ng her
Greek allies with a small fleet, while she devoted her energies to the
other theatres of war.

*The war in Spain: 218-207 B. C.* The fall of Capua came at a moment most
opportune for the Romans, since they had immediate need to send
reinforcements to Spain. Thither, as we have seen, they had sent an army
in 218 B. C. under Gnaeus Scipio, who obtained a foothold north of the
Ebro. In the next year he was joined by his brother Publius Cornelius.
Thereupon the Romans crossed the Ebro and invaded the Carthaginian
dominions to the south. A revolt of the Numidians caused the recall of
Hasdrubal to Africa, and the Romans were able to capture Saguntum and
induce many Spanish tribes to desert the Carthaginian cause. However, upon
the return of Hasdrubal and the arrival of reinforcements from Carthage,
the Carthaginian commanders united their forces and crushed the two Roman
armies one after the other (211 B. C.). Both the Scipios fell in battle
and the Carthaginians recovered all their territory south of the Ebro.

*Publius Cornelius Scipio sent to Spain: 210 B. C.* Undismayed by these
disasters the Romans determined to continue their efforts to conquer Spain
because of its importance as a recruiting ground for the Carthaginian
armies and because the continuance of the war there prevented
reinforcements being sent to Hannibal in Italy. The fall of Capua and the
fortunate turn of events in Sicily enabled them to release fresh troops
for service in Spain, and in 210 B. C., being dissatisfied with the
cautious strategy of the pro-praetor Nero, then commanding north of the
Ebro, the Senate determined to send out a commander who would continue the
aggressive tactics of the Scipios. As the most suitable person they fixed
on Publius Cornelius Scipio, son of the like-named consul who had fallen
in 211. However, he was only in his twenty-fourth year and having filled
no magistracy except the aedileship, he was technically disqualified from
exercising the _imperium_. Therefore, his appointment was made the subject
of a special law in the Comitia, which nominated him to the command in
Spain with the rank of a pro-consul. This is the first authentic instance
of the conferment of the _imperium_ upon a private citizen.

*The capture of New Carthage: 209 B. C.* Seeing that the armies of his
opponents were divided and engaged in reconquering the Spanish tribes,
Scipio resumed the offensive, crossed the Ebro, and by a daring stroke
seiz