June 207 BC — the Second Punic War
Chapter V · The tide turns — The tide turns.
This month
- THE METAURUS — Nero has marched two hundred and fifty miles in seven days to join Livius in secret; the double consular trumpet tells Hasdrubal the truth. Caught on the river with his Gauls drunk, he charges into the Roman line and dies. (Polybius 11.1–3; Livy 27.46–49)
- Hasdrubal falls on the Metaurus — Seeing the day lost, Hasdrubal spurs into a Roman cohort and dies fighting; Polybius gives him the epitaph of a brave man who had done all that could be done. (Livy 27.49; Polybius 11.2)
Where the commanders stand
- Philip V of Macedon: Encamped at Thermon · since Summer 207 BC
- Syphax: In Siga · king of the masaesyli
- Masinissa: Operating in the region of the Punic armies in Spain · 5th year
- Hasdrubal son of Gisco: Operating in the region of Gades · 11th month
- Mago Barca: Operating in the region of Gades · 3rd month
- C. Claudius Nero: Encamped at Sena Gallica · since Summer 207 BC
- Q. Fabius Maximus: In Rome · princeps senatus
- Hannibal Barca: Encamped at the head of Hasdrubal · since Spring 207 BC
- Publius Cornelius Scipio: Operating in the region of Baecula · 2nd year
- Hasdrubal Barca: Encamped at the intercepted letter · since Summer 207 BC
- M. Claudius Marcellus: fell here, June 208 BC
- Publius & Gnaeus Scipio: fell here, June 211 BC