During the Second Punic War (218 to 201 B.C.), the Carthaginians tried to make stations in Hispania from which they could launch attacks on Rome. An effect of fighting against the Carthaginians, was that Rome gained territory on the Iberian peninsula. They named Hispania one of their provinces after defeating Carthage. The area Rome gained was along the coast, but Rome needed more land inland to protect their bases.
During the 2nd century B.C., Rome fought Hispania Citerior, the northeastern area of Hispania, in the Celtiberian wars. Another part of the Spanish Wars was the Lusitanian War that was fought in Hispania Ulterior (Further Spain).
In the first century B.C., during the conflict between Sulla and Marius, Quintus Sertorius sided with Marius and the Populares, and in 83, he went to Hispania as proconsul at the head of an army. When the supporters of Sulla went after him, he went to Mauritania, in North Africa, where a military success won him the support of Lusitania, after which he returned to Hispania until his death. Sertorius was also joined by men fleeing Sullan Rome. Pompey was sent to dispose of Sertorius, but was unsuccessful. Despite his failure, Sertorius was disposed of by assassination, in 72.
Rome completed its conquest of the Roman province of Hispania by Augustus during the Cantabrian Wars or Astur-Cantabrian Wars (29-19 B.C.)
