Battle of Ebro River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Ebro River
Part of the Second Punic War
1852 illustration of the battle
Date Spring, 217 BC Location Mouth of Ebro River, present-day Spain 40°43′12″N 0°51′47″E / 40.72000°N 0.86306°E / 40.72000; 0.86306 Result Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Republic Massalia	Carthage
Commanders and leaders
Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus	Himilco
Strength
35 Quinqueremes and Triremes	40 Quinqueremes
Casualties and losses
Unknown	29 quinqueremes 4 sunk 25 captured

The Battle of Ebro River was a major naval battle. It happened near the mouth of the Ebro River in the spring of 217 BC. The battle was fought between the powerful navies of Carthage and the Roman Republic.

The Carthaginian fleet had about 40 large warships called quinqueremes. It was led by a commander named Himilco. The Roman fleet had 35 ships and was led by Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus. Hasdrubal Barca, a Carthaginian general in Spain, had planned this attack. He wanted to destroy a Roman base north of the Ebro River.

However, the Carthaginian navy was completely defeated. The Roman ships launched a surprise attack. Carthage lost 29 ships and control of the seas around Spain. This victory made the Romans look even stronger in Spain. It also caused some local tribes who were under Carthaginian rule to rebel.

How the Battle of Ebro River Started

Roman Control and Carthaginian Plans

After a battle in 218 BC, a Roman general named Gnaeus Scipio took control. He secured the areas north of the Ebro River in Spain. He also raided Carthaginian lands south of the river. His main base was at Tarraco. Rome did not send him many extra soldiers.

Meanwhile, Hasdrubal Barca, the Carthaginian leader in Spain, gathered more soldiers. He added many local Spanish fighters to his army. The Carthaginian navy in Spain had 32 quinqueremes and 5 triremes. These were large warships. This was after Hannibal had left Spain.

Building Up the Fleets

During the winter of 218 BC, Hasdrubal added 10 more quinqueremes to his fleet. He also trained new crews to sail them. In the spring of 217 BC, Hasdrubal started a joint attack. He moved his army and navy towards Roman territory.

Hasdrubal led the army himself. We do not know exactly how many soldiers he had. His second-in-command, Himilco, led the navy. The army and navy traveled together along the coast. The ships would land on the beach next to the army at night.

Roman Strategy

Gnaeus Scipio was worried that the Carthaginian army was much larger than his own. So, he decided to fight a naval battle instead. He could only get 35 quinqueremes ready for battle. Some Roman ships had been sent back to Italy. Also, some sailors were needed to guard Roman bases.

The Battle of Ebro River

A Surprise Attack

When the Carthaginian fleet reached the Ebro River, they anchored near its mouth. The sailors and crew left their ships to find food. This was because the fleet did not have supply ships with them. Hasdrubal had sent out scouts to watch for Roman activity. But Himilco did not have any ships scouting at sea.

Two ships from Massalia (a Roman ally) found the Carthaginian fleet. They were anchored and not expecting an attack. The Massalian ships secretly left and warned Gnaeus Scipio. The Roman fleet had sailed from Tarraco. They were only about 10 miles north of the Carthaginian position when the warning arrived.

Carthaginian Confusion

Gnaeus Scipio put his best soldiers on his ships. Then he sailed to attack the Carthaginian fleet. Hasdrubal's army scouts saw the Roman fleet coming first. They warned the Carthaginian navy using fire signals.

Most of the Carthaginian crews were still looking for food. They rushed back to their ships. They had to sail out in a very messy way. There was little organization. Some ships did not have enough crew because of the surprise attack. As Himilco sailed out, Hasdrubal lined up his army on the shore. He wanted to encourage his fleet.

The Fight on the Water

The Carthaginian fleet was not as strong as its numbers suggested. About a quarter of their ships had newly trained crews. The Romans formed two lines. Roman ships were in front, and Massalian ships were behind them. The Roman formation and the Massalian sailors' skill helped them. This canceled out the Carthaginian ships' ability to move quickly.

The Romans attacked the Carthaginian ships as they came out of the river. They rammed and sank four ships. They also boarded and captured two more. The Carthaginian crews then lost hope. They steered their ships to the beach and ran to join their army. The Romans then pulled away 23 of the beached ships.

What Happened After the Battle

Carthage's Setback

This defeat was very important in the long run. Hasdrubal had to march his army back to Cartagena. He was worried about Roman attacks from the sea on Carthaginian lands. The Carthaginian navy in Spain was badly damaged. Hasdrubal had to either ask Carthage for more ships or build new ones. He did neither.

The Spanish crews in the battle had not fought well. Their dismissal caused a rebellion among the Turdetani tribe. Carthage had to send 4,000 foot soldiers and 500 horsemen to Hasdrubal. Hasdrubal spent all of 216 BC fighting these rebels.

Roman Control of the Seas

In 217 BC, the main Carthaginian fleet captured a supply fleet. This fleet was headed for Spain off the coast of Italy. Publius Cornelius Scipio arrived in Spain in the fall of that year. He brought 8,000 soldiers. The Roman Senate had told him to stop any help from reaching Hannibal in Italy from Spain. This was the only time Rome sent major reinforcements to Spain before 211 BC.

The Scipio brothers, Gnaeus and Publius, would raid Carthaginian Spain. They would later meet Hasdrubal at the Battle of Dertosa in 215 BC. Gnaeus Scipio had made sure that Roman supplies by sea would be safe. He also ensured that the Roman fleet in Spain could attack Carthaginian areas whenever they wanted. The only other major naval attack against the Romans from Spain would be by Mago Barca to Italy in 204 BC.

Images for kids

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  1852 illustration of the battle

See also

In Spanish: Batalla del río Ebro para niños