The Battlefield
It would appear that Hasdrubal made camp on the heights between the Arroyos de la Muela and the Canada Baeza with the town of Baecula to his rear. This height towers 1,350 feet, the plateau, is 350 feet lower (1,000 feet) surrounded by sharply sloping ground. The battle was fought first on the slopes then culminated on the plateau. The plateau is about 1 3/4 of a mile wide. The slopes are very rocky, with many fair sized stones. These were used as missiles by both sides. The Roman camp a mile and 3/4 of a mile across, faced west its right flank on the Linares Road, its left on the Irroyo de Tobarias.
Because of the steep walls of the two arroyos, Hasdrubal's flanks were protected. The Rio Guadiel flows about 3/4 of mile from the plateau around the base of the hill in a gentle bow shape, 1/2 a mile from the Roman camp. The ground slopes up sharply about 1/2 a mile, between 30-35 degrees until it reaches the plateau. It then stays rather IeveI for about 1/4 of a mile when it slopes up again. This slope is not as steep - between 15-20 degrees peaking at 1,350 ft. The Baecula - Linares road runs across the back of the heights and descends to Baecula. This is where Hasdrubal made camp.
The Battle
Had Scipio not drilled his army during the winter, it is unlikely it could have carried out the task it was now assigned. First, he divided his legions into cohorts. This apparently was the organizational building block of the allied legion. Scipio used it because it was apparent that this battle could not be won by the traditional tactics of the Legion. The three lines would be useless in this ground. Now divided into cohorts of 500 men each. the legions were much more maneuverable. Scipio started the battle by sending I cohort to guard the Linares road, another into the Arrovo de Canada. Since there is no mention of Roman cavalry, it was either left in camp, or was used to sfiffen the Linares' cohort.
Next he sent all the Velites (4,800) to attack the light troops (8,000) covering the slopes with the oarsmen (4000) in support.
Then he divided the remaining legions into two columns. The right column (7,600) tic commanded while the left column was under Laclius. He now waited.
What about all the Spanish? They are not mentioned in our accounts, either they were used to guard the columns' heads or they were used to add weight to the center attack. There is also a possibility that Scipio did not utilize them at all.
At any rate the fight in the center was going well, the heaver equipped velites were engaging the lightly armed Africans and pushing them back. Hasdrubal now committed his Belarics and Numidian cavalry. This must mean that the Roman lights had pushed the Africans back unto the plateau's level edge (hard to skirmish on a horse on a 30 degree slope). There, the Africans, heartened by the additional troops, stiffened and the Romans could not make headway.
To break the deadlock and throw the Romans back down the hill Hasdrubal began to lead out his African heavy infantry from the high camp. (It's interesting that neither sides' Spanish allies are mentioned taking part in the battle. It's likely neither side wanted to risk bad feelings or defections by forcing them to fight kin.)
Meanwhile Scipio's scouts had found tracks leading up from both arroyos onto the plateau. This what the Roman commander had been waiting for. He entered the Arroyo de le Mulea with his column, ordering Laclius to enter the other Arroyo.
Hasdrubal was now forming his heavy infantry (5,000) to attack. The Roman lights had pretty much shot their bolt and if it was not for the oarsmen supporting them, they might have retreated earlier. Hasdrubal was unaware of the paths compromising his flanks, or neglected to guard them. (One wonders if Hannibal would lave made the same mistake? Apparently Hasdrubal was not as good as a tactician as his brother.)
Scipio's appearance on Hasdrubal's flank with two understrength legions threw the Punic commander into a panic. As his vets changed front to confront this new threat, Laelius showed up on the vets' rear with his two legions.
This was too much for the Africans who broke and fell back to their camp. The legions now split again, two covered their colleagues' rear to keep Hasdrubal from interfering with the fight on the plateau while the other two took the African and Numidians from behind. Hasdrubal had no intention of interfering. He saw the battle was lost, and concentrated on extracting what army he could save. He had already evacuated his elephants, and his bodyguard (the Liby-Phoenicians?) had left with his paychest.
Scipio completed his double-envelopment destroying or capturing 10,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry. The Romans may have lost 2,000 (sources are vague). Hasdrubal retreated. He had lost a battle, but preserved his vets, Spanish and elephants. He still had a date with destiny in Italy at the Metaurus.
Battle of Baecula 208 BC
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