Scipio Africanus

Scipio Africanus
Bust likely of Scipio Africanus (formerly identified as Sulla), originally found near his family tomb[1]
Born	236 or 235 BC Rome
Died	c. 183 BC Liternum
Nationality	Roman
Known for	Defeating Hannibal
Office	Proconsul (Spain, 216–210 BC) Consul (205 BC) Proconsul (Africa, 204–201 BC) Censor (199 BC) Consul (194 BC) Legate (Asia, 190 BC)
Spouse	Aemilia Tertia
Children	4, including Cornelia
Father	Publius Scipio
Relatives	Scipio Asiaticus (brother) Scipio Aemilianus (adoptive grandson) Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus (grandsons)
Military service
Allegiance	Rome
Branch/service	Roman army
Battles/wars	Second Punic War Battle of Ticinus Battle of Victumulae Battle of Cannae Battle of Cartagena Battle of Baecula Battle of Ilipa Siege of Utica Battle of Utica Battle of the Great Plains Battle of Zama Roman–Seleucid War Battle of Magnesia

Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (/ˈskɪp.i.oʊ/, /ˈsɪp-/, Latin: [ˈskiːpioː]; 236/235–c. 183 BC) was a Roman general and statesman, most notable as one of the main architects of Rome's victory against Carthage in the Second Punic War. Often regarded as one of the greatest military commanders and strategists of all time, his greatest military achievement was the defeat of Hannibal at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC. This victory in Africa earned him the honorific epithet Africanus, literally meaning 'the African', but meant to be understood as a conqueror of Africa.

Scipio's conquest of Carthaginian Iberia culminated in the Battle of Ilipa in 206 BC against Hannibal's brother Mago Barca. Although considered a hero by the Roman people, primarily for his victories against Carthage, Scipio had many opponents, especially Cato the Elder, who hated him deeply. In 187 BC, he was tried in a show trial alongside his brother for bribes they supposedly received from the Seleucid king Antiochos III during the Roman–Seleucid War. Disillusioned by the ingratitude of his peers, Scipio left Rome and retired from public life at his villa in Liternum.