The Battle of Zama

The Battle of Zama is the fifth scenario of the Rise of Rome campaign in Age of Empires: Definitive Edition, replacing Zama.

Scenario instructions

Description

“	Zama, 202 BCE Publius Scipio, your unrelenting victories over Carthage's allies have brought your renown, but greater triumphs await! With Hispania nd her tribes subdued by your legions, you ventured across the sea to the hot sands of Africa to threaten Carthage herself. Your gample has succeeded - Hannibal has abandoned his Italian campaign to rush to the defense of his homeland. The Carthaginians are numerous and will fight with auxiliaries with his hotdetermination of men defending their gomes, but you have yet another gambit in play. King Massinissa of the Numidian desert tribes has betrayed Hannibal and bolsters your auxiliaries with his horsemen. Defeat Hannibal on the battlefield of Zama and Carthage will finally know the price of defying Rome!	”
—In-game section

Starting conditions

• Starting Age: Iron Age
• Starting resources: 200 food, 200 wood, 100 stone
• Population limit: 50
• Starting units:
  • 1 Hero Scipio
  • 3  Triremes
  • 1  Heavy Transport
  • 5 Cavalries
  • 1  Catapult
  • 12 Long Swordsmen
  • 3  Villagers
  • 2 Ballistae
  • 2  Scouts
  • 1  Priest

• Gaia units:
  • 13  Heavy Horse Archers

Objectives

• Destroy the three Docks in Carthage's harbor.
• Bring Scipio to the blue flags at Carthage's Byrsa Forum.

Hints

1. Reaching the Numidian camps will provide you with Heavy Horse Archers.
2. Hannibal relies on resources gathered west of Carthage. Destroying his camps there will eventually starve him of resources needed to train his armies.
3. A group of Priests can turn the tide of any battle against War Elephants and Phalanxes.

History

Historical notes

“	Publius Cornelius Scipio began his military career with the daring rescue of his father, the commander of the Roman army defeated by Hannibal at the Battle of Ticinus (218 BCE). The younger Scipio, seeing his father surrounded by enemy troops, drove his horse into the enemy ranks, opening a path through to the commander. In 211 BCE, Scipio's father and uncle were killed in battle against Hasdrubal, Hannibal's brother, in Iberia—known to the Romans as Hispania. The Roman Senate held an election for the commander of the new army to be sent to Hispania. Scipio was the only man with the courage to volunteer for what was viewed as a death sentence. In command of fresh legions, he landed at the mouth of the Ebro River and was able to surprise and capture Carthago Nova, the Carthaginian capital in the region. In Hispania, Scipio was renowned for his humanitarian treatment of prisoners. The Roman historian Livy writes that the Roman troops captured a beautiful local woman and offered her to their commander as a war prize. Scipio discovered the woman was betrothed to a local chieftain and had her returned to her fiancé, along with the money that had been offered as a ransom. In return, the chieftain pledged his warriors to support Scipio. Such humanitarian acts helped portray Rome as liberators instead of conquerors and encouraged local chieftains to supply and reinforce the Roman army. After successfully occupying Hispania, Scipio returned to Rome intending to go to Africa and bring the war to Carthaginian lands. Senate leadership, however, grew envious of Scipio and suspicious of his intentions. The Senate refused to support Scipio with additional troops beyond a small garrison in Sicily, a posting usually reserved for the disgraced survivors of Roman defeats. The general trained these men thoroughly and forged an alliance with King Massinissa, ruler of the Berber Numidian kingdom in North Africa and one-time ally of Carthage. With no more support from the Senate beyond permission to sail to Africa, Scipio departed. The appearance of a Roman army near Carthage caused Hannibal to abandon his Italian campaign. Returning to Africa, Hannibal's army met Scipio's forces on the plain of Zama, near Carthage. In the ensuing battle, Hannibal sent his elephants to charge the Roman lines, but Scipio had prepared for them. He ordered his cavalry to blow loud trumpets which panicked the elephants. He also had his men open gaps in their battle line, suspecting that the elephants would be lured through, allowing them to be cut down from the sides. These tactics worked, neutralizing Hannibal's advantage. Scipio then sent his legions forward against the Carthaginian lines. After a furious battle, Scipio was victorious and agreed to moderate peace terms with the Carthaginians, to the anger of Senators in Rome who preferred harsher penalties on their enemy. Scipio returned to Rome and was honored with the name Africanus, commemorating his victory in Africa.	”
—In-game section

Victory

“	Hannibal has been defeated and the leaders of Carthage beg Rome for peace and forgiveness. To mark your great victory at Zama, the Senate has bestowed the name Africanus upon you. Rome will soon turn her gaze to the north and the east for new victories, but for now, all of Rome celebrates your triumph, Scipio Africanus!	”
—In-game section

Loss

“	Your defeat at the battle of Zama disappoints Rome. The Carthaginians are rejuvenated and more dangerous than ever. Hannibal has outfitted another army to invade Italy, and the Senate fears that many more Romans will die in a losing war. The leaders of Rome require that you report to Catapult Unit XIV where you will be given another opportunity to have an impact on the Carthaginians.	”
—In-game section