Following Mago Barca — the Second Punic War

Mago Barca (c. 243 – 203 BC), Carthage. The youngest Barcid: sprang the Trebia ambush, poured the rings of Cannae onto the floor of the Carthaginian senate, fought eight years in Spain, and opened a last front in Liguria.

Wounded in Insubria; died of the wound at sea off Sardinia, on the voyage home, 203 BC.

Fell October 203 BC. Livy 30.19: died of his wound off Sardinia as the fleet sailed for Carthage.

The itinerary — 19 stops, Summer 216 BC to Autumn 203 BC

  1. Cannae — Summer 216 BC: Commands the centre beside his brother. (Polybius 3.114)
  2. Carthage — Autumn 216 BC: The gold rings poured out before the senate; reinforcements voted, then diverted to Spain. (Livy 23.11–13; 23.32)
  3. New Carthage — Summer 215 BC: Lands with 12,000 foot, 1,500 horse and twenty elephants. (Livy 23.32; 23.49)
  4. Iliturgi — Summer 215 BC: Beaten at Iliturgi and Intibili by the Scipios. (Livy 23.49)
  5. The Upper Baetis, from Castulo — Autumn 215 BC: The long Spanish war with Hasdrubal Gisco; Publius Scipio destroyed near Castulo, May 211. (Livy 24.41–42; 25.32–34)
  6. Ilorci — Summer 211 BC: The three Punic armies converge on Gnaeus. (Livy 25.35–36)
  7. Gades — Summer 211 BC: Near the Pillars when Scipio lands; too far to save New Carthage. (Polybius 10.7)
  8. Portus Magonis, Minorca — Autumn 208 BC: Sent to the Balearics to hire slingers after Baecula. (Livy 27.20)
  9. Gades — Spring 207 BC: Beaten by Silanus in Celtiberia; joins Gisco at Gades to raise the last army. (Livy 28.1–2; 28.12)
  10. Ilipa — Spring 206 BC (Livy 28.12–16; Polybius 11.20–24)
  11. Gades — Summer 206 BC (Livy 28.23; 28.30–31)
  12. Off New Carthage — Autumn 206 BC: A surprise attack on New Carthage fails; Gades shuts its gates to him. (Livy 28.36)
  13. Ebusus — Autumn 206 BC (Livy 28.37)
  14. Portus Magonis, Minorca — Autumn 206 BC: Winters on Minorca; the harbour keeps his name. (Livy 28.37)
  15. Genua — Summer 205 BC: Genua taken and razed; the Ligurian front opens. (Livy 28.46)
  16. Savo and the Ligurian hills — Summer 205 BC: Two winters among the Ingauni, recruiting Gauls and Ligurians. (Livy 28.46; 29.5; 30.18)
  17. Insubria — Spring 203 BC: Beaten by Quinctilius Varus and Cornelius Cethegus; wounded in the thigh. (Livy 30.18)
  18. The Ligurian coast — Summer 203 BC: The recall from Carthage finds him on the coast. (Livy 30.19)
  19. At sea off Sardinia — Autumn 203 BC: Dies of his wound as the fleet passes Sardinia. (Livy 30.19)

Battles fought

  • Battle of the Trebia — Winter 218 BC — victory
  • Battle of Cannae — Summer 216 BC — victory
  • Battles of the Upper Baetis — Spring 211 BC — victory
  • Battle of Ilipa — Spring 206 BC — defeat
  • Battle in Insubria — Spring 203 BC — defeat