This is the seventh scenario in our campaign representing the Second Punic War based on my own campaign rules. It represents the Battle of Castulo fought in 211 BC near modern Linares in Andalusia.
The scenario was played using the Commands & Colors Ancients rules but on hex terrain from Kallistra with trees from Timecast and using 6mm figures from Baccus instead of blocks.
The History
Time runs out for Publius Scipio. After several years of unbroken successes, the Scipio brothers rashly divide their armies to defeat the Carthaginians in detail.
As Publius Scipio neared Castulo, he was harassed day and night by the Numidian light cavalry under Masinissa. When informed that Indibilis was moving across his line of retreat with 7,500 Celt-Iberians, Publius Scipio decided not to face Mago but to attack the Iberian chieftain, fearing that he would be surrounded by Carthaginian forces. The Romans marched out that night to launch an attack on the Iberians and, hopefully, evade Masinissa's cavalry. They marched throughout the night and caught Indibilis and his men by surprise in the early morning; and, with a numerical superiority, began to gain the upper hand in the ensuing action. However, the Iberians managed to hold off the Romans in the confused night battle just long enough for Masinissa to arrive.
With the Numidian cavalry attacking from the flank, the Roman assault on the Iberians began to slacken. When Mago and Hasdrubal Gisco arrived with their combined armies, the Romans finally, after a grim struggle, broke and fled, leaving Publius Scipio and most of their comrades dead on the field.
Shortly thereafter, Publius Scipio’s son, Scipio Africanus, comes to Spain, rebuilds and retrains the Roman army, and wins the battles of Baecula and Ilipa, thus avenging the deaths of his father and uncle.
The Refight
The Romans and the Carthaginians faced off against each other. Rome at the bottom of this picture, and Carthage at the top.
The Romans started by ordering forward their elite heavy legionaries to complete their line.
Ignoring the Roman centre, the Carthaginians activated their flanks.
On their right flank, the Carthaginian infantry with Hasdrubal in command moved into the woods.
While on their left flank, the Celt-Iberian warriors, with Masinissa in close support, charged into the Roman legionaries. Both sides took losses, but the Romans came off the worse.
The whole Roman line was ordered to advance. They contacted a unit of Celt-Iberian auxilia, which they pushed back with casualties.
The Carthaginians pushed forward their left flank.
The charging Celt-Iberian warriors destroyed one unit of Roman legionaries and caused serious casualties to a second. Masinissa's Numidian light horse caused the Roman light infantry to retreat. Javelins from a unit of Celt-Iberian auxilia caused casualties to the unit of legionaries led by Publius Scipio himself.
The Romans continued their advance in the centre
One unit of Celt-Iberian auxilia was destroyed, the second unit of warriors was decimated and fled, but the third unit of Celt-Iberian auxilia fought well and despite taking losses caused serious casualties to Publius Scipio's already understrength legionaries.
The Carthaginians advanced their right flank though the woods, but this was ignored by the Romans who instead continued to advance their centre.
As they advanced, the Roman elite heavy legionaries eliminated the Celt-Iberian auxilia who stood bravely, but perhaps foolishly, in their path.
Masinissa ordered his Numidian light horse to perform a mounted charge, they rode behind Scipio and his legionaries and attacked from the rear. They destroyed the single unit of legionaries marching with Scipio.
Having first despatched the legionaries, the Numidian light horse with Masinissa at their head, slaughtered Publius Cornelius Scipio and his staff.
Seeing the loss of their general, the Roman army fled the field.
Scenario Result
Carthaginian Victory: Carthaginians 4 - Romans 3
Campaign Result
| Victories | Banners | |
|---|---|---|
| Romans | 3 | 35 |
| Carthaginians | 4 | 31 |
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