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The Punic Wars were the three wars fought between Rome and Carthage in the third and second centuries BC. The word "Punic" is derived from the Latin word "punicus" and earlier Latin "poenus", meaning "a Carthaginian", and earlier Greek "phoinix" meaning "a Phoenician". Phoenicia was an ancient maritime city-state occupying modern day Syria and the Phoenicians were the first to colonize Carthage as early as 814 BC.

The city of Carthage was located on the northern coast of Africa, nine miles from of modern day Tunis, and became a prosperous city and state, dominating the western Mediterranean. With the rise of the Roman Republic, Carthage, only a few hundred mile from the coast of Italy, became a major irritant to the Romans.

Hannibal Barca

Although each of the three Punic wars are significant from an historical viewpoint, the Second Punic War is of particular interest because of its major player, the most famous Carthaginian of all, Hannibal Barca.

Hannibal was born in 247 BC, the son of the ruler and military leader of the Carthaginians, Hamilcar Barca. Hamilcar lead the Carthaginian army during the First Punic War (264 - 241 BC), a war that he and his comrades lost. Of all disputes between Rome and Carthage, the islands of Sicily and Sardinia were of highest import, as they lay directly between the two empires. Hamilcar's defeat in the First Punic War cost him and his empire these valuable and strategic Mediterranean strongholds.

The loss of Sicily and Sardinia was such a bitter disappointment to Hamilcar, that legend has it, he took his nine year old son Hannibal to the alter of a victory sacrifice from his African campaign and made him swear an oath over the body to dedicate his life to the destruction of Rome.

The Death of Hamilcar

Had Hamilcar not died, he himself would most likely have lead the invasion of Rome. As it happened, he drowned in battle during his conquest of Spain in 228 BC. The invasion would have to wait. Hamilcar's successor was his son-in-law Hasdrubal, who pursued a policy of appeasement over the next 9 years. Rather than provoke the various peoples under Carthaginian control, Hasdrubal preferred to establish friendly relations with the local princes and thus secure peace and cooperation.

Hasdrubal's policy of peaceful expansion would not save him from the violence of his age; he would also suffer an untimely death. He was killed in 219BC by a native who's master Hasdrubal himself had killed. The murderer was caught, and legend has it that his hatred of Hasdrubal and his followers was so great that he actually smiled under the harshest torture the Carthaginians could muster.

Upon Hasdrubal's death, Hannibal was ushered to the armies headquarters and immediately sworn in as commander of the army.

The men were elated. It was if their old commander Hamilcar had been restored to them in the form of his son. That was not the only reason the men loved their new leader. Being in the line of succession by marriage rather than blood, Hasdrubal knew that one day he would be replaced by the young upstart Hannibal. In attempts to remove this threat to his own power, Hasdrubal had Hannibal assigned to front lines of the most dangerous positions the army had occupied. His plan backfired. Rather than being killed or maimed, or worse, cower in the face of the enemy, Hannibal triumphed in all his military exploits, and learned first hand the skills and capabilities of the men he would one day lead.

Updated: November 28, 2004

by John F. Bergin

posted 1:20 PM, MST

The Conquest of Spain

Upon gaining control of the army, Hannibal immediately set out to test the limits of the treaties with Rome. In Spain, the dividing line between Roman and Carthaginian control was the river Ebro, and treaty designated the city of Saguntum as a neutral buffer zone between the two spheres of influence. Hannibal moved his army into the region south of the Ebro controlled by the tribe Olcades, and began operations that would eventually lead to the siege to the city.

Even in these early engagements, Hannibal displayed the cunning and guile that would set him apart as one of histories finest military commanders. Intent on clearing the Olcades region of any opposition, a series of assaults on neighboring cities was undertaken. On one occasion his column was attacked as they were returning to camp by a throng of local tribesmen who had been goaded into attacking by defeated survivors of previous battles with the Carthaginians. Clearly outnumbered by the growing mob, and laden down with loot, Hannibal risked no direct contact with his enemy and retreated to a nearby river and waited for nightfall.

As silence fell over the enemy camp, Hannibal awoke his men and began fording the river. Defenses were built on the other side, but care was taken to leave a way across for his enemy. By the time the tribesmen discovered what had happened, they were being lead to believe that the Carthaginians were retreating and were unwilling to fight. Thinking victory was within their grasp, the unorganized tribesmen plunged into the river helter-skelter, and began to cross en-masse. At the proper time Hannibal unleashed his cavalry into the river, and proceeded to massacre the helpless tribesmen as they struggled for a foothold in the swift current or the river.

This was not the end of the troubles for the beleaguered Spanish tribesmen. Before the survivors of the melee in the river could recover and catch their breath, Hannibal had formed up his infantry and began to cross back over the river to the Spaniard's side. The breathless and bloodied tribesmen were no match for the fresh Carthaginian Infantry, who dispersed their enemy and began to lay waste to the countryside. This was the end of Spanish resistance, save one city, Saguntum.

To be continued...

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