The Field
The site of the battlefield was identified by one N. Alfieri, who found the skeletal remains of men, also a silver cup with an Iberian inscription. It is bordered by the Metaurus River on the north in the San Angelo stream valley between two ridges, that descend to level ground before meeting rising ground to the south, forming a low ridge making the field a natural amphitheater.
To allow room for the cavalry in his battle line, Hasdrubal deepened his formations. except the Gauls and Ligurians. This would mean the Africans' depth doubled to 16 ranks, and the Spanish to at least 10 ranks. He posted himself with the Africans and horse on the fight. Spanish occupied the right center, Ligurians left center. the Gauls on the ridge of San Angelo. The Romans countered with Nero with his 6,000 facing the Gauls across the San Angelo stream. Porcius' two legions in the center, facing the Ligurians, while Livius with the consular army and cavalry, opposing the Spannish, Africans and cavalry under Hasdrubal's command.
The Battle
After skirmishing, where no one side gained an advantage, the lines clashed. The Ligurians made an impression on Porcius's levies, aided by the elephants, while the battlehardened vets of Spain were giving the consular army problems. There is no mention of the cavalry fight. Either the Roman cavalry beat their opponents outright and pursued them from the field, ala Zama, or both sides mauled each other to exhaustion. At any rate, Nero could not get to the Gauls. Perceiving that the warbands would also not come off the ridge and cross the San Angelo, Nero "pulled a Hannibal."
He left his volunteers and velites to amuse the Gauls, while he took his legion, and marched in column behind the Roman lines, then reformed and turned the Africans' flank, breaking them. One Roman writer calls the result "a Cannae in reverse." This to me suggests that the Roman cavalry returned and took the Carthagiman force in the rear in order for the battle to be like Cannae.
No matter. The results were the same. The invading Army of Spain was destroyed, 10,000 fell and Hasdrubal died sword in hand. The Gauls apparently maintained their position, and were ignored by the victorious Romans.
Meanwhile the Ligurians either broke through Porcius' troops. or were captured in the envelopment, later to be released demonstrating Rome's good will and discouraging any further alliance with Carthage. The remainder of the captives from Spain were sold into slavery netting 300 talents.
The Aftermath
Hasdrubal's threat ceased to exist. The Romans lost 8,000 men, most from Porcius' force. It was a remarkable victory. The effect was almost delirious on the Roman alliance. Horace described the day as the first where the goddess Victory smiled on the Romans since that day, when the terrible Carthaginians crashed through Italy like a fire through a pine forest. Rome was safe.
The war would drag on for another four years, but the turning point had come. Hannibal would no longer be able to dictate the tempo of the war in Italy. Had he withdrawm after his brother's death and reentered Spain he might have preserved that province from the Romans. Instead he attempted maintain his position in Italy, which began the slow deterioration of his army that would lead to his final defeat at Zama.
More Battle of Metaurus 207 BC
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