Romans.

Shortly after, Scipio fought Hasdrubal, the brother of Hannibal, at
BAECULAE, in the upper valley of the Baetis (Guadalquivir); but the
battle was not decisive, for Hasdrubal was soon seen crossing the
Pyrenees, with a considerable force, on his way to Italy. He spent the
winter (209-208) in Gaul.

The two Carthaginian generals now in Spain, Mago, and Hasdrubal, the
son of Gisco, retired, the latter to Lusitania, the former to the
Baleares, to wait for reinforcements from home.

The next year another battle was fought near Baecula, resulting in the
total defeat of the Carthaginians, who retreated to Gadus, in the
southwestern part of Spain.

The country being now (206) under Roman influence, Scipio crossed the
straits to Africa, and visited the Numidian princes, SYPHAX and
MASINISSA, whom he hoped to stir up against Carthage. On his return,
after quelling a mutiny of the soldiers, who were dissatisfied about
their pay, he resigned his command, and started for Rome, where he
intended to become a candidate for the consulship.


OPERATIONS IN ITALY.

The news of the approach of Hasdrubal caused intense anxiety at Rome.
Every nerve was strained to prevent the union of the two brothers. The
Consuls for this year (207) were GAIUS CLAUDIUS NERO, a patrician, and
MARCUS LIVIUS, a plebeian. To the former was intrusted the task of