Second Punic War

Second Punic War

The Second Punic War (218–201 BC) was a big fight between Carthage and Rome. These two places wanted to be the strongest in the western Mediterranean during the 3rd century BC. They fought for 17 years in many places, like Italy, Iberia, Sicily, Sardinia, and North Africa.

It all started after the First Punic War, which Rome won in 241 BC. Soon after, a leader named Hannibal from Carthage attacked a city called Saguntum in 219 BC. This made Rome very angry, and they declared war on Carthage in 218 BC, starting the Second Punic War. Hannibal did something very surprising: he marched his army over land from Iberia, through Gaul, and over the Alps to Cisalpine Gaul, which is in modern northern Italy.

Hannibal won many battles against the Romans, like at Trebia, Lake Trasimene, and the famous battle of Cannae. But Rome didn’t give up. They found new ways to get soldiers.

The war moved to other places too. In Iberia, a Roman leader named Publius Scipio captured important cities and pushed back the Carthaginians. Finally, Scipio went to Africa in 204 BC. This made Carthage call Hannibal back from Italy. The last big battle happened at Zama in 202 BC, where Hannibal lost to Scipio.

After this, Carthage had to make a peace treaty with Rome. They lost many lands and had to pay a big amount of money for many years. From then on, Carthage could not fight wars without Rome’s permission. This war showed that Rome was now the stronger power, and it led to another war later called the Third Punic War.

Primary sources

The main source for learning about the Second Punic War is the writer Polybius, a Greek who lived around the same time as the war. He wrote a book called The Histories and tried to tell the story fairly. We still use his work even though some parts are missing.

When Polybius’s writing isn’t available, many historians turn to Livy, another writer from Rome. Livy based much of his story on Polybius but added more details. However, his stories about battles are sometimes not completely accurate. Other writers like Diodorus Siculus and Cassius Dio also wrote about the war, but their work is not as complete. We also learn from things like old coins and writings carved in stone.

Opposing forces

Main articles: Roman army of the mid-Republic and Military of Carthage

Most Roman men could be called to fight in wars. They usually fought as foot soldiers, but richer men rode horses. Rome would gather four groups of soldiers, called legions. Each legion had about 4,200 foot soldiers and 300 horse soldiers. Some soldiers were lighter armed and threw spears, while others had heavy armor and swords for close fighting. Rome's leaders chose two main generals each year, called consuls, to lead armies in battles.

Carthage often used soldiers from other places. From North Africa, they had many types of fighters, including foot soldiers with spears and light soldiers who threw javelins. They also had different kinds of horse soldiers. Some of these fighters used captured Roman weapons. Soldiers from places like Iberia and Gaul were also important. Carthage also used war elephants. Their navy didn't fight much, so Rome had more control at sea.

Background

The Roman Republic had been growing stronger in southern Italy for about a hundred years. By 270 BC, they had taken control of most of the area south of the Arno River. Meanwhile, Carthage, a powerful city in what is now Tunisia, controlled parts of Iberia (modern Spain and Portugal), North Africa, the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, and western Sicily.

Both Rome and Carthage were major powers in the western Mediterranean. They had friendly relations and strong trade links, but their different ways of dealing with nearby lands eventually led to conflict. The First Punic War began in 264 BC over control of the city of Messana in Sicily. After a long and tough fight, Carthage was defeated in 241 BC and lost Sicily to Rome. Later, Rome took Sardinia and Corsica from Carthage while it was dealing with internal uprisings.

To rebuild its strength, Carthage turned to Iberia. Under leaders like Hamilcar Barca and his family, they created a strong base there with rich resources and new military power. In 226 BC, an agreement set the Ebro River as the boundary between Roman and Carthaginian lands. However, in 219 BC, Hannibal, leading the Carthaginian forces, captured the city of Saguntum, which was allied with Rome. This action led Rome to declare war on Carthage in 218 BC, starting the Second Punic War.

Italy

Hannibal crosses the Alps, 218 BC

Main article: Hannibal's crossing of the Alps

In 218 BC, battles happened near Sicily. The Romans stopped a Carthaginian attack and took over the island of Malta. In northern Italy, Gallic tribes attacked Roman settlements, forcing them to flee to Mutina (modern Modena). A Roman army that was meant for Iberia was delayed.

Hannibal gathered his army and moved north along the coast of Iberia. He entered Gaul and took an inland route. At the Rhône Crossing, Hannibal defeated local Gauls trying to stop him. A Roman fleet landed at Massalia (modern Marseille), but Hannibal avoided them and continued to Italy.

The Carthaginians reached the Alps and crossed them in 15 days, facing harsh weather and difficult terrain. Hannibal arrived in northern Italy with 20,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, and some elephants in November. The Romans were already in winter quarters, so Hannibal’s surprise arrival changed Rome’s plans for the year.

Carthaginian victories, 218–216 BC

After arriving in Italy, the Carthaginians captured the city of Taurini (near modern Turin). In late November 218 BC, Carthaginian cavalry defeated Roman cavalry at the battle of Ticinus. This led many Gallic tribes to support Carthage, increasing Hannibal’s army. The Romans abandoned their plan to invade Africa and sent their forces north to face Hannibal.

In early spring 217 BC, the Carthaginians crossed the Apennines. Hannibal tricked the Roman army under Gaius Flaminius and ambushed them at Lake Trasimene. A Roman cavalry force was also destroyed.

In 216 BC, Hannibal seized a supply depot at Cannae. The Romans raised a huge army. At the battle of Cannae, Hannibal’s forces surrounded the Romans, and many were killed or captured. This was one of Rome’s worst military disasters.

Roman allies defect, 216–214 BC

Several city states in southern Italy joined Hannibal or were taken over. These included Capua and the port city of Tarentum (modern Taranto). Two Samnite tribes also supported Carthage. By 214 BC, much of southern Italy had turned against Rome, though many central Italian allies remained loyal.

Hannibal’s greatest success was in Capua, Italy’s second-largest city. The people of Capua made an agreement with Hannibal. When the port city of Locri defected to Carthage in 215 BC, it was used to send soldiers and supplies to Hannibal.

The Romans responded by enlisting slaves and others to build up their armies. By 215 BC, they had at least 12 legions.

Macedonia, Sardinia and Sicily

In 215 BC, the Macedonian king Philip V agreed to support Hannibal, starting the First Macedonian War against Rome. Rome was worried the Macedonians would attack Italy but reinforced their navy. The threat faded when Rome allied with the Aetolian League.

A rebellion in support of Carthage broke out on Sardinia in 213 BC but was quickly crushed by the Romans.

Before 215 BC, Sicily was under Roman control. After the death of Hiero II, his successor switched allegiance to Carthage. However, the Syracusan army was no match for a Roman force led by Claudius Marcellus, and Syracuse was besieged. The city’s strong defenses made the siege difficult. In 212 BC, the Romans captured Syracuse.

A large Carthaginian army was sent to relieve Syracuse in 213 BC, and several Sicilian cities switched sides. However, the Carthaginian army was weakened by disease. In 211 BC, Rome captured the main Carthaginian stronghold in Sicily, Agrigentum. The remaining Carthaginian-held towns surrendered or were taken by force.

Italy, 213–208 BC

For many years after Cannae, the war moved around southern Italy as cities switched sides or were retaken by Rome. Hannibal often defeated Roman armies, but Rome kept attacking Carthaginian-supported towns. By 208 BC, many cities that had joined Carthage returned to Rome.

Fabius captured the town of Arpi in 213 BC. In 212 BC, Hannibal defeated a Roman army at the battle of the Silarus. In 211 BC, Hannibal tried to help Capua but failed. He then marched towards Rome, hoping to force the Romans to abandon the siege, but they stayed, and Capua fell soon after.

In 210 BC, the Carthaginians ambushed a Roman army near Herdonia, defeating it. Hannibal fought battles at Numistro and Canusium in 209 BC, where the Romans suffered heavy losses. This allowed another Roman army to capture Tarentum.

Italy, 207–203 BC

In 207 BC, Hannibal’s brother Hasdrubal led an army across the Alps into northern Italy to join Hannibal. However, the Romans tricked Hannibal and attacked Hasdrubal’s army at the battle of the Metaurus, killing him. This confirmed Roman control in Italy and ended their strategy of avoiding battle. Hannibal’s forces had to leave allied towns and retreat to Bruttium.

In 205 BC, another of Hannibal’s brothers, Mago, landed in northwest Italy with an army. He was later defeated at the battle of Insubria in 203 BC.

After a Roman invasion of Carthage in 204 BC, Hannibal and his army were recalled from Italy. They sailed from Croton and landed at Carthage with veterans. Mago was also recalled but died during the journey.

Iberia

Iberia 218–211 BC

In 218 BC, the Romans landed in north-east Iberia and got help from local tribes. This stopped Carthaginian reinforcements from reaching Hannibal in Italy. A Carthaginian attack was stopped at the battle of Cissa. In 217 BC, Carthaginian and Iberian ships lost to Roman and Massalian ships at the battle of Ebro River.

Hasdrubal, a Carthaginian leader, was told to go to Italy to help Hannibal but thought it was too dangerous. In 215 BC, he attacked a town that supported Rome and fought a battle at Dertosa. The Romans won, so Hasdrubal could not join Hannibal.

The Carthaginians lost the support of local Celtiberian tribes, who sided with Rome. The Romans captured the town of Saguntum in 212 BC and hired Celtiberian mercenaries. In 211 BC, the Romans fought two big battles called the battle of the Upper Baetis and lost because their mercenaries left. The remaining Romans went back to a coastal town but got help in 210 BC.

Iberia, 211–205 BC

In 210 BC, Publius Cornelius Scipio arrived in Iberia with more Roman soldiers. In 209 BC, he captured New Carthage, the main Carthaginian city in Iberia, and took lots of gold and silver. He freed the people who were captured there.

In 208 BC, Hasdrubal fought Scipio at the battle of Baecula. The Carthaginians lost but Hasdrubal escaped with most of his army and went into Gaul. In 207 BC, he tried to join Hannibal in Italy but was defeated.

In 206 BC, Scipio defeated the Carthaginians at the battle of Ilipa, ending their control in Iberia. The last Carthaginian city, Gades, switched to Rome. Later that year, some Roman soldiers rebelled but Scipio stopped it. In 205 BC, an attempt to retake New Carthage failed. In 203 BC, Carthage still hired some soldiers from Iberia.

Africa

Africa, 213–206 BC

In 213 BC, Syphax, a king in North Africa, chose to support Rome. Carthage sent troops to the area. By 206 BC, Carthage made peace with Syphax, but this left one prince, Masinissa, without a kingdom. Masinissa then joined forces with Rome.

Roman invasion of Africa, 204–201 BC

Main article: Roman invasion of Africa (204–201 BC)

In 205 BC, Publius Scipio was put in charge of Roman forces in Sicily and got ready to invade Africa. In 204 BC, he landed in Africa and was joined by Masinissa and Numidian cavalry. Scipio fought and defeated two large Carthaginian armies. After the second battle, Masinissa captured Syphax and took control of most of his kingdom with Roman help.

Rome and Carthage began peace talks, but Carthage broke the agreement after Hannibal arrived from Italy. Hannibal led a new army in Africa. In the battle of Zama in October 202 BC, the Romans defeated the Carthaginians. Hannibal used elephants, but they turned against their own troops. The Roman cavalry attacked the Carthaginian rear, leading to a Carthaginian defeat. Hannibal was one of the few to escape.

Roman victory

Further information: Third Punic War

After the war ended, Rome made strict rules for Carthage. Carthage lost all its lands outside Africa and had to pay a large amount of money to Rome for many years. They were not allowed to have war elephants or many ships and could not fight wars without Rome’s permission. Even though some leaders in Carthage wanted to refuse these rules, Hannibal helped them accept the treaty in 201 BC. From then on, Carthage had to follow Rome’s orders.

Rome’s friend, King Masinissa of Numidia, often took land from Carthage because the rules stopped Carthage from defending itself. Many years later, Carthage tried to fight back but lost badly. This gave Rome an excuse to start the Third Punic War. Rome attacked Carthage, destroyed the city, and took control of its lands. It took a long time before Carthage was rebuilt as a Roman city.

triumph and received the agnomen "Africanus".

Hasdrubal and the battle of Oroscopa. The Third Punic War began later in 149 BC when a large Roman army landed in North Africa and besieged Carthage. The Roman province of Africa was formed and the site of Carthage was rebuilt as a Roman city.

Notes, citations and sources

This section has references and sources used in the article. They help check the facts about the Second Punic War.