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Mago fought at the side of Hannibal in the invasion of [[Italy]], and played a key role in many battles. At the [[Battle of the Trebia]], he commanded the detachment that ambushed the Romans, breaking down their battle array. After the battle, Mago commanded the rearguard of the Carthaginian column as it marched south towards [[Latium]] through the marshes of Aino. In the [[Battle of Cannae]], Mago and Hannibal took position with the Gallic infantry at the center, in the most vulnerable and crucial position of the formation.
After the victory of Cannae, Hannibal sent Mago with a detachment to [[Bruttium]] (southern Italy). While marching through [[Lucania]] and Bruttium, Mago subdued several towns and brought over several to the Carthaginian side. From Bruttium, Mago sailed to Carthage, leaving [[Hanno the Elder]] in command of the Carthaginian garrison. Mago presented the golden rings of Roman [[Equestrian (Roman)|equites]] fallen at Cannae to the Carthaginian Senate, requesting reinforcements for Hannibal at the end of his speech. This prompted the supporters of the Barcid party in the Senate to taunt their opponents, who had bitterly opposed any aid to Hannibal. In response, [[Hanno the Great]], leading opponent of the Barcids, placed several questions to Mago, which took most of the gloss off Mago's presentation. Still, the Senate members were impressed enough to vote
However, when the news of the disastrous [[Battle of Dertosa]] reached Carthage, Mago and his army were sent to [[Hispania]] (the [[Iberian Peninsula]]) as reinforcements for Hasdrubal instead. But the Carthaginian Senate did not entirely ignore the Italian front for once. A force of 4,000 Numidian cavalry and 40 elephants was sent to [[Locri]] in Bruttium, escorted by the Punic fleet under [[Bomilcar (3rd century BC)|Bomilcar]].<ref>Livy 22.32</ref> These were the only significant reinforcements Hannibal was to receive from his government.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}
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