as his personal popu- the Massaesylian tribe of Numindians. With only
larity, caused many of the Spanish tribes to desert two quinqueremes he ventured to leave his prothe Carthaginian cause; and when he took the vince, and repair to the court of Syphax. There
field in the following year, B. c. 209, Mandonius he met his old adversary, Hasdrubal, son of Gisco,
and Indibilis, two of the most powerful and hitherto who had crossed over from Gades for the same purthe most faithful supporters of Carthage, quitted pose; and the two generals spent several days tothe camp of Hasdrubal, and awaited the arrival gether in friendly intercourse. Laelius, who accomof Scipio. Hasdrubal was encamped in a strong panied his friend, related to Polybius that Scipio
position near the town of Baecula, in the upper made a great impression upon Syphax, and that
valley of the Guadalquiver, where he was engaged the latter even concluded a treaty of alliance with
in collecting money from the silver mines in the the Roman proconsul; but the truth seems to be
neighbourhood. As he had now fully resolved to that the Carthaginian general was more successful
march to the assistance of his brother in Italy, he than the Roman; a success, however, which was
did not wish to risk the lives of his soldiers, and in great part owing to the charms of his daughter
therefore avoided a battle; but Scipio attacked his Sophonisba, whom he gave in marriage to the Nucamp, and gained a brilliant victory over him, taking, midian king. Scipio did not remain long in Africa,
it is said, 22,000 prisoners, and killing 8000 of and on his return to Spain was surprised to find
his men. The victory, however, cannot have been that a formidable insurrection against the Roman
so complete as the Roman writers represent, since power had broken out among many of the Spanish
Hasdrubal was able to take with him his treasures people. The causes are not mentioned; but it is
and elephants in safety, and to retire unmolested probable that as soon as Scipio's personal influence
into northern Spain. Here he collected fresh troops, had been withdrawn, Mago, who was still at
with which he eventually crossed the Pyrenees, Gades, had not found it difficult to instigate the
and marched into Italy to the assistance of his revolt. The insurrection, however, was soon put
brother Hannibal; while the other Carthaginian down; and terrible vengeance was inflicted upon the
generals, Hasdrubal, the son of Gisco, and Mago, town of Illiturgi, which had taken the principal share
advanced against Scipio, and prevented him from in the revolt. Scarcely had this danger passed
pursuing their colleague. Scipio therefore remained away, when Scipio was seized with a dangerous
in southern Spain during the remainder of that illness. Eight thousand of the Roman soldiers, disyear. In the following year, B. C. 208, the pro- contented at not having received their usual pay,
praetor Silanus defeated Mago in Celtiberia [MA- and at being prevented from plundering the people,
GO, p. 903], whereupon the latter marched into availed themselves of this opportunity to break out
the south of the country and joined Hasdrubal, into open mutiny; but Scipio recovered in time
son of Gisco, in Baetica. Scipio advanced against to put it down; and in this difficult and delicate
them; but as the Carthaginian generals would not transaction, which is related at length by Livy, he
risk a battle, and distributed their army in the for- showed his usual prudence and presence of mind.
tified towns, he was unable to accomplish anything He now crushed the last remains of the insurrection
of importance, and was obliged to content himself in Spain; and to crown his other successes, Gades
with the capture of the town of Oringis, which at last deserted the Carthaginians, and went over
was taken by his brother Lucius. Next year, to the Romans. Mago had quitted Spain and
B.C. 207, Scipio gained possession of nearly the crossed over into Liguria to effect a diversion in
whole of Spain, by a decisive victory near a place favour of his brother Hannibal,' and there was
variously called Silpia, Elinga, or Carmo, but the therefore now no longer any enemy left in Spain.
position of which is quite uncertain. Hasdrubal, Scipio accordingly surrendered the Roman army,
son of Gisco, and Mago took refuge within the in B. c. 206, to the proconsuls L. Lentulus and L.
walls of Gades, which was almost the only place Manlius Acidiinus, who had been appointed as his
that still belonged to the Carthaginians; and all successors, and returned to Rome in the sanie year.
the native chiefs now hastened to acknowledge the Scipio now became a candidate for the consulsupremacy of Rome. But the victories of Scipio ship, and was elected for the following year
had had only a small share in winning Spain. His (a. c. 205) by the unanimous votes ofall the cenpersonal influence had won far more people than turies, although he had not yet filled the office of
his arms had conquered; he had gained such an praetor, and was only thirty years of age. His
ascendancy over the Spaniards by his huiallnity colleague was P. Licinius Crassus, who was poll