Editing Battle of Zama (section)

==Hannibal's return==

Scipio and Carthage entered into peace negotiations.{{sfn|Carey|2007|p=111}} Carthage built up its naval strength and prepared the city of Carthage for a siege.{{sfn|Edwell|2015|p=334}} The Carthaginian Senate recalled both Hannibal and Mago from Italy.{{sfn|Carey|2007|p=111}}{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|pp=296–297}} After Scipio overran all of Carthaginian Iberia in 205 BC, Mago had left with those forces still loyal and sailed to Liguria in northern Italy{{sfn|Barceló|2015|p=362}}{{sfn|Carey|2007|p=111}} where he recruited Gallic and Ligurian reinforcements. In 203 BC Mago marched into [[Cisalpine Gaul]] in an attempt to draw Roman attention away from North Africa, but was defeated at the [[battle of Insubria]].{{sfn|Bagnall|1999|pp=286–287}} His army retreated and sailed for Carthage from [[Genoa|Genua]]. Mago 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}}

By 207 BC, after 12 years of campaigning in Italy, Hannibal's forces had been compelled to withdraw to [[Bruttium]], the "toe" of Italy, where they remained undefeated but were ineffective.{{sfn|Carey|2007|p=111}}{{sfn|Zimmermann|2015|pp=289–290}}{{sfn|Miles|2011|pp=304–305}} When recalled the limited number of ships available meant that few horses could be taken and that many newer recruits were left in Italy.{{sfn|Carey|2007|pp=111–112}}{{sfn|Roberts|2017|pp=228–229}} Hannibal's army sailed from [[Crotone|Croton]] and landed at [[Leptis Parva|Leptis Minor]], some {{convert|140|km}} south of Carthage, with 15,000–20,000 experienced veterans. Hannibal was appointed to command the new army and consolidated his forces at [[Hadrumetum]].{{sfn|Carey|2007|pp=111–112}}{{sfn|Miles|2011|p=312}}{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|p=244}}

===Prelude to battle===

The Roman Senate ratified a draft treaty, but because of mistrust and a surge in confidence when Hannibal arrived from Italy, Carthage repudiated it.{{sfn|Bagnall|1999|pp=287–291}} The Romans retaliated by methodically capturing Carthaginian-controlled towns in Carthage's [[hinterland]] and selling their inhabitants into slavery, regardless of whether they had surrendered before being attacked or not. Scipio probably anticipated that these attacks would create pressure on the Carthaginians to dispatch an army to face him as soon as possible, rather than wait until it had recruited to maximum strength and was fully trained. Scipio was himself under time pressure, as he was concerned that his political opponents in  the Roman Senate might appoint a new consul to replace him. The Carthaginian Senate repeatedly ordered Hannibal to advance from his base at Hadrumetum and deal with Scipio's army, but Hannibal delayed until he had been reinforced by 2,000 Numidian cavalry led by a relative of Syphax{{snd}}they were reputed to be elite troops.{{sfn|Lazenby|1998|pp=216–218}}

Hannibal believed, correctly, that the Roman army had not yet been joined by its Numidian auxiliaries under Masinissa and so had the Carthaginian army march inland for five days and camp not far from the town of [[Zama (Tunisia)|Zama]], just {{convert|3|km}} from the Roman army. This proximity all but guaranteed that a battle would result. While the Carthaginians were en route Masinissa arrived at the Roman camp with 10,000 Numidians.{{sfn|Lazenby|1998|p=219}} The site of the battle is generally, but not universally, believed to be a flat area to the south of Sicca (modern [[El Kef]]), the Draa el Metnan.{{sfn|Taylor|2019|pp=313–314}}