Punic Wars
The three wars between Rome and Carthage (264-146 BCE) that decided control of the western Mediterranean.
Category: Society
- 264 BCEFirst Punic War begins over Messana
Rome's assembly agrees in 264 BCE to help the Mamertine mercenaries holding Messana in Sicily against Syracuse and Carthage. The war with Carthage that follows lasts until 241 BCE.
- 260 BCEBattle of Mylae: Rome's fleet wins at sea
In 260 BCE the consul Gaius Duilius defeats a Carthaginian fleet off Sicily, using the corvus, a boarding bridge fitted to Roman ships, to turn naval battles into infantry fights.
- 241 BCEAegates Islands; Carthage leaves Sicily
In 241 BCE Gaius Lutatius Catulus destroys the Carthaginian relief fleet. By the treaty Carthage evacuates Sicily and pays 3,200 talents; Sicily becomes Rome's first province.
- c. 238 BCERome seizes Sardinia and Corsica from Carthage
As Carthage crushes its mutinous mercenaries, Rome takes Sardinia and Corsica in 238 BCE and demands 1,200 more talents. Polybius calls this the greatest cause of the next war.
- 219 BCEHannibal captures Saguntum
After eight months' siege, Hannibal takes Saguntum in 219 BCE, a town allied to Rome south of the Ebro. Rome demands his surrender, Carthage refuses, and the Second Punic War begins.
- 218 BCEBattle of the Trebia
Hannibal defeats a Roman army at the Trebia in December 218 BCE, his first major victory in Italy. Most of his elephants die in the winter cold afterwards.
- 218 BCEHannibal crosses the Alps
In autumn 218 BCE Hannibal leads his army and some 38 elephants from Spain over the Alps into Italy. Most elephants die and the exact pass is still disputed.
- 217 BCEBattle of Lake Trasimene
In 217 BCE Hannibal ambushes a Roman army beside Lake Trasimene and kills the consul Flaminius. Rome appoints Fabius Maximus dictator; his strategy of delay gives us the word "Fabian".
- 216 BCEBattle of Cannae
Hannibal's double envelopment destroys a much larger Roman army at Cannae in 216 BCE; ancient sources give tens of thousands dead. Capua and other southern cities defect, but Rome refuses peace.
- 212 BCERome takes Syracuse; Archimedes killed
After a siege begun in 213 BCE, Marcellus takes Syracuse in 212 and sacks it. Archimedes, whose war machines had held the Romans off, is killed by a soldier despite orders to spare him.
- 207 BCEBattle of the Metaurus
In 207 BCE two Roman consuls destroy Hasdrubal Barca's army marching to reinforce his brother Hannibal. Hasdrubal dies in the battle; Hannibal withdraws to Bruttium.
- 206 BCEBattle of Ilipa: Scipio drives Carthage from Spain
In spring 206 BCE Scipio defeats Hasdrubal Gisco and Mago near Ilipa with an unconventional battle line. Carthaginian control of Iberia, and its silver and manpower, ends.
- 202 BCEBattle of Zama ends the Second Punic War
Scipio Africanus defeats Hannibal near Zama in 202 BCE. In 201 Carthage accepts peace: it loses its overseas territory and most of its navy, pays a large indemnity, and may not wage war without Rome's consent.
- c. 183 BCEHannibal dies in exile
Hannibal dies in Bithynia, probably by poison, as Roman envoys press for his surrender; sources give 183, 182 or 181 BCE, and some blame King Prusias or a fever.
- 149 BCEThird Punic War begins
Provoked by Numidian raids, Carthage fights back in 149 BCE without Roman leave. Rome uses this as a pretext, lands at Utica and demands Carthage abandon its city.
- 146 BCERome destroys Carthage
In 146 BCE Scipio Aemilianus storms Carthage and the Romans take it street by street for six days. About 50,000 survivors are enslaved and the territory becomes the province of Africa.