If the best strategist in the history of the world is Hannibal, the best strategist in the history of Rome would be Scipio Africanus.
This time, let's take a closer look at Scipio Africanus, who was undefeated in his life!
Born in the prestigious Cornelius family
In Rome, which was an aristocratic society, the real name of Scipio, who was born to the prestigious Cornelius along with the Claudius and Fabius families, is called Publius Cornelius Scipio.
His later name, "Africanus," is not his real name but his honorific name, and when translated into Japanese, he can be said to have won Africa.
In Rome, such honorific titles are sometimes used as names, and the hero Germanicus in imperial Rome is still known as the one who controlled Germania.
Scipio's father is also Publius Cornelius Scipio, one of the supreme leaders of the time Hannibal attacked, suffering a painful defeat.
The young Africanus also served according to his father, and it is correct to say that he escaped from the battlefield at the expense of his life.
And, as is often said, Scipio later absorbed the strategy taken by Hannibal and became the Ever Victorious Army.
If there was an internet around this time, the ASCII art of Hannibal "Scipio was raised by me!" Would have become popular.
After that, Africanus disregarded Roman customs and took up the post of Aedile, the third-largest position in Rome, at the age of 22.
Originally, Aedile had to be over 30 years old, but Scipio's popularity with the citizens was overwhelming, and the Senate had to admit it.
Death of his father and Spain
After being defeated by Hannibal, his father Scipio was fighting with his uncle Scipio in Hispania (Spain) against the Barca clan (Hannibal's younger brothers).
The two often stopped the Barca clan and cut off the supply line to Hannibal, but both of them finally lost their lives in the series of battles following the series of battles.
The Senate was in trouble.
Eight years after the invasion of Hannibal, Rome had lost a number of commanders and was uncertain about who to send to Hispania on behalf of the Cornelius brothers.
A young man raised his hand there.
I will clear the regrets of my father and uncle!
It's unclear if this is the case, but Scipio himself ran for commander in the direction of Hispania.
Scipio was 25 at this time.
The consul's candidacy condition is 40 years old.
He was still under 15 years old.
If it was modern Japan, it might not have been dealt with by the other party, but it could not be the consul, the Senate of the Roman Republic, which was often regarded as ideal by posterity historians, but it is called Proconsul. Send Scipio to Spain in his position.
By the way, Proconsul was usually appointed as a consul by a person who had experienced a consul (term of office of 1 year) in order to continue the battle, but at this time it could be said that it was a special case.
It can be said that the strength of Rome is that it emphasizes customs but can sometimes respond flexibly.
Scipio heads for Hispania and quickly occupies Cartagena Nova, the home of Cartagena in Spain. After that, he succeeded in pacifying the natives of Spain with a vivid hand, and after that he defeated Hannibal's younger brother Hashdrubal Barca, but he could not finish it as it was, and Hannibal's younger brother escaped to Italy, Rome It is said that the Senate was very indignant.
Scipio, who conquered Spain in a blink of an eye, is ready to take on Africa directly.
Scipio found that part of Hannibal's strength was in the strongest Numidian cavalry in the Mediterranean. For this reason, Scipio sends a messenger to Numidia, attempts an alliance with King Numidia Sufak, but is refused, and succeeds in joining hands with his adversary Masinissa.
Scipio was appointed to the Consul at the age of 31, but did not immediately land in Africa. This is because the Senate opposed it.
Scipio had no choice but to land on Sicily, recruit soldiers, and train them. Seeing that, the Senate was shaken by Scipio's dispatch to Africa.
Scipio was disliked by the Senate for its unconventional style, and seemed to have a bad relationship with Fabius Maximus, who was said to be the shield of Italy.
The Senate tolerated Scipio's landing in Africa, saying he was not a regular army without assistance to Scipio.
Initially, Scipio struggled with King Numidia Sfak on the Carthaginian side, but attacked and defeated the Allied Forces of Carthaginian Numidia in the form of a night attack, and succeeded in making Masinissa, his ally, King Numidia.
When this happened, Carthage was in a hurry, and after all, Hannibal was called from Italy to defend his home country.
Battle with Hannibal! The strongest battle in history
The title is like the movie version of Dragon Ball, but the battle between the strongest is rare in the history of the world.
If you were asked to list five Western warriors, both Scipio and Hannibal would be included.
Hannibal felt the disadvantage of fighting Scipio.
Hannibal's Carthaginian army had more pure troops, but Scipio's Roman army had only half the number of cavalry.
Hannibal was strong because it included the strongest Numidian cavalry in the Mediterranean. Scipio knew that well.
Hannibal had offered a meeting with Scipio before the war and was about to conclude a peace.
Scipio refused this.
Males and females try to wear it on the battlefield.
As history knows, the result is that Hannibal will experience an overwhelming defeat in the Battle of Zama, which was the etymology of Zama.
* The true etymology is from the word "Look at Zama" used in the Kamakura period. There was a Buddha in Zama.
The Punic Wars are over.
In the form of a great victory in Rome.
Publius Cornelius Scipio was given the honorific title of Africanus, who is the ruler of Africa, and held the triumphal ceremony.
All over Rome was intoxicated with delight.
Scipio after the Punic Wars
After the war, Scipio resigned from his post as a consul for life and lived quietly.
It seems that he was originally fainted by Greek culture and was doing research.
But the times did not allow Scipio peace.
Rome began the fight against the eastern power of Seleucid Syria.
The Seleucid dynasty was the strongest nation in the divided kingdom after Alexander the Great.
However, he was not an enemy of Scipio.
The Greek phalanx tactic was powerless before the siege devised by Hannibal.
In reality, Scipio was dispatched as a staff member and apparently fell asleep during his biggest battle, the Battle of Magnesia, but the Senate still gave Scipio the honorific title of Asiatics.
Expulsion of Scipio
Times have changed, and in Rome, a Senator called the Great Cato came to have power.
He was a commoner-born tribune who would later turn Carthage into a field, but behind him was the Valerianus family, a powerful aristocrat. Simply put, internal conflicts were beginning to occur inside Rome.
As the country grows, the power struggle will intensify.
Scipio's cliff trial may have been the beginning.
Scipio's brother Lucius is accused of bribing from the Seleucid dynasty. Scipio defended his brother, but this time he was put on trial.
The episode of the day is very famous in Rome, and it was the day Scipio defeated Hannibal in Zama, and Scipio ignored the trial and went to celebrate the victory. The crowd, senators, and even judges who saw it followed Scipio. It is said that only the large Cato was left.
The trial itself was acquitted, partly because it was defended by a tribune named Grax, who is also Scipio's political enemy, but since then he has left the political scene.
Scipio later married his benefactor, Grax, to his daughter, who gave birth to a brother.
Later, the brothers reformed in Rome, " Gracchi Brothers Reform . The name will be written in Japanese world history textbooks.
Scipio then quietly died 54 years.
183 BC. In the same year, his biggest rival, Hannibal, died.
The times are changing.
Scipio seemed to hate Rome at the end and refused to enter the tombs of his ancestral Cornelius family.
Personal evaluation of Scipio Africanus
There are many excellent leaders in Rome.
Julius Caesar, Trajan, Antoninus Pius, and Scipio.
From the perspective of a tactician, Scipio Africanus is probably the best.
Without his presence, Rome would probably have been destroyed. Or it would never have been an unprecedented empire.
He is the only person who defeated Hannibal in the battle, and has never lost the battle in his lifetime.
Only one of the best humans in world history is undefeated.
Scipio should be called the strongest hero in Rome.