--- product_id: 9642838 title: "Scipio Africanus: Rome's Greatest General" price: "₨28088" currency: LKR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.lk/products/9642838-scipio-africanus-romes-greatest-general store_origin: LK region: Sri Lanka --- # Scipio Africanus: Rome's Greatest General **Price:** ₨28088 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Scipio Africanus: Rome's Greatest General - **How much does it cost?** ₨28088 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.lk](https://www.desertcart.lk/products/9642838-scipio-africanus-romes-greatest-general) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The world often misunderstands its greatest men while neglecting others entirely. Scipio Africanus, surely the greatest general that Rome produced, suffered both these fates. Today scholars celebrate the importance of Hannibal, even though Scipio defeated the legendary general in the Second Punic War and was the central military figure of his time. In this scholarly and heretofore unmatched military biography of the distinguished Roman soldier, Richard A. Gabriel establishes Scipio’s rightful place in military history as the greater of the two generals. Before Scipio, few Romans would have dreamed of empire, and Scipio himself would have regarded such an ambition as a danger to his beloved republic. And yet, paradoxically, Scipio’s victories in Spain and Africa enabled Rome to consolidate its hold over Italy and become the dominant power in the western Mediterranean, virtually ensuring a later confrontation with the Greco-Macedonian kingdoms to the east as well as the empire’s expansion into North Africa and the Levant. The Roman imperium was being born, and it was Scipio who had sired it. Gabriel draws upon ancient texts, including those from Livy, Polybius, Diodorus, Silius Italicus, and others, as primary sources and examines all additional material available to the modern scholar in French, German, English, and Italian. His book offers a complete bibliography of all extant sources regarding Scipio’s life. The result is a rich, detailed, and contextual treatment of the life and career of Scipio Africanus, one of Rome’s greatest generals, if not the greatest of them all. Review: Highly Readable, Highly Enlightening! - I so enjoyed this book. As a former Israeli Army infantry solider, I think twice before reading books of a military nature, having been convinced through my own experience that nothing other than the battle field itself...particularly its topography and other features unique to it...can explain the way a battle unfolds. The problem with too many military histories is the failure of a book format in recreating the battle field...even with the help of diagrams. Because of his skillful use of prose, Gabriel overcomes this common difficulty. He deftly brings the attending circumstances of each battle into focus, with the help of simple, yet helpful diagrams, in addition to his highly readable prose. Although the story of the Rome and her wars has been told so many times, there were so many little gems that I encountered for the first time. For example, although I thought I was familiar with the consular system of two governing consuls, I did not know that in battle, they alternated command between them every other day. That is just one of several fresh insights I got in the chapter on the nature of each side's armies. The closing section of that same chapter on the daily logistical requirements of the army and its pack/draft animals was also enlightening, and helped me understand more than ever why ancient armies required winter quarters, until the fields produced this much needed fodder again in the spring. Additional pluses to this volume are Gabriel's judgement with regard to primary sources, neither entirely trusting them, nor entirely dismissing them, but falling somewhere in the sober middle ground. When a source's report seems doubtful, he offers several likely alternative scenarios, all of which are reasonably and convincingly argued. In addition to presenting the battles themselves, Gabriel does a great job presenting the political considerations of both Rome and Carthage throughout the war, as well as the internal intrigues, particularly between competing factions within the Roman aristocratic led senate. Although the author obviously admires Scipio, he presents a balanced image of him, including his strategic errors, such as his wasted siege of Utica on the African campaign, and his brutal putting down of Spanish insurgents. Consequently, his portrait of Scipio seems judicious. If at times it sounds amazing, it is not because of the author's own embellishments, but because the man, Scipio, seems to have been truly one of those rare individuals to attain to complete leadership skill set that is usually not found in one person. Within this context, Gabriel stresses that all the great generals of history were men who had undergone the best intellectual training/education that their times and cultures could provide them. That ultimately, only a fine-tuned intellect, distinguished by linear thinking---the ability to imagine the likely cause and effect of every possible scenario---in addition to daring, and the willingness to gamble, is what coverages in all great field commanders. I can't believe someone gave this book only one star! This book was such a pleasure to read, that I will likely read it again sometime in the future! Review: Excellent review of an unsong hero - When historians and soldiers talk about the punic war,they mention a number of points.That it was key in Rome's rise as an empire,that the leading star was Hannibal,that key military concepts such as the Fabian strategy,the double envelopment,the battle of annhilation,of fighting on after losing the first couple of battles originated with this war.We often hear stories of how Hannibal crossed the Alps with his elephants or how he destroyed 3 different roman armies in 3 different battles (the last one ,Cannae is held as a tactical masterpiece).We hear how Fabius used a pseudo-guerilla strategy of avoiding battles with Hannibal and eroding his army through skirmishes or how the Battle of Metaurus is one of the decisive battles of world history where one Roman general after receiving intelligence of Hasdrubal (hannibal's brother ) arrival ,made a forced march to join up with another Roman general to launch a surprise attack on Hasdrubal ,destroying his army and killing him in the process and saving Rome.What we very rarely hear about the Punic war is the story of the most brilliant general to have fought in that war,Scipio Africanus. In this masterpiece of a book,Richard Gabriel relates the story of this most brilliant of generals and makes a convincing argument that not only was he a great general but also a master grand strategist and one who had formidable political skills.Scipio ,haing survived a number of early battles went on to revolutionize the Roman army in terms of boldness,tactics,organization,weapons and the use of intelligence.He modified and expanded the legion to make it better to resist attacks by "barbarian infantry",he introduced the gladius captured from the spanish tribes as the main weapon for the legion,his manuvers such as the capture of New CArthage,the attack on Hasdrubal at Baecula or the attack on the Carthaginian camps at Utica were exceptional for their boldness and daring.His use of deception,innovation and the reverse cannae formation at Illipia to destroy a larger army were quite simply a tactical masterpiece that deserve to be mentioned along with the battles of gaugamela,cannae and austerlitz.He was also a master in understanding the field of logistics.Even more outstanding were his abilities to read and manipulate the political situation.The senate in Rome had much of a say in running the war and it could and did disrupt successfull strategies if they were unpopular.A case in point is the Fabian strategy which though effective was temporarily disrupted because of its unpopularity.Scipio was able to successfully prosecute his invasion of North Africa inspite of these difficulties .A modern analogy would have been if General Westmoreland was able to convince the american public to stay the course in Vietnam or if the Soviet General staff was able to convince the Politburo to stay the course in afghanistan(both these wars were political and not military defeats). In making his case ,Gabriel convincingly illustrates that not only was Scipio the best general in the Punic war but also the greatest general that imperial rome ever produced, greater than Julius Caesar who often gets far more credit.Indeed,this book should serve as the template of generalship. ## Features - Used Book in Good Condition ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #1,422,618 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #323 in Ancient Rome Biographies #1,258 in Ancient Roman History (Books) #8,297 in United States Biographies | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 163 Reviews | ## Images ![Scipio Africanus: Rome's Greatest General - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/614wzPEhy2L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Highly Readable, Highly Enlightening! *by H***D on March 30, 2016* I so enjoyed this book. As a former Israeli Army infantry solider, I think twice before reading books of a military nature, having been convinced through my own experience that nothing other than the battle field itself...particularly its topography and other features unique to it...can explain the way a battle unfolds. The problem with too many military histories is the failure of a book format in recreating the battle field...even with the help of diagrams. Because of his skillful use of prose, Gabriel overcomes this common difficulty. He deftly brings the attending circumstances of each battle into focus, with the help of simple, yet helpful diagrams, in addition to his highly readable prose. Although the story of the Rome and her wars has been told so many times, there were so many little gems that I encountered for the first time. For example, although I thought I was familiar with the consular system of two governing consuls, I did not know that in battle, they alternated command between them every other day. That is just one of several fresh insights I got in the chapter on the nature of each side's armies. The closing section of that same chapter on the daily logistical requirements of the army and its pack/draft animals was also enlightening, and helped me understand more than ever why ancient armies required winter quarters, until the fields produced this much needed fodder again in the spring. Additional pluses to this volume are Gabriel's judgement with regard to primary sources, neither entirely trusting them, nor entirely dismissing them, but falling somewhere in the sober middle ground. When a source's report seems doubtful, he offers several likely alternative scenarios, all of which are reasonably and convincingly argued. In addition to presenting the battles themselves, Gabriel does a great job presenting the political considerations of both Rome and Carthage throughout the war, as well as the internal intrigues, particularly between competing factions within the Roman aristocratic led senate. Although the author obviously admires Scipio, he presents a balanced image of him, including his strategic errors, such as his wasted siege of Utica on the African campaign, and his brutal putting down of Spanish insurgents. Consequently, his portrait of Scipio seems judicious. If at times it sounds amazing, it is not because of the author's own embellishments, but because the man, Scipio, seems to have been truly one of those rare individuals to attain to complete leadership skill set that is usually not found in one person. Within this context, Gabriel stresses that all the great generals of history were men who had undergone the best intellectual training/education that their times and cultures could provide them. That ultimately, only a fine-tuned intellect, distinguished by linear thinking---the ability to imagine the likely cause and effect of every possible scenario---in addition to daring, and the willingness to gamble, is what coverages in all great field commanders. I can't believe someone gave this book only one star! This book was such a pleasure to read, that I will likely read it again sometime in the future! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent review of an unsong hero *by H***S on January 6, 2011* When historians and soldiers talk about the punic war,they mention a number of points.That it was key in Rome's rise as an empire,that the leading star was Hannibal,that key military concepts such as the Fabian strategy,the double envelopment,the battle of annhilation,of fighting on after losing the first couple of battles originated with this war.We often hear stories of how Hannibal crossed the Alps with his elephants or how he destroyed 3 different roman armies in 3 different battles (the last one ,Cannae is held as a tactical masterpiece).We hear how Fabius used a pseudo-guerilla strategy of avoiding battles with Hannibal and eroding his army through skirmishes or how the Battle of Metaurus is one of the decisive battles of world history where one Roman general after receiving intelligence of Hasdrubal (hannibal's brother ) arrival ,made a forced march to join up with another Roman general to launch a surprise attack on Hasdrubal ,destroying his army and killing him in the process and saving Rome.What we very rarely hear about the Punic war is the story of the most brilliant general to have fought in that war,Scipio Africanus. In this masterpiece of a book,Richard Gabriel relates the story of this most brilliant of generals and makes a convincing argument that not only was he a great general but also a master grand strategist and one who had formidable political skills.Scipio ,haing survived a number of early battles went on to revolutionize the Roman army in terms of boldness,tactics,organization,weapons and the use of intelligence.He modified and expanded the legion to make it better to resist attacks by "barbarian infantry",he introduced the gladius captured from the spanish tribes as the main weapon for the legion,his manuvers such as the capture of New CArthage,the attack on Hasdrubal at Baecula or the attack on the Carthaginian camps at Utica were exceptional for their boldness and daring.His use of deception,innovation and the reverse cannae formation at Illipia to destroy a larger army were quite simply a tactical masterpiece that deserve to be mentioned along with the battles of gaugamela,cannae and austerlitz.He was also a master in understanding the field of logistics.Even more outstanding were his abilities to read and manipulate the political situation.The senate in Rome had much of a say in running the war and it could and did disrupt successfull strategies if they were unpopular.A case in point is the Fabian strategy which though effective was temporarily disrupted because of its unpopularity.Scipio was able to successfully prosecute his invasion of North Africa inspite of these difficulties .A modern analogy would have been if General Westmoreland was able to convince the american public to stay the course in Vietnam or if the Soviet General staff was able to convince the Politburo to stay the course in afghanistan(both these wars were political and not military defeats). In making his case ,Gabriel convincingly illustrates that not only was Scipio the best general in the Punic war but also the greatest general that imperial rome ever produced, greater than Julius Caesar who often gets far more credit.Indeed,this book should serve as the template of generalship. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ For the glory of Scipio? *by A***N on August 2, 2008* Richard Gabriel is a distinguished military historian who writes well and in this book provides a wealth of information and speculation concerning Scipio. Most noteworthy are the logistical analyses, which in general are well researched and highly informative. There are some problems with this book, though, despite its overall high quality. The author tells us that a lot of the best research on the Second Punic War is in German, which fortunately he is able to read. Wunderbar, I told myself. But examining the bibliography at the end of the book I was surprised to discover several German titles rendered ungrammatically, a children's book by Donauer included as if it were a scholarly work, and the works of the top scholars of the Punic Wars publishing in German over the past few decades (Jakob Seibert, Pedro Barcelo, Karl Christ usw.) blatantly missing. Gabriel's attempts to present Scipio as a "brilliant" operational commander and "brilliant" strategist greater than Hannibal fail to convince (as do equally misguided attempts by others to portray Wellington as greater than Napoleon--Napoleon, by the way, regarded Hannibal as the greatest general of all, see the Memorial de Sainte-Helene by the Comte Emmanuel de las Cases). As the author suggests, the brilliance of a general depends on the quality of his defeated opponents, but the only great opponent Scipio ever defeated was Hannibal at Zama, a victory scored by luck and the fortunate arrival of Massinissa's cavalry at the battlefield in the nick of time (even Gabriel concedes that Hannibal had the better battle plan). To boost Scipio's credentials Gabriel claims repeatedly that the incompetent Carthaginian generals Scipio defeated in Spain were actually competent, especially the bungling Hasdrubal Gisco, surely the sorriest excuse for a commander in the Punic Wars. He credits Scipio with great military innovations, but fails to mention that he copied these from the organization of Hannibal's army, which Scipio experienced at the Roman defeats at the Ticinus, Trebbia, and Cannae. Scipio's victory at Ilipa owes more to Hannibal as a model that to any ingenuity on Scipio's part. The author even tries to credit Scipio with deriving the gladius hispaniensis from the Spanish falcata, although anyone who has held a falcata and a gladius in hand can tell they are totally different weapons. The gladius was based on a Spanish sword, but it is unlikely it was the falcata. Scipio is presented as an honorable man, and unfortunately Gabriel whitewashes his atrocities in ordering the butchery of the civilians in three cities (excusing the terrorism because "it served his strategic ends"), not to mention the scourging and beheading of his own officers after they rebelled because of lack of pay, even though he had promised them clemency if they surrendered. (Hannibal, by the way, although he fought in enemy territory for 15 years without ever being defeated, during which time he often could not pay his mercenaries, never suffered mutiny, which perhaps shows which commander was better able to inspire loyalty in his forces). Gabriel attributes Scipio's refusal to engage Hannibal in Italy to some grand strategic plan concerning Rome's future security, which supposedly demanded he be defeated in Africa, when there is a much simpler explanation, namely that Scipio was afraid he would be defeated if he faced Hannibal in Italy and needed to get him to return to Africa minus his cavalry in order to have a chance of victory. Scipio was clearly an opportunist concerned with his personal glory and refused peace overtures (even betraying the Carthaginians when he pretended to consider their very reasonable proposals, and then burning their camps in a treacherous night attack). He was willing to sacrifice countless lives (of his own soldiers and those of the enemy) in order to win a triumph for narcissistic glory. Hannibal was definitely the greater commander and the better man, a patriot who sacrificed everything for his country. The notion of his being motivated by hatred of Rome is a myth created by Roman propaganda, bent upon demonizing Hannibal and the Carthaginians. This is evident in the writings of Livy and particularly Silius Italicus, a poet and not a historian, whose versified fictions Gabriel accepts as reliable historical sources. Even among Roman generals, Marius, Sulla, Pompey, and above all Ceasar far outshine Scipio. Gabriel's claim that Caesar displayed no originality or innovation in the battlefield is belied by that brilliant defense in the siege of Alesia, to mention just one example. Gabriel's book, although in many ways a significant contribution to the field, suffers of bias in his efforts to achieve "majorem Scipionic gloriam." And as to the claim that Rome's victory over Carthage was good for posterity, the reader is urged to peruse Neil Faulkner's excellent book "Rome: Empire of the Eagles" to evaluate the destructive and predatory imperialism of Rome which can be contrasted with the tolerance of Carthaginian culture, destroyed in a frenzy of genocide and ethnic cleansing by the Romans in 146 BCE. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.lk/products/9642838-scipio-africanus-romes-greatest-general](https://www.desertcart.lk/products/9642838-scipio-africanus-romes-greatest-general) --- *Product available on Desertcart Sri Lanka* *Store origin: LK* *Last updated: 2026-05-09*