Hasdrubal seeks his brother
After crossing the Alps, Hasdrubal advances into Italy with reinforcements. Hannibal waits in the south, but the Roman armies of Livius and Nero separately guard the two routes.
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Battle
Metaurus
207 BC
Nero leaves his front, joins Livius, and prevents the Barcid armies from uniting
Military history
How does Nero turn a wing blocked by the terrain into an outflanking force?
In 207 BCE, Hasdrubal Barca marches into Italy to join Hannibal. An intercepted message allows the consul Nero to reinforce Livius in the north. Hasdrubal discovers the Roman concentration, attempts a night withdrawal, and is forced to fight before his brother can be reached.
The intercepted message
Hasdrubal’s message does not reach Hannibal. The Romans understand the threat before the two Punic armies can unite.
A discreet march
According to Livy, Nero takes 6,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry, joins Livius at night, and shares the existing camp facilities. Hasdrubal nevertheless notices the presence of both consuls and attempts to withdraw.
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Chronological dossier
TicinusHow did the Numidians tip a cavalry battle that had remained undecided?TrebiaHannibal draws the Roman army towards an icy river and turns exhaustion into a tactical multiplier.Lake TrasimeneFog, hills and lake compress a Roman march into a prepared trap.CannaeHannibal envelops the Roman legions: the centre falls back, the wings are attacked, and the cavalry returns. A major victory that does not end the war.New CarthageHow do you open a fortified city by forcing its defenders to look elsewhere?IlipaHow can you beat an army’s wings without engaging its best troops in the centre?ZamaWhy do Hannibal’s veterans give way after resisting the Roman infantry?
Military history
Sources
Primary sourcePolybe, Histoires, livre XI
XI.1.2–12 : dispositif et détour de Néron ; XI.2–3 : mort d’Hasdrubal et pertes.
The frontal battle, terrain, cohorts moving behind the line, elephants and ancient casualty accounts.
View ↗Primary sourceTite-Live, Histoire romaine, livre XXVII
XXVII.43–46 : message, détachement et jonction ; 47 : retrait manqué ; 48–49 : bataille et pertes ; 50–51 : retour de Néron.
Prior concentration, Hasdrubal’s detection of the reinforcement, the lines’ composition, Nero’s manoeuvre and its consequences.
View ↗Specialist monographJohn F. Lazenby, Hannibal’s War: A Military History of the Second Punic War
Chapitre 13, le Métaure
Ordering the operational sequence, cautious map reconstruction, campaign constraints, and strategic significance.