P. Cornelius Scipio Africanus

P. Cornelius Scipio, postea Africanus, anno CCXXXVI a.C.n. natus est, ex gente patricia nobilissima. Septemdecim annos natus, ut Polybius tradit, patrem vulneratum ad Ticinum servavit (anno CCXVIII); post cladem Cannensem (anno CCXVI) nobiles adulescentes Italiam relinquere parantes prohibuisse dicitur. Anno CCX, vix quinque et viginti annos natus, imperium in Hispania accepit.

Publius Cornelius Scipio, later Africanus, was born in 236 B.C. into one of Rome's noblest patrician houses. At seventeen, Polybius tells us, he saved his wounded father at the Ticinus (218 B.C.); after the disaster at Cannae (216) he is said to have stopped young nobles who planned to abandon Italy. In 210, at barely twenty-five, he was given command in Spain.

Carthaginem Novam anno CCIX cepit, Poenos ad Ilipam vicit (anno CCVI) et ex Hispania expulit. Carthagine Nova captivam formosam intactam suis reddidit, quod continentiae exemplum Polybius et Livius tradunt. Consul anno CCV, Fabii cunctationem in senatu superavit, in Africam transiit Masinissa socio, Carthaginienses Hannibalem revocare coegit, eumque ad Zamam anno CCII vicit, unde Africanus appellatus est.

He took New Carthage in 209 B.C., defeated the Carthaginians at Ilipa (206) and drove them from Spain. At New Carthage he returned a beautiful captive unharmed to her family, an example of restraint recorded by Polybius and Livy. Consul in 205, he overcame Fabius' caution in the senate, crossed to Africa with Masinissa as his ally, forced Carthage to recall Hannibal, and defeated him at Zama in 202 B.C., winning the name Africanus.

Censor et princeps senatus fuit et fratri legatus contra Antiochum militavit. A tribunis, Catone auctore, oppugnatus Roma discessit et Literni circa annum CLXXXIII mortuus est. Livius tradit eum ibi sepeliri iussisse, ne funus sibi in ingrata patria fieret. Ipsius verba fere nulla supersunt: eum ex Polybio, Livio, Somnio Scipionis Ciceronis cognoscimus.

He was censor and leader of the senate, and served as legate to his brother against Antiochus. Attacked by tribunes with Cato's backing, he left Rome and died at Liternum about 183 B.C. Livy says he ordered his tomb built there, so that his funeral would not be held in an ungrateful fatherland. Almost none of his own words survive: we know him from Polybius, Livy and Cicero's Dream of Scipio.

1. 236 a.C.n.236 B.C.Nascitur.Born.
2. 218 a.C.n.218 B.C.Patrem ad Ticinum servat.Saves his father at the Ticinus.
3. 210 a.C.n.210 B.C.Imperium in Hispania accipit.Given command in Spain.
4. 209 a.C.n.209 B.C.Carthaginem Novam capit.Takes New Carthage.
5. 205 a.C.n.205 B.C.Consul.Consul.
6. 202 a.C.n.202 B.C.Hannibalem ad Zamam vincit.Defeats Hannibal at Zama.
7. c. 183 a.C.n.c. 183 B.C.Literni moritur.Dies at Liternum.