Rome\'s most able general?

[Severus]

It's hardly a fair thing to say that Scipio defeated Hannibal at his own game.

Scipio's ability to assess the whole situation and employ his own tricks and strategy certainly seems to me that he was able to do something more with his army than blunder forward (which seemed to be the standard Roman tactic in the second Punic war)

At the battle of Zama Hannibal commanded an army that was not even his own. It was largely made up of raw conscripts, mercenaries and demoralized native troops. Treachery played a crucial part in Scipio's victory.

From the sources I have read Hannibal seemed to have a goodly portion of his veteran troops. And Scipio was left to raise his own army by the Senate. Scipio's use of cavalry at the Zama rivals (and actually beat) Hannibal's use of horsemen. It also shows that Scipio was able to grasp how important combined arms were to winning a battle.

Spain was where Scipio showed his greatest generalship abilities, IMO.

Masterful generalship in Spain, no arguments there, but his accomplishments in Africa are incredible in their own right. His vision of invading Africa was openly attacked by the Senate and basically he was left to orchestrate it as a single man.

I am just echoing Paullus Scipio, but I enjoy the debate. I always end up knowing more after discussing things on this forum.

Matt Webster