Spain

The full conquest of Spain was very slow. It occurred over a period of 188 years 207-19 BC).

The Romans took over Carthage's territories in southern Spain when Scipio Africanus defeated the Carthaginians at the Battle of Ilipa in 207 BC during the Second Punic War. They also annexed the areas along the eastern coast of Spain. Further Roman expansion was met with fierce resistance by inhabitants of the other areas of Spain, the Lusitanians, Celtiberians and other Iberian peoples. This led to a number of wars

The First Celtiberian War (181 to 179 BC) was fought by the Celtiberians (Celtic-speaking peoples who lived in central, north-western and western Spain) led by the Lusones (a Celtiberian group) who resisted Roman epxansion. The Romans won and signed separate peace treaties with the various Celtiberian peoples.

The Lusitanians, who lived in part of Portugal and part of Spain (in Extremadura) also resisted Roman expansion. The first conflicts started in 194 BC and by 179 BC the Romans had pacified the region and signed a peace treaty. Then a major revolt, the Lusitanian War (155-139 BC) broke out. In 151 BC the rebels were defeated by treachery and 10,000 people were massacred. This embittered the Lusitanians who continued their resistance. In 146 BC they started a successful guerrilla war. In 143 they allied with several Celtiberian groups. The war ended when the Lusitanian leader was murdered by three Lusitanians who had been bribed by the Romans.

The Second Celtiberian War (154-152 BC) was fought by two Celtiberian groups, the Numantines (from the city of Numantia,) and the Arevaci. At the same time there was also war with the Lusitanians (see above). The Romans won all these conflicts. The Arevaci continued on and off armed resistance, sometimes in alliance with the Lusitanians.

War flared up again in 143 with the Numantine War which lasted on an off until 133 when the Romans managed to capture the city, which was difficult to besiege. They forcibly disbanded the Celtiberian confederacy. The Arevaci were absorbed into Roman territory and helped defending these lands from invasion attempts by both the Lusitanians in 114 BC and the Cimbri, in 104-103 BC. Resentful that the Romans did not recognise their contribution, they rallied other disgruntled Celtiberians into ta revolt, the Third Celtiberian War (99-81 BC). The Romans defeated the Arevaci and destroyed their capital, Termantia, in 92 BC.

The conquest of north-western Spain (Cantabria, Asturias and León) occurred under the reign of Augustus with the Cantabrian or Cantabrian and Asturian Wars (29-19 BC).