Masinissa: Ally of Carthage by Rob Edmunds

Author:Rob Edmunds
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
Published: 2020-07-14T00:00:00+00:00

Operation Iberia Freedom

As a counterpoint to the acuity of battle, the senses can dull in its aftermath. Whilst often self-induced and transient, it is also a necessary means of self-preservation of the soul and the mind, as well as the body. Every mournful and healing part of one’s being is helped by a little numbness. In dealing with pain and loss, and a reassertion of drudgery, soldiers often embrace more of it.

The next weeks for Masinissa, after the hiatus of a feast day to the warrior aspect of Tanit – she was also a goddess of war, after all – was spent traipsing along the coastal routes heading west, and then crossing the sea at its narrowest, if not calmest point, close to Tingi and the pillars of Melqart. The next phase of the war was about to begin, for him at least, in a new, somewhat alien land, if not a completely alien landscape. It was marginally colder and marginally more verdant, at least close to the rivers, but the people were certainly different. There seemed more diversity in their physical characteristics, and their tribal affiliations seemed looser. The people seemed happier and freer too, if such advantages can be deduced from fleeting impressions and presumptions. The torpidness of long hours on horseback, and days of transit with the senses trying to devour what they could as a distraction were now over.

The cavalry of Masinissa – which numbered over 3,000 at that time, having gathered recruits and a not inconsiderable number of deserters from Syphax’s ranks – had camped with the infantry forces of Hasdrubal Gisco, and awaited the arrival of Mago and the other senior figures, including apparently a few of the more notorious local chieftains. However, the prospect of a conference with allies didn’t hold a great deal of interest for Masinissa. Quite the contrary, he reserved his keenest antipathy for the usually lengthy dissection of battle plans and strategies. He had a much more intuitive approach to warfare: assess what opposes you, and either retreat or devise a counter to the threat in that moment.

He had grizzled a little with Ari and Capuca about the onerous duty, but there was nothing to be done. There was no way you could elude such things and venture out as a renegade division, however much such a notion might hold quite an appeal. Unfortunately, he was obliged to attend the conference and receive his orders for the coming campaign with as much enthusiasm as he could muster. The fact that most of the major Carthaginian commanders in Iberia were likely to be present would inevitably make the charade more difficult.

The scouts and spies had indicated that the Roman armies were looking to move and intercept one or more of the Carthaginian armies that were then present on the Iberian mainland, and strategies were to be devised and plans drawn up to meet this challenge. In outline, there appeared to be a rough draft of a response whereby the three

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