The Campaign of Spain

When Hannibal traveled to Italy and began his Campaign against Rome, the Romans started their own campaign in Spain.  First they sent the Scipio Brothers, not to be confused with Consul Scipio. Consul Claudius Nero also went with them, each commanding a legion of 4,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry.  This campaign was not very successful, the Consuls won about five small skirmishes, but these are not very notable.  What is notable though is their defeat.  The Carthaginians had three commanders and three separate armies in Spain, but when the Romans attacked all three were together, the Romans were hoping for a swift victory but only received defeat.  When the Roman Senate heard of this they sent Consul Publius Cornelius Scipio who had been in to conflict against Hannibal in Italy.  Scipio was unsure of going to Spain because it was unfamiliar and a hostile territory.  There was one reason for going though and that was because the Scipio Brother were related to him, one was his father and the other his uncle.  Scipio left with 10,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry, he was to expect no reinforcements.  When he landed in Spain Scipio rallied what was left of the defeated Roman force, boosting his forces to 28,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry.  The Carthaginian forces had separated, giving Scipio a choice of what to do, he could either attack a Carthaginian force or besiege a town.  He chose to besiege the town of Carthago Nuva, translated into New Carthage, which had control of surrounding lands of rich resources and was the capital of the Spanish controlled lands by Carthage.  he was able to take it in two weeks by over running the defenses with numbers.  This was a major win for Scipio and won him some allies with some of the Spanish tribes, who looked for victories in choosing their allies.  Hannibal's brother, Hasdrubal, marched to where Scipio was.  Hasdrubal had in command 40,000 infantry and 6,000 cavalry, but was unable to defeat the Romans and so called for a retreat, loosing 15,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry which was supposed to reinforce Hannibal in Italy.  Hasdrubal made his way to the northern passes of Italy.  Scipio had received his second win, and thus more allies from the Spanish.  Scipio continued his plan of defeating the Carthaginian forces one at a time, next going to a Carthaginian training camp. Scipio's attack was a surprise and even though he was outnumbered was able to devastate the forces within the training camp.  When he turned to the third General, the Carthaginian turned tail for northern Spain, leaving Scipio to his own devices in Southern Spain.  After taking Spain from Carthage Scipio was ready to attack Carthage head on, leaving to Africa to do so.