Was Scipio Africanus the greatest Roman general? #shorts

Scipio Africanus was a Roman statesman and general famed for his humility and bravery.

By 211 BCE Rome was on its knees as Hannibal Barca, Rome's greatest adversary was running rampant through Italy threatening to destroy Rome.

Out of sheer desperation and as no one else wanted the job, The senate named Scipio procounsel of Rome's armies at just 26 years of age.

After years of Roman defeats at the hands of the Carthaginians, Scipio had studied his adversary closely and began to win battle after battle, Pushing Hannibal out of Spain and finally ending the Carthaginian threat in a decisive victory in Africa in 202 BCE after never losing a single battle.

Now in his mid thirties and after returning to Rome a hero he was deemed too powerful by the Roman Senate and lived out the rest of his days in self imposed exile.

[srilanka]

Scipio Was buried outside of rome. He said "Ungrateful fatherland you shall not even have my bones"

[JokkazArt]

Came in. Wrecked house. Retired.

What a boss🔥

[Frosty_tha_Snowman]

He helped Rome.. saved Rome - and when the senate turned its back on him - rather than lash out, he did the humble thing for the greater good, and peacefully removed himself, to keep things in order... what a legend.

[locusta]

actually before basically exiling himself in protest with the senate he won against the Syrians taking part of Greece under Rome control . Than he didn't invade the Syrians territories in Asia even having the possibility . Basically the senate accused him to had took money from the Syrians to not invade them but because was already considered a demi-god among the plebes the Senate decided to not arrest and not kill him . He was so disgusted to be accused of betrayal that decided to go living near Naples . He even said :''ungrateful country you shall not have my bones ''(after death)

[SL]

Wow, they used him to save their skins then betrayed him by shunning him.

[geraldg]

He should have let Hannibal destroy Rome.

[FrshJurassicPrnceYA]

Imagine being such a brilliant general who saved his nation, only to be betrayed by that very same nation. Well, Scipio’s name lives on.

[saidhammar]

He would never have beaten Hannibal without Massinissa.

[RecoveringAhole]

I mean he helped Rome in the war against Greece so.. he didn’t go into exile right away.

[surfcathy]

Scipio was a great man !! A true Roman !!! He could never be bought and fought for his home and community !!

[johnmaguire]

Scipio for Classical Rome, Belasarius for Byzantine Roman Empire. Can’t go wrong with either

[hamzasalhi]

Its even a shame to compare him to the great Hannibal .
Scorpio was unconditional supplied by the roman republic at that time and they supported him with trained troupes money in contrast of the great Hannibal who was betrayed by the Carthagian Senate and had to deal with desperate troupes, many languages, ethnicities in his army that was payed by him self .
Its like comparing apples to oranges

[Smurfen]

Scipio retired in his 50s, not 30s.. Africanus played a huge role in the Roman Seleucid wara where he was Consul against 2 times 15years after Zama, he was also governor of Asia, Legatus in the absence of Praetors and Consuls. He retired and left because he and his brother another famous Cornelian gens ex Consul were accused of accepting bribes from the Seleucid king and they was trialed. That is why he retired.

[cyfertea]

ok even though I like Hannibal, crossing the alps was the dumbest idea of all time. Not only did he cut himself from any possible reinforcements, because the only possible reinforcement route is the alps since Rome dominated the sea at the time, he also placed himself in a situation where he's stuck no matter how many times he won. Hannibal is placed in a situation where no matter how many great victories he has, is ultimately useless, since he can't win the war there, Rome will simply retake the city he takes, all the roman loses will be easily replenished and Hannibal can't do that. So Hannibal's little rampage in rome is impressive but kinda useless, because he placed himself in a position where he can't make a proper change. While he was stuck there, Rome literally went on the offensiv attacking Iberia, and what can Hanniba do about it? Nothing, he's still stuck in italy. Literally Carthage is losing while their best general is still stuck in bloody italy. And what did Hannibal accomplished? Nothing. Did he take rome? No. Did he threatened rome? At first yes but later on, no. A those years of him fighting in italy was wasted, and ultimately achieved an amazing feat of nothing.

[robduncan]

Ahem... Castor and Pollux are the greatest Generals of antiquity. 😉

[hannibalbarca]

hannibal was not in spain
+ they have met in 2 battels
the first hannibal have won and scipio father was killed
the second was in zama

[mrscanners.]

I say Scipio, with Gaius Julius Caesar and Agrippa are the top free ROMAN Generals!!!! also Rome had a few other great Generals too, Aurelian, Balisarius and Germanicus too by 29 was great

[Neater_profile]

Scipio wasn't undefeated. He lost a couple of battles before facing Hannibal. The only reason he even won Zama is because Hannibal wasn't able to mobilise his veterans with whom he'd won all these battles as well as his cavalry turning on him and defecting to Scipio . Were he able to mobilise his experienced veteran troops Scipio would have been kicked out of Africa.

[MrYou-nf]

So his own country used him and spat him out like a used Bud.Or chewing gum

His country shunned him because he was too good too smart?

Could you imagine fighting for people you don't know As an idealist and when you come back home those same people kick you out of your own home Is shutting you mistreating you?


I too have to think twice before getting involved successfully for anything for anybody

The thank you, his countryman gave him.What to exile his box side

That's so ungrateful

[jonellhaney]

He doesn't seem like he was of Caucasian descent.