Qart Hadasht, the great feat of Scipio in Hispania
Authors: Javier Sagredo, Dori López, Héctor Gutiérrez (Burgos), Iker Ibarra (Bilbao) and Isaac
Eceiza (Madrid)
Year 209 BC, our beloved Republic is being attacked by the implacable Hannibal Barca,
undefeated leader of the Carthaginians. Many friends, family, good legionaries have succumbed
under the Punic steel: my father Publio and I myself have been wounded in the terrible
defeat of Canae.
The Barcida must be stopped and it must be on his land, with the same strategy as his! Alea jacta est!
With my two legions landed in Emporion and with the help of my faithful Lelio and Lucio
We trained and recruited auxiliaries among the Hispanic tribes allied with Rome. Many still
They remember the Punic betrayal that annihilated Saguntum and cry out for revenge. That day is about
arrive.
With Lelio in command of the fleet, the galleys depart along the coast while I, Publio
Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus left on forced marches at the head of my legions towards Qart
Hadasht, the Carthaginian capital in Hispania. It has a reputation for being impregnable, with a magnificent
port and formidable walls that surround the isthmus where the city sits.
We have already set up camp and I order the light troops and a cohort to advance
towards the main door. The Punics come out to meet us, the clash is brutal and my
brave men push the Punics to the walls from where they throw innumerable
spears and stones. It's time to retreat to the shelter of the scutum.
Assault after assault my legionaries die without crowning their walls and time is of the essence: both
Punic armies that are in Baetica and Lusitanian have been warned, soon
They will come to the aid of the city and then I will be lost. There is one last strategy:
victory or death.
My explorers see that, with the flow of the low tide, the lagoon that surrounds one of the
The sides of the wall descend in level and the Punics, confident in their walls and the water
They have excessive troops defending that sector. It is our opportunity!
He ordered a total attack, Lelio from the ships assaulted the walls with the embarked troops.
port, while my brother Lucio at the head of the cavalry surrounds the lagoon and attacks from the
less protected southern wall from where the Punic cavalry comes out to meet them.
A cohort of chosen legionaries under the command of the most daring centurions will assault my
mark the wall of the lagoon and open the gates of the city. Myself in front of the bulk of
I will lead the legions to the frontal assault on the impenetrable gates and their formidable walls.
It's all or nothing and after fierce fighting the city gates open and the defenders
Carthaginians with their general Mago at the head, collapse.
Victory is ours!! Qart Hadasht has fallen!!
Rome Vincit, Cartago Nova will be Roman from now on and forever!!
The next to be defeated will be Bárcida himself, the fearsome Hannibal...but that will be another
history.
#playmobil #romans #carthage #anibal #aesclick #valencia