203 BC Facts for Kids

Millennium:	1st millennium BC
Centuries:	4th century BC – 3rd century BC – 2nd century BC
Decades:	230s BC 220s BC 210s BC – 200s BC – 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC
Years:	206 BC 205 BC 204 BC – 203 BC – 202 BC 201 BC 200 BC

203 BC by topic
Politics
State leaders – Sovereign states
Birth and death categories
Births – Deaths
Establishments and disestablishments categories
Establishments – Disestablishments

203 BC in various calendars
Gregorian calendar	203 BC CCII BC
Ab urbe condita	551
Ancient Egypt era	XXXIII dynasty, 121
- Pharaoh	Ptolemy V Epiphanes, 1
Ancient Greek era	144th Olympiad, year 2
Assyrian calendar	4548
Balinese saka calendar	N/A
Bengali calendar	−795
Berber calendar	748
Buddhist calendar	342
Burmese calendar	−840
Byzantine calendar	5306–5307
Chinese calendar	丁酉年 (Fire Rooster) 2494 or 2434 — to — 戊戌年 (Earth Dog) 2495 or 2435
Coptic calendar	−486 – −485
Discordian calendar	964
Ethiopian calendar	−210 – −209
Hebrew calendar	3558–3559
Hindu calendars
- Vikram Samvat	−146 – −145
- Shaka Samvat	N/A
- Kali Yuga	2898–2899
Holocene calendar	9798
Iranian calendar	824 BP – 823 BP
Islamic calendar	849 BH – 848 BH
Javanese calendar	N/A
Julian calendar	N/A
Korean calendar	2131
Minguo calendar	2114 before ROC 民前2114年
Nanakshahi calendar	−1670
Seleucid era	109/110 AG
Thai solar calendar	340–341
Tibetan calendar	阴火鸡年 (female Fire-Rooster) −76 or −457 or −1229 — to — 阳土狗年 (male Earth-Dog) −75 or −456 or −1228

The year 203 BC was a time of big changes, especially for the Romans and the Carthaginians. It was part of the old Roman calendar system. Many important events happened, especially during the Second Punic War, which was a huge conflict between Rome and Carthage.

Major Events of 203 BC

War in Carthage

Roman Attacks in North Africa

The Roman general, Publius Cornelius Scipio, was very clever. He launched a surprise attack on the Carthaginian army camp. He completely destroyed it! Then, he won a major battle called the Battle of the Great Plains. Two important leaders, the Numidian king Syphax and the Carthaginian leader Hasdrubal Gisco, managed to escape.

Capturing King Syphax

Another Roman general, Gaius Laelius, worked with Rome's Numidian friend, Masinissa. They chased King Syphax all the way to Cirta, which was the capital city of Numidia. Syphax was captured there. He later died in an Italian town called Alba Fucens.

Masinissa Becomes King

Because of his loyalty to Rome, Masinissa became the king of two big Numidian tribes: the Massyli and the Massaesyli. He stayed a very strong and loyal friend to the Romans for a long time.

Hannibal Returns Home

After these defeats, Hasdrubal Gisco convinced the Carthaginians to build a new army. They also sent an urgent message to Hannibal, their most famous general, telling him to come home from Italy. Hannibal finally left Italy and returned to Carthage to help his people.

Mago Barca's Last Battle

Meanwhile, another Carthaginian general named Mago Barca was fighting the Romans in Cisalpine Gaul (which is northern Italy today). He was defeated and badly wounded in a battle. Sadly, he died from his injuries while sailing back to Carthage.

Peace Talks and New Plans

Carthage and Rome tried to make a peace agreement. The Carthaginian armies agreed to Scipio's tough demands. But Hannibal, who had just returned, had other ideas. He started getting the army ready for another big fight!

Important People Who Died in 203 BC

Mago Barca: He was a Carthaginian general. He fought alongside his brother Hannibal during the Second Punic War against Rome. He died from battle wounds while returning to Carthage. He was born around 243 BC.
Fabius Maximus Cunctator: He was a famous Roman general and a wise leader. He was known for his strategy of avoiding direct battles with Hannibal. He was born around 275 BC.
Syphax: He was the king of Numidia. He was an ally of the Carthaginians during the Second Punic War against Rome. He was captured by the Romans and died in Italy.

203 BC facts for kids