09-22-2019, 02:25 PM
I find myself hitting a wall at the point at which Appian tells us that an armistice and a negotiated agreemnet took place between Hannibal and Scipio. At that point, it would appear that Scipio had very nearly achieved all of his war aims; Hannibal`s cavalry force had been defeated and he was no longer a threat to Roman forces and there would be little chance of Vermina being able to reinforce the Carthaginian army.
According to Livy, there`s then a two month period before Vermina is defeated, but it is a mere formality and effectively the war is over whilst Scipio holds a central position to the west of Zama.
So one asks oneself why a large scale battle would need to be fought after this point in the campaign. I can not help but think it was Scipio`s need for a glory and a triumph that Laelius was actually sent with fake news of a great victory after the cavalry battle and the outcome to the negotiations that Appian describes.
According to Livy, there`s then a two month period before Vermina is defeated, but it is a mere formality and effectively the war is over whilst Scipio holds a central position to the west of Zama.
So one asks oneself why a large scale battle would need to be fought after this point in the campaign. I can not help but think it was Scipio`s need for a glory and a triumph that Laelius was actually sent with fake news of a great victory after the cavalry battle and the outcome to the negotiations that Appian describes.