04-20-2019, 07:15 AM
Appian gives Laelius as the commander on the Roman right wing and he is commanding cavalry because he has Numidians opposite his position. Octavius is mentioned as the Roman commander on the left, but he would be commanding a body of infantry, again because the enemy troops he is fighting are Ligurians and Celts, not the cavalry. (Appian 9.44)
But anyhow, I do still suspect that these are really two different battles - the infantry battle in which Appian gives details about the Roman commanders is from some earlier fiction and the battle itself, in which Laelius was the senior Roman commander present supported by Massinissa.
Defeat in a cavalry battle, however minor would have worsened Hannibal`s situation. He was, from the start, inferior in cavalry numbers, but now there was little hope of reinforcement from Vermina, and consequently he was compelled to negotiate a truce with Scipio. The field commanders reach an agreement and so both armies returned to their operational bases. Peace negotiations would follow once the threat of Vermina`s forces were removed.
But anyhow, I do still suspect that these are really two different battles - the infantry battle in which Appian gives details about the Roman commanders is from some earlier fiction and the battle itself, in which Laelius was the senior Roman commander present supported by Massinissa.
Defeat in a cavalry battle, however minor would have worsened Hannibal`s situation. He was, from the start, inferior in cavalry numbers, but now there was little hope of reinforcement from Vermina, and consequently he was compelled to negotiate a truce with Scipio. The field commanders reach an agreement and so both armies returned to their operational bases. Peace negotiations would follow once the threat of Vermina`s forces were removed.
