Hasdrubal Gisco

At the start of the 206 BCE campaigning season, the Carthaginians began a new offensive in Iberia, focusing their efforts on winning a single battle to overwhelm the Roman force.

This force was led by another Hasdrubal, sometimes called Hasdrubal Gisco, because of his relation to another Carthaginian commander, Gisco.

Hasdrubal Gisco led an army between 50,000 to 75,000 men, depending on who you ask, to the town of Olipa.

This town is likely in the region of Sevilla near Alcalá del Río today.

This Carthaginian force was met by a much smaller Roman force of around 45,000 to 50,000.

This is because both sets of Celtic peoples practiced personal clientship instead of the style of diplomacy typical of republics like Rome or Carthage.

It was during this time that Scipio Africanus ventured to Numidia to meet with King Syphax.

We get an interesting story where Scipio Africanus, Hasdrubal Gisco, and Massinissa met up at the same dinner table in Numidia, despite being sworn enemies just months before.