BC270-251 Hamilcar Barca of Carthage
In the twenty years from 270-251 BC the First Punic War started in 264 BC with Hamilcar Barca (pictured) of Carthage taking on the expansionist zeal of Rome.
The Punic Wars derived their name from 'Punici' (older Poenici, from their Phoenician ancestry) -- the Latin term for Carthaginians.
The main cause of the First Punic War (264 to 241 BC) was the clash of interests between the existing Carthaginian Empire and the expansionist zeal of Rome -- particularly in Sicily which was mostly under Carthaginian control.
Carthage was located on the coast of Tunisia and in 264 BC was a powerful city-state with a large commercial empire. Unlike Rome, it did not maintain a strong standing army and relied instead on mercenaries to fight its wars.
As soon as Rome had consolidated its control over Italy, it came into conflict with Carthage as it attempted to expand its influence into the Mediterranean. The war was fought in Sicily and Africa but it was mostly a naval war. It began as a local conflict in Sicily between Hiero II of Syracuse, and the Mamertines of Messina.
The Mamertines enlisted the aid of the Carthaginian navy and then betrayed the Carthaginians -- led by Hamilcar Barca -- by entreating the Roman Senate for aid against Carthage. The Romans sent a garrison to secure Messina, and the outraged Carthaginians then lent aid to Syracuse. With the two local powers now embroiled in a local conflict, local tensions quickly escalated into a full-scale war between Carthage and Rome for the control of Sicily.
Rome was victorious. It conquered the island of Sicily and forced the defeated Carthage to pay a massive tribute.
The Punic Wars derived their name from 'Punici' (older Poenici, from their Phoenician ancestry) -- the Latin term for Carthaginians.
The main cause of the First Punic War (264 to 241 BC) was the clash of interests between the existing Carthaginian Empire and the expansionist zeal of Rome -- particularly in Sicily which was mostly under Carthaginian control.
Carthage was located on the coast of Tunisia and in 264 BC was a powerful city-state with a large commercial empire. Unlike Rome, it did not maintain a strong standing army and relied instead on mercenaries to fight its wars.
As soon as Rome had consolidated its control over Italy, it came into conflict with Carthage as it attempted to expand its influence into the Mediterranean. The war was fought in Sicily and Africa but it was mostly a naval war. It began as a local conflict in Sicily between Hiero II of Syracuse, and the Mamertines of Messina.
The Mamertines enlisted the aid of the Carthaginian navy and then betrayed the Carthaginians -- led by Hamilcar Barca -- by entreating the Roman Senate for aid against Carthage. The Romans sent a garrison to secure Messina, and the outraged Carthaginians then lent aid to Syracuse. With the two local powers now embroiled in a local conflict, local tensions quickly escalated into a full-scale war between Carthage and Rome for the control of Sicily.
Rome was victorious. It conquered the island of Sicily and forced the defeated Carthage to pay a massive tribute.
Labels: BC270, carthage, hamilar barca, hiero ii, mamertines, punic wars, syracuse
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