Editing Second Punic War (section)

=== Italy, 207–203 BC ===
In the spring of 207{{nbs}}BC [[Hasdrubal Barca]] repeated the feat of his elder brother by marching an army across the Alps. He invaded Cisalpine Gaul with an army of 35,000 men, intending to join forces with Hannibal, but Hannibal was unaware of his presence. The Romans facing Hannibal in southern Italy tricked him into believing the whole Roman army was still in camp, while a large portion marched north under the consul [[Gaius Claudius Nero|Claudius Nero]]. They reinforced the Romans under the second consul, [[Marcus Livius Salinator|Marcus Salinator]], who were already facing Hasdrubal. This combined Roman force attacked at the [[battle of the Metaurus]] and destroyed the Carthaginian army, killing Hasdrubal. This battle confirmed Roman dominance in Italy and marked the end of their Fabian strategy. Without the expected reinforcement Hannibal's forces were compelled to evacuate allied towns and withdraw to [[Bruttium]].{{sfn|Zimmermann|2015|pp=289–290}}{{sfn|Miles|2011|pp=304–305}}

In 205{{nbs}}BC Mago Barca, another of Hannibal's younger brothers, landed in [[Genoa|Genua]] in north-west Italy with the remnants of his Spanish army. It soon received Gallic and Ligurian reinforcements. Mago's arrival in the north of the Italian peninsula was followed by Hannibal's inconclusive [[battle of Crotona]] in 204{{nbs}}BC in the far south of the peninsula. Mago marched his reinforced army towards the lands of Carthage's main Gallic allies in Cisalpine Gaul, but was checked by a large Roman army and defeated at the [[battle of Insubria]] in 203{{nbs}}BC.{{sfn|Bagnall|1999|pp=286–287}}

After a Roman army invaded the Carthaginian homeland in 204{{nbs}}BC, defeating the Carthaginians in two major battles and winning the allegiance of the Numidian kingdoms of North Africa, Hannibal and the remnants of his army were recalled.{{sfn|Miles|2011|p=310}} They sailed from [[Crotone|Croton]]{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|p=244}} and landed at Carthage with 15,000–20,000 experienced veterans. Mago was also recalled; he died of wounds on the voyage and some of his ships were intercepted by the Romans,{{sfn|Miles|2011|p=312}} but 12,000 of his troops reached Carthage.{{sfn|Bagnall|1999|p=289}}