THE SECOND PUNIC WAR.--FROM THE PASSAGE OF THE PYRENEES TO THE BATTLE
OF CANNAE. (218-216.)

In the spring of 218 Hannibal started from Carthágo Nova to invade
Italy. His army consisted of 90,000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry, and 37
elephants. His march to the Pyrenees occupied two months, owing to the
opposition of the Spanish allies of Rome. Hannibal now sent back a
part of his troops, retaining 50,000 infantry and 9,000 cavalry, all
veterans. With these he crossed the mountains, and marched along the
coast by Narbo (Narbonne) and Nemansus (Nîmes), through the Celtic
territory, with little opposition. The last of July found him on the
banks of the Rhone, opposite Avenio (Avignon). The Romans were
astonished at the rapidity of his movements.

The Consuls of the year were SCIPIO and SEMPRONIUS. The former had
been in Northern Italy, leisurely collecting forces to attack Hannibal
in Spain; the latter was in Sicily, making preparations to invade
Africa. Scipio set sail for Spain, touching at Massilia near the end
of June. Learning there for the first time that Hannibal had already
left Spain, he hoped to intercept him on the Rhone. The Celtic tribes
of the neighborhood were won over to his side. Troops collected from
these were stationed along the river, but Scipio's main army remained
at Massilia. It was Hannibal's policy to cross the river before Scipio
arrived with his troops. He obtained all the boats possible, and
constructed numerous rafts to transport his main body of troops. A
detachment of soldiers was sent up the river with orders to cross at
the first available place, and, returning on the opposite bank, to
surprise the Celtic forces in the rear. The plan succeeded. The Celts
fled in confusion, and the road to the Alps was opened. Thus Scipio