When I started this series, I planned to cover the little known battles of the Punic Mars. Some battles are too small to recreate in the grand tactical mode that I prefer, also some battles are just too hard to recreate.
The battle at Baecula is one of the latter but I have been asked more than once about Baecula since I mentioned it in my last article about the Metaurus. Many HMGS members apparently do not know about the battle and wish to be informed. So be it, however I must restate that this is a hard battle to recreate, since it involves light troops fighting in rough terrain, and gamers usually find such endeavors boring. Still perhaps Skip could restage this one using WRG 6th edition.
BACKGROUND
With Scipio's capture of New Carthage, 209 BC, in South East Spain, three important southern Spanish tribes left their Punic alliance. Not only was this a blow to Carthaginian pride, but it divided the three Carthaginian armies that were garrisoning Spain, keeping them from communicating with one another.
Hasdrubal Barca (brother of Hannibal) was especially troubled by this defecfion. He was in the south of Spain, with his army, raising money and material for his brother's Italian campaign. A good portion of his army had been composed of Indibilis' subjects, (Illergaies tribes) and when they heard of their prince's change of alliance they started to desert. Scipio meanwhile was marshalling his allies, and preparing to attack Hasdrubal before the other two armies could join him. Therefore he marched into Southern Spain seeking battle.
Hasdrubal decided to fight. He might have avoided the battle, but it would be risky to be caught on the march, laden with silver and supplies, and a victory would reverse the fickle Iberian disposition. Accordingly he abandoned the silver mines of La Carolina near Baecula (modern Bailen) and took a commanding position. The area was protected from an approach from both the north and the south by impassible mountain ranges, so the Romans were rorced to come in from the cast. There they were confronted by Barca's deployment.
Knowing that the Romans outnumbered him in allies, he picked an area that would favor his troop's capabilities, and cancel the Roman numbers. He deployed on a height that had a rocky plateau surrounded by steep slopes.
Deep canyons protected his flanks, with the front covered by a 35 degree sloped rough that formed a natural glacis'. This continued down until it termingated in the banks of the waist high Guadiel stream. Scipio took one look and realized that taking Hasdrubal's position was going be tough. It did not looked as if it could be turned, so there was going have to be a frontal assault. The Romans' time was running out. Forced to camp in an area with little water, as well as on the third day of the Roman blockade the bad news that Mago Barca was on the way with a Punic relief force, made Scipio to act before he was ready.
THE FORCES
Romans
Publius Cornelius Scipio: Excellent General
Gaius C Laelius: Good General.
Two Roman and two allied Legions
approximately 21,000,
4,000 oarsmen taken from the fleet,
and formed into an extraordinarii,
3,000 cavalry (600 Equites, 1,200
Allied heavy cavalry, 1,200 Spanish light or
medium cavalry),
6000-12,000 allied
Ilergetes under the command of Indibilis
and Mandonius
Legions had 1200 Hastati, 1200 Princips,
600 Triarii, 1200 Velites.
The extraordinarii was probably
heavy infantry armed with javelin and
sword. They might have been given velite
equipment, but the sources are unclear on this.
Cavalry Equites would be heavy cavalry
javelin and sword.
Allied cavalry could be medium or
heavy, armed the same.
Spanish cavalry was likely light.
Spanish infantry could be light or
medium. Their use indicates the former,
but not all Spanish were engaged. I'd say
1000 missile troops (slingers, but not
Belarics), 30% of the remaining being
lightly equipped, the rest medium. Since
most rules give Scutarii (Spanish medium
infantry) special characieristics in rough
terrain they should have been used in the
frontal assault, but perhaps Scipio was
unsure of their loyalties.
Total Army
25,000 Romans
6-12,000 Allies
3,000 horse.
The Carthaginians
Hasdrubal Braca: Good General
Another Carthaginian general not
mentioned, but would be an average general.
5,000 African veteran infantry,
10,000 Spanish infantry,
8,000 African light infantry,
1,000 Baelaric slingers,
500 Liby-Phocnician heavy cavalry.
500 Celtic-Iberian heavy cavalry.
2000 Numidian/Spanish light cavalry.
The African veteran infantry is wearing
captured armor and carrying thrustin spears, not
pikes. They would fight in a phalanx.
Spanish infantry was about 40/60 mix of light and medium infantry. Because they were
facing their countrymen they may not have fought.
The heavy cavalry did not right, but the light did. Today's authors believe that the Numidians dismounted, but that was not the Numidian style of fighting. A Numidian noble, brought to Scipio after the battle claimed he was captured while leading his men after his horse threw him, light infantry has little fear of horse in rough terrain, so the Numidians may have been ineffective. Spanish horse if it did fight could dismount if wished. The African light infantry fought extremely, well until their flanks were turned by the legions. Livy takes time and singles them out in his account of the battle.
Total Army
13,000 Africans
11,000 Spanish
3,000 Cavalry
Battle of Baecula 208 BC
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