The chief causes of the ultimate failure of Hannibal, besides the
doggedness of Rome’s resistance, were the faithfulness of many of Rome’s
allies, especially the Latins, in Italy, the success of Roman armies,
under Publius Scipio, in Spain (temporarily subdued 205 B. C.), and the
want of due support by Carthage to her great leader. The crisis came in
207 B. C., when Hannibal’s brother, Hasdrubal, crossed the Alps into
Italy with a powerful army which, joined with Hannibal’s in Southern
Italy, would probably have effected the conquest of Rome, now almost
exhausted. This was not to be. Hasdrubal was defeated, and slain by the
Romans at the decisive battle of the Metaurus (a river in Umbria), one
of the great critical contests of history. The junction of the forces
thus prevented, Rome was saved, and, in order to be rid of Hannibal, the
war was carried now into the enemy’s country.