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Why did Scipio Africanus choose not to pursue Hasdrubal Barca after the Battle of Baecula?
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Scipio Africanus
Silver coin from Carthago Nova, believed to be a portrait of Scipio Africanus the Elder; in the Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, National Museum, Copenhagen.
After defeating Hasdrubal Barca at the Battle of Baecula in 208 BCE, Scipio Africanus chose not to pursue him because he deemed the task of stopping Hasdrubalās retreat to be impossible.1
Instead, Scipio made the strategic decision to prioritize his primary mission in Spain: the defeat of the two remaining Carthaginian armies stationed there. By focusing on this objective, Scipio was able to successfully complete his campaign in the region, culminating in the decisive victory at the Battle of Ilipa in 206 BCE, which effectively secured Roman control over the Iberian Peninsula.1