Publius Cornelius Scipio commanded the Roman force sent to stop Hannibal . He did not expect Hannibal to cross the Alps . Publius Cornelius Scipio , the consul who commanded the Roman force sent to intercept Hannibal , and Scipio Africanus ' father , had not expected Hannibal to make an attempt to cross the Alps , since the Romans were prepared to fight the war in Iberia .