Summary of Book XXI
IN this book is described the beginning of the Second
Punic War, and how Hannibal, the general of the
Phoenicians, crossed the river Ebro in violation of the
treaty. Besieging Saguntum, a city belonging to allies
of the Roman People, he captured it in the eighth
month. These injuries led to the dispatch of ambassadors to the Carthaginians, to complain. On their
refusing satisfaction, war was declared against Carthage.
Hannibal, after surmounting the passes of the Pyrenees,
traversed Gaul—having routed the Volcae, who had
attempted to stop him—and arrived at the Alps. After
a troublesome passage of these mountains, in the course
of which he also defeated in several battles the Gallic
mountaineers, when they blocked his way, he descended
into Italy and routed the Romans in a cavalry battle
near the river Ticinus. In this battle Publius Cornelius
Scipio was wounded and was saved by his son, who
later received the name of Africanus. Again a Roman
army was routed near the river Trebia. After this
Hannibal crossed the Apennines, with great distress to
his soldiers, because of violent storms. In Spain Gnaeus
Cornelius Scipio fought successfully against the Phoenicians and captured the enemy's general, Mago.
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