Scipio Elder

Scipio, PUBLIUS CORNELIUS, "THE ELDER," Surnamed AFRICANUS, was born of noble family in 234 B.C., and in youth was noted for his courage and decision. At the age of twenty-four he was proconsul in Spain, and commanded the forces which took Carthago Nova. His humane conduct was noticeable here as on many other occasions. He gradually made himself master of nearly all Spain, and was offered the sovereignty, but declined it. He formed an alliance with the king of Numidia, and in 206 returned to Rome, where he was welcomed, made a consul, and given Sicily as his province. In 204 he went to Africa, and gained many remarkable victories, capturing the Numidian king, who had deserted him, and concluded the second Punic War by the total defeat of Hannibal at Zama in 202. He was offered many honours in Rome, but refused most of them, becoming, however, censor and consul for a second time, and in 193 was ambassador to Syria. Accused and acquitted of embezzling money during the Syrian War of 190, he left Rome for ever, and died in 183. He was a great soldier, very prompt and energetic, and he was also deeply religious.