This list details ancient and medieval Spain's involvement in wars and armed conflicts.
Ancient +ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultsPhoenician colonization of the Iberian Peninsula (700s–500s BC)
Location: Iberian Peninsula and Mediterranean SeaIberians Tartessos Supported by: Greek Mediterranean coloniesPhoenicia Carthage
Celts CeltiberiansCarthaginian victory
Cádiz, Cartagena (Qart-Hadast), Ibiza, Málaga (Malaka), Barcelona, Huelva, Almuñécar, Lebrija, Tarragona (Tarraco), Melilla etc. are founded by Phoenicians and then Carthaginians (escaping from Babylonian and Neo-Assyrian Empire). Fall of Tartessos Civilization as an indirect consecuence of the Greco-Carthaginian Battle of Alalia and Celtic invasions.Sicilian Wars (580–265 BC)
Battle of Himera (480 BC) Battle of Selinus Battle of Himera (409 BC) Siege of Akragas (406 BC) Battle of Gela (405 BC) Sack of Camarina Siege of Syracuse (397 BC) Battle of the Himera River (311 BC) Location: Mediterranean SeaCarthage Carthaginian Iberia Iberian mercenaries
Balearic slingerGreek city-states of Sicily, led by SyracuseStalemate
Carthage retains Western Sicily and the Greeks the eastern part. Carthaginian Iberia is established and recognised. Dionysius I of Syracuse recruits Iberian renegades (due to the treason of Himilco) as his Personal Guard since 396 BC.Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC)
Location: Ancient Greece and Eastern MediterraneanPeloponnesian League
(led by Sparta)
Boeotian League (led by Thebes)
Delphi
Phocis
Doris
Ambracia
Macedon (up until 421 BC)
Syracuse
Iberian mercenaries
Supported since 413 by:
Tissaphernes (Achaemenid empire) (413 - 408 BC), Cyrus the Younger (since 408 BC)Delian League (also called Athenian Empire)
(led by Athens)
Thessaly
Plataea
Argos
Acarnania
Elis (418 BC)
Mantinea (418 BC)
Segesta (415-413 BC)
Etruscans (415-413 BC)Spartan victory
Alcibiades establish a pro-Greek network of recruitment in the Iberian Peninsula through Greek Sicily.Theban–Spartan War (378–362 BC)
Location: Ancient GreeceSparta and allies
Syracuse Iberian mercenariesThebes and allies
Achaemenid empire Theban victory
End of Spartan hegemony Start of Theban hegemonyIberian Guards' mutiny against Dionysius II of Syracuse (361 BC)
Location: Greek SicilyIberian mercenariesSyracuseVictory
Dionysius II of Syracuse do not reduce the payment of the Iberians, and even increase it (according to Plato).Syracuse–Mamertines War (274 –270 BC)
Location: Greek SicilySyracuse Iberian mercenariesMamertinesSyracuse victory
Carthaginian mediation to save Mamertines from the anhilation, being confinated in Messina. Polybius mentions that the Iberian mercenarias were betrayed by Hiero II of Syracuse and then anhilated by the Mamertines. Hiero II became Tyrant of Syracuse. Further Roman intervention to aid Mamertines, which led to the First Punic War.First Punic War (264–241 BC)
Location: Mediterranean Sea (modern Italy and Tunisia)Carthage Carthaginian Iberia Syracuse (until 263 BC)
Mercenaries:
Ligures Celts Hispans Balearic Numidians Gauls Libyans Roman Republic Mamertines Syracuse (since 263 BC)Roman victory
Roman Sicily is established.Mercenary War (241–237 BC)
Location: North Africa, Sardinia and CorsicaInsurgents:
Carthage's mutinous army Rebellious African townCarthageCarthaginian victory
The multinational mercenaries are repressed by Hamilcar Barca in Africa. Sardinia and Corsica are ceded to Rome by the rebelling mercenaries. The human and economic losses forced Carthage to turn its sights towards new territories to colonize and far from the sphere of influence of Rome, thus beginning the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.Barcid conquest of Hispania (237–218 BC)
Battle of Helike
Location: Carthaginian IberiaIberiansCeltiberiansCarthageCarthaginian victory Expansion of Carthaginian IberiaRoman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula (220–17 BC) Second Punic War Celtiberian Wars Lusitanian War Numantine War Sertorian War Cantabrian Wars Location: Iberian Peninsula, Western Europe, Italian Peninsula, North Africa and Mediterranean SeaPre-Roman Iberians Astures Cantabrians Gallaec Iberians Celts Aquitanians Arevaci Lusones Lusitanians Vaccaei Vettones Belli Titii
Roman popularis exiles Roman Republic Celtic tribes vassal to Rome Cynetes TurdetaniRoman victory Annexation of Iberian Peninsula to the Roman EmpireCarthage–Gadir conflict (220s)
Location: Cádiz, present-day SpainCarthaginian Iberia GadirCarthageDefeat
Carthaginians reconquer Cadiz through the use of Battering ram for the first time in the region (according to Vitruvius).Siege of Saguntum (219 BC)
Location: Saguntum, present-day SpainSaguntinesCarthageCarthaginian victory Beginning of the Second Punic WarSecond Punic War (Spring 218 – 201 BC) Battle of Cissa Battle of Ebro River Battle of Ibera Battle of the Upper Baetis Battle of New Carthage Battle of Baecula Battle of Ilipa Battle of Carteia Battle of Carteia (naval) Part of the Punic Wars Location: Western MediterraneanRoman victory Roman conquest of Carthaginian Iberia Carthaginian African territories reduced(206–205 BC) Mutiny at Sucro Part of Roman conquest of Hispania Location: Iberian PeninsulaIlergetes Ausetani Sedetani Celtiberians Roman mutineers Roman Republic HispaniaRoman victoryIberian revolt (197–195 BC) Part of Roman conquest of Hispania Location: Iberian PeninsulaIberian rebels Celtiberians Indigetes Bergistani Lacetani Suessetani Ausetani Roman Republic Hispania IlergetesRoman victory Re-establishment of Roman control over HispaniaFirst Celtiberian War (181–179 BC) Part of Celtiberian Wars and Roman conquest of Hispania Location: Iberian PeninsulaCeltiberian tribes Vaccaei Vettones Roman Republic HispaniaRoman victory Rome conquers certain tribes but allows them to keep their autonomySecond Celtiberian War (154–151 BC) Part of Celtiberian Wars and Roman conquest of Hispania Location: Iberian PeninsulaCeltiberian tribes Belli Titii Arevaci Vaccaei Roman Republic HispaniaRoman victory Roman influence increases over CeltiberiansLusitanian War (155–139 BC) Part of Roman conquest of Hispania Location: Iberian Peninsula Roman Republic Hispania
Celtic tribes become vassals of Rome Cynetes TurdetaniLusitanian tribes Celtic tribes Vettones Gallaeci OthersRoman victory Pacification of Lusitania (modern Portugal between the rivers Tagus and Douro and Extremadura, Spain)Numantine War (143–133 BC) Part of Roman conquest of Hispania Location: Iberian Peninsula Roman Republic Hispania Arevaci Lusones Vaccaei VettonesRoman victory Expansion of Roman territory through Celtiberia(132–19 BC) Part of Roman conquest of Hispania Location: Iberian PeninsulaGallaeci Celts Roman Republic HispaniaRoman victory(123–121 BC) Part of Roman conquest of Hispania
Location: Iberian PeninsulaBalearic slinger Roman Republic HispaniaRoman victoryJugurthine War (111–105 BC)
Location: North Africa (modern Algeria) Roman Republic Hispania Mauretania (from 105 BC)Numidia Mauretania (107-105 BC)Roman victorySertorian War (80–72 BC) Part of Crisis of the Roman Republic and Roman conquest of Hispania Location: Iberian PeninsulaRoman popularis exiles
Native Iberians
Native Celts
Native AquitaniansRoman SenateRoman senate victoryGallic Wars (58–50 BC)
Location: Gaul (modern France) Roman Republic Auxilia forces:
Numidians Cretans Hispans Balearic Germanics CeltsGauls Germanics
Ancient BritonsRoman victory
Roman Gaul is established.Caesar's civil war (49–45 BC) Battle of Ilerda Siege of Corduba Part of Crisis of the Roman Republic Location: Hispania, Italia, Graecia, Illyria, Aegyptus, AfricaPompeians Optimates
Numidia
Ptolemaic kingdom
PontusCaesarians Populares
MauretaniaCaesarian victoryAntony's Atropatene campaign (36 BC)
Part of Roman–Parthian Wars Location: Middle East Roman Republic Armenia
Galatia
Cappadocia
Pontus
Herodian Kingdom of JudeaParthian Empire Atropatene
Hasmonean KingdomDraw
Parthian expels Romans (which included Iberian cavalry).Cantabrian Wars (29–19 BC) Part of Roman conquest of Hispania
Location: Iberian PeninsulaAstures
Cantabri
GallaeciOrosius, Histories against the Pagans, vi.21 . Roman Empire HispaniaRoman victoryRoman conquest of Britain (43–84) Roman Empire Roman Italy Hispania Roman GaulCeltic BritonsRoman victory
Roman Britain is established. Rise of the Legio IX Hispana.First Jewish–Roman War (66–73)
Part of Jewish–Roman wars Location: Roman Palestine Roman EmpireJudean provisional government
Supported by:
Adiabene volunteers
Zealots Galileans Peasantry faction Idumaeans SicariiRoman victory
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple. Formation of the Jewish diaspora. The (Unit recruited in Hispania) settles in Syria and Capadocia. Year of the Four Emperors (68–69)
Battle of Bedriacum Location: Western EuropeGalba to Otho Loyals to Galba
Hispania Tarraconensis Lusitania Gallia Aquitania Sequani
Otho to Vespasian Loyals to Otho
Hispania Roman Italy Numidia
Loyals to Vespasian
Roman Egypt Roman Syria Roman Judaea Roman Illyria Raetia MoesiaGalba to Otho Loyals to Nero
Germania Superior Gallia Lugdunensis
Loyals to Otho
Praetorian Guard
Otho to Vespasian Loyals to Vitellius
Germania Superior Batavi Roman GaulStalemate
Galba deposse Nero and repress Lucius Clodius Macer revolt in Africa. Death of Gaius Julius Vindex. Otho depose Galba, then Otho is deposed by Vitellius. Rise of the Flavian dynasty and of Lucius Verginius Rufus. Start of the Revolt of the Batavi against Vespasian. The Spanish Legio VII Gemina is consolidated. Vespasion in the year 74.Revolt of the Batavi (69–70)
Location: Modern Netherlands Roman Empire Germania Inferior Roman Gaul Roman Britain HispaniaCeltic and Germanic tribes from Gallia Belgica:
Batavi Cananefates Frisii Lingones TreveriRoman victory
Subjugation of the BataviDomitian's Dacian War (86–88)
Part of Dacian Wars Location: Balkans Roman Empire Dacian KingdomDacian victory
The Cohors I Cantabrorum is nearly annihilated, joining their remnants to the Cohors II Cantabrorum (both of the Iberian Cantabri auxilia forces).Maurétanie Tingitane's Revolt against Antonino Pius (144–152)
Location: North Africa [modern Morocco] Roman Empire Hispania Mauretania Tingitana MauriRoman victory through the engages from the Legio VII Gemina, Cohors I Gallica Equitata civium romanorum and Ala II Flavia Hispanorum civium Romanorum.Moorish Warhttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/359962162_Roman_Province_of_Mauretania_Tingitana_and_its_Economic_Potential (170-180s)
Raid on Baetica (170–171) Legio VII Gemina Revolt (171)
Location: Strait of Gibraltar Roman Empire HispaniaMauri raidersMauri Razzia against Hispania Baetica are stopped.Battle of Lugdunum (197)
Part of the Year of the Five Emperors
Location: Lugdunum (modern Lyon) Loyals to Clodius Albinus Hispania Roman Britain Loyals to Septimius Severus Pannonia, Illyricum Moesia DaciaSeveran victory
Severus remodelled the Imperial cult sanctuary to celebrate his dominance and humiliate Albinus' provincial supporters. The Legio VII Gemina changed its name to the Legio VII Gemina Felix Pia.Crisis of the Third Century (235–285 AD)
Location: Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe, North Africa, Middle East Roman Empire Roman Italy Hispania Roman Illyria Roman Greece Roman Mauretania Roman Libya Roman AnatoliaRoman usurpers Gallic Empire Palmyrene Empire
Sasanian Persia Germanic tribes Goths Alemanni Vandals CarpiansRoman victory Gallic Empire fails in its attempt to control Hispania (conquered the Tarraconense and Lusitania from 261 to 269). Emperor Aurelian re-conquers both the Palmyrene and Gallic Empires, and emperor Diocletian puts an end to the civil war.