Editing Battle of Zama (section)

===Fighting in 203 BC===
{{more|Battle of Utica (203 BC)|Battle of the Great Plains|Battle of Cirta}}
[[File:Bust of Sulla (loan from Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek) - Glyptothek - Munich - Germany 2017.jpg|alt=a photograph of a marble bust of a man, with the nose broken off|thumb|upright=0.55|left|{{center|Marble bust of the younger Scipio{{sfn|Coarelli|2002|pp= 73–74}}{{sfn|Etcheto|2012|pp= 274–278}}}}]]

Scipio sent [[Ambassador|emissaries]] to Syphax to attempt to persuade him to defect. Syphax in turn offered to broker peace terms.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|pp=292–293}} A series of exchanges of negotiating parties followed, during which Scipio obtained information on the layout and construction of the Numidian camp, as well as the size and composition of the Numidian army and the most frequented routes in and out of the camp.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|pp=292–293}}{{sfn|Bagnall|1999|p=277}}{{sfn|Bagnall|1999|p=278}} As the weather improved Scipio made conspicuous preparations to assault Utica.{{sfn|Bagnall|1999|pp=278–279}} Instead, he marched his army out late one evening and divided it in two.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|p=293}}{{sfn|Lazenby|1998|p=208}} One part [[Battle of Utica (203 BC)|launched a night attack]] on the Numidian camp, setting fire to their reed [[barracks]]. In the ensuing panic and confusion the Numidians were dispersed with heavy casualties.{{sfn|Carey|2007|pp=105–106}} Not realising what was happening, the Carthaginians were also taken by surprise when Scipio attacked them with the remaining Romans. Again the Romans inflicted heavy casualties in the dark.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|pp=293–294}}{{sfn|Carey|2007|pp=105–106}} Hasdrubal fled {{convert|40|km}} to Carthage with 2,500 survivors, pursued by Scipio. Syphax escaped with a few cavalry and regrouped {{convert|11|km|sigfig=1}} away.{{sfn|Lazenby|1998|p=208}}{{sfn|Carey|2007|p=106}}

When word of the defeat reached Carthage there was panic, and some wanted to renew the peace negotiations. The Carthaginian Senate also heard demands for Hannibal's army to be recalled. A decision was reached to fight on with locally available resources.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|p=294}} A force of 4,000 Iberian warriors arrived in Carthage, and Hasdrubal raised further local troops with whom to reinforce the survivors of Utica;{{sfn|Hoyos|2003|p=162}} Syphax remained loyal and joined Hasdrubal with what was left of his army.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|pp=294–295}} The combined force is estimated at 30,000 and they established a strong camp in an area by the [[Bagradas River]] known as the Great Plains within 30–50 days of the defeat at Utica.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|p=295}}{{sfn|Hoyos|2003|p=162}}

Scipio immediately marched most of his army to the scene. The size of his army is not known, but it was outnumbered by the Carthaginians.{{sfn|Carey|2007|p=106}} After several days of skirmishing both armies committed to a pitched battle.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|p=295}} Upon being charged by the Romans and Masinissa's Numidians, those Carthaginians who had been involved in the debacle at Utica turned and fled; morale had not recovered.{{sfn|Edwell|2015|p=333}}{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|p=295}}{{sfn|Carey|2007|p=108}} Only the Iberians stood and fought. They were enveloped by the well-drilled Roman legions and wiped out.{{sfn|Rawlings|1996|p=90}}{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|pp=295–296}} Hasdrubal fled to Carthage, where he was demoted and exiled.{{sfn|Hoyos|2015b|p=205}}

[[File:MASSINISSA - MAA 23 - 87000716.jpg|thumb|upright= 1.1|alt=A monochrome photograph of both sides of a crude, ancient coin; one showing the head of a bearded man, the other a horse |{{center|A coin issued by King Masinissa}}]]

Syphax withdrew as far as his capital, [[Cirta]], where he recruited more troops to supplement those survivors who had stayed with him.{{sfn|Edwell|2015|p=334}} Masinissa's Numidians pursued their fleeing countrymen accompanied by part of the Roman force, under Laelius.{{sfn|Edwell|2015|p=334}} The armies met in the [[battle of Cirta]], where Syphax's army initially gained the upper hand.{{sfn|Edwell|2015|p=334}} Laelius fed groups of Roman infantry into the battle line and Syphax's troops broke and fled.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|pp=48, 50}}{{sfn|Edwell|2015|p=334}} Syphax was captured{{sfn|Hoyos|2015b|p=205}}{{sfn|Bagnall|1999|p=282}} and paraded beneath the city walls in chains, which caused Cirta to surrender to Masinissa, who then took over much of Syphax's kingdom and joined it to his own.{{efn|Masinissa also married Syphax's wife, [[Sophonisba]], Hasdrubal's daughter.{{sfn|Lazenby|1998|p=212}} Syphax was taken as a prisoner to Italy, where he died.{{sfn|Kunze|2015|p=397}}|group=note}}{{sfn|Lazenby|1998|p=212}}{{sfn|Carey|2007|p=110}}