Following Hasdrubal Barca — the Second Punic War

Hasdrubal Barca (c. 245 – 207 BC), Carthage. Hannibal's younger brother, left to hold Spain in 218. Slipped past Scipio after Baecula and brought a second army over the Alps — to die on the Metaurus.

Commander in Spain.

Killed at the Metaurus, June 207 BC; his head was thrown before the outposts of his brother’s camp.

Fell June 207 BC. Fell in the rout at the Metaurus (Polybius 11.1–3; Livy 27.49).

The itinerary — 7 stops, Spring 208 BC to Summer 207 BC

  1. Slipping the net — 208 BC: Beaten at Baecula but not caught: Hasdrubal Barca breaks north with his treasury and elephants, under orders to do what his brother did ten years before — bring an army to Italy. (Polybius 10.39–40; Livy 27.19–20)
  2. The western passes — Late 208 BC: Avoiding Scipio and the guarded eastern road, he crosses the Pyrenees near the Ocean — through the western passes into Gaul. (Livy 27.19–20)
  3. Winter among the Arverni — Winter 208/207 BC: A winter recruiting Gauls with Punic gold. Where Hannibal fought his way through, Hasdrubal’s silver opens every valley — the Alps, he will say, are no longer a wall. (Livy 27.39)
  4. A brother’s road — Spring 207 BC: The second Barcid crossing of the Alps — faster and nearly bloodless, on paths beaten open ten years before, with mountain tribes now selling food instead of rolling boulders. (Livy 27.39; Appian, Hannibalic War 52)
  5. Delay at Placentia — Spring 207 BC: A futile siege of the Latin colony that beat off Hannibal too — weeks lost that the couriers riding south cannot buy back. (Livy 27.39)
  6. The intercepted letter — June 207 BC: His despatch to Hannibal — join me in Umbria — is captured. Nero force-marches 7,000 picked men 250 miles north in secret and slips into Livius’ camp by night. Six armies converge on the Metaurus. (Livy 27.43–46)
  7. The Metaurus — 23 June 207 BC: Trapped by a river he cannot ford, betrayed by deserting guides, Hasdrubal turns and dies fighting — “as the son of Hamilcar and the brother of Hannibal.” The war in Italy is decided. (Polybius 11.1–3; Livy 27.46–49)

Battles fought

  • Naval Battle of the Ebro — Spring 217 BC — defeat
  • Battle of Dertosa (Ibera) — Spring 215 BC — defeat
  • Battles of the Upper Baetis — Spring 211 BC — victory
  • Battle of Baecula — Spring 208 BC — defeat
  • Siege of Placentia — Spring 207 BC — defeat
  • Battle of the Metaurus — Summer 207 BC — defeat