Battle of Bagbrades

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Battle of Bagrades
Battle of Campi Magni

Date	203 BC
Location	Northern Africa
Result	Roman victory

Belligerents

Carthage
Numidia

Roman Republic

Commanders

Hasdrubal Gisco
Syphax

Scipio Africanus

v • d • e

Second Punic War

Saguntum – Lilybaeum – Rhone – Ticinus – Trebia – Cissa – Lake Trasimene – Ebro River – Ager Falernus – Geronium – Cannae – 1st Nola – Dertosa – 2nd Nola – Cornus – 3rd Nola – 1st Beneventum – 1st Tarentum – 1st Capua – 2nd Beneventum – Silarus – 1st Herdonia – Syracuse – Upper Baetis – 2nd Capua – 2nd Herdonia – Numistro – Asculum – 2nd Tarentum – Baecula – Grumentum – Metaurus – New Carthage – Ilipa – Crotona – Utica – Great Plains – Cirta – Po Valley – Zama

The Battle of Bagrades (also known as Battle of Campi Magni, Great Plains) was fought in 203 BC between a combined Carthaginian and Numidian force, and the Roman army of Scipio Africanus. The Carthaginians were led by Hasdrubal Gisco, while the Numidians were led by Syphax.

After recent defeat at Utica, the Carthaginian forces seemed in dire straits when 4,000 Celtiberians and Celtic warriors arrived to support the disheartened army. At the Battle of Bagrades Hasdrubal Gisco placed the Celtiberians and Celtic warriors in the center flanked by his Carthaginian and Numidian forces. When the battle commenced the Numidians were almost immediately routed. The Carthaginian forces held for a little longer but were forced to retreat. Meanwhile in the center the Celts and Celtiberians held off the Roman forces. When they discovered they were cut off with no hope of lasting the day, they fell back to regroup then turned and charged in the Romans and fought to the death, buying precious time for the rest of the Carthaginian army to retreat.

Scipio's victory forced Carthage to recall Hannibal from Italy.