Battle of Baecula - Aftermath

Aftermath

After the battle, Hasdrubal led his depleted army over the western passes of the Pyrenees into Gaul, and subsequently into Italy with a mostly Gallic force in an ill-fated attempt to join his brother Hannibal.

While Scipio could be criticised for letting Hasdrubal escape from Iberia, a pursuit by the Romans through unknown mountainous and hostile terrains, leaving two full strength and numerously superior Carthaginian armies to his rear, would have been to risk another disaster like the Battle of Lake Trasimene.

Instead, Scipio retired his army to Tarraco, and managed to secure alliances with most of the native Iberian tribes, who switched side after the Roman successes in Carthago Nova and Baecula.

Meanwhile, Carthaginian reinforcements landed in Iberia during the winter, and would soon launch a final attempt to recover their losses.