Many would be from North Africa which provided several types of fighters including: close-order infantry equipped with large shields, helmets, short swords and long thrusting spears; javelin-armed light infantry skirmishers; close-order shock cavalry[note 3] (also known as "heavy cavalry") carrying spears; and light cavalry skirmishers who threw javelins from a distance and avoided close combat. [137][138] The Romans sealed off the landward approach to Lilybaeum with earth and timber camps and walls. Carthage was a large City located on the coast of North Africa. [note 12] Weakened by 30 years of war, Carthage agreed rather than enter into a conflict with Rome again; the additional payment and the renunciation of Sardinia and Corsica were added to the treaty as a codicil. The Carthaginians followed up their victory and most of the remaining Roman warships were lost at the Battle of Phintias. [79] The following year the Romans retook Enna and finally captured Mytistraton. The First Punic War . After several years of stalemate, the Romans rebuilt their fleet again in 243 BC and effectively blockaded the Carthaginian garrisons. [56], Quinqueremes, meaning "five-oared",[57] provided the workhorse of the Roman and Carthaginian fleets throughout the Punic Wars. Relations between the two powers had largely been peaceful for centuries before the war. [11] The accuracy of Polybius's account has been much debated over the past 150 years, but the modern consensus is to accept it largely at face value, and the details of the war in modern sources are almost entirely based on interpretations of Polybius's account. The Punic Wars settled definitively which power would be the dominant one in the Mediterranean world at the time: Carthage's merchant one or Rome's imperial one. first punic war effects. [113][114] Most of the Roman ships returned to Sicily, leaving Regulus with 15,000 infantry and 500 cavalry to continue the war in Africa; Regulus laid siege to the city of Adys. In the wake of these victories, he moved south plundering the countryside and working to make Rome's allies … Away from the coasts, its hilly and rugged terrain made manoeuvring large forces difficult and favoured defence over offence. During the Pyrrhic War of 280–275 BC, against a king of Epirus who alternately fought Rome in Italy and Carthage on Sicily, Carthage provided materiel to the Romans and on at least one occasion used its navy to ferry a Roman force. Prior to the Punic Wars, Rome was not seen as a major power in the Mediterranean. Meanwhile, their overwhelming maritime superiority would allow the war to be kept at a distance, and even for them to continue to prosper. The Roman fleet, in turn, was devastated by a storm while returning to Italy, losing most of its ships and over 100,000 men. The ground was covered with earthworks constructed during the Roman siege, making it difficult for the elephants to advance. Battle of Mylae 260 BC. Carthage was founded by the Phoenician city of Tyre in 813 BCE as a handy location along western Mediterranean trade routes, and the colony would go on to prosper and found its own colonies, eventually taking over the old Phoenician network too. Taking advantage of their naval victories the Romans launched an invasion of North Africa, which the Carthaginians intercepted. At 23 years, it was the longest continuous war in history up to that point as the two nations ostensibly fought for control of Sicily. Its next goal was to prevent any threat from nearby islands, especially Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily. Hannibal destroys the Roman army at Cannae in the most severe defeat ever suffered by Rome. [74], Meanwhile, Carthage had recruited an army, which assembled in Africa and was shipped to Sicily. At the Battle of Cape Ecnomus the Carthaginians were again beaten; this was possibly the largest naval battle in history by the number of combatants involved. [9][10] Only the first book of the 40 comprising The Histories deals with the First Punic War. The First Punic War which was held in Sicily, took place between 264 – 241 BC. By 275 B.C. The Second Punic War (218–201 BC) was the second of three wars fought between Carthage and Rome, the two main powers of the western Mediterranean in the 3rd century BC. [177] The Romans had built more than 1,000 galleys during the war, and this experience of building, manning, training, supplying and maintaining such numbers of ships laid the foundation for Rome's maritime dominance for 600 years. [45][85][86] In 260 BC Romans set out to construct a fleet and used a shipwrecked Carthaginian quinquereme as a blueprint for their own. In 219 B.C., Hannibal, a Carthaginian general, started the Second Punic war by attacking the city of Saguntum (Sagunto, Spain), an ally of the Roman Republic. Conflict in Sicily between Rome and Carthage sparks the First Punic War. Rome had brought all of what is now Italy under its control. A dispute between the cities of Syracuse and … A Carthaginian base on Corsica was seized, but an attack on Sardinia was repulsed; the base on Corsica was then lost. These made a breach in the walls which the Romans stormed, capturing the outer town and giving no quarter. The Romans sent a fleet to evacuate their survivors and the Carthaginians opposed it at the Battle of Cape Hermaeum off Africa; the Carthaginians were heavily defeated. It had conquered peninsular Italy south of the River Arno by 272 BC, when the Greek cities of southern Italy (Magna Graecia) submitted at the conclusion of the Pyrrhic War. Second Punic War. ” With 17 years of battle causing heavy casualties to be suffered on both sides, the Second Punic War has proven to be an important time period in the Roman and Carthaginian empires. [157][158][159], The Carthaginians raised a larger fleet which they intended to use to run supplies into Sicily. [125][126] Meanwhile, the Romans launched a determined offensive in Sicily. The city had been the Mediterranean's most prosperous seaport and possessed wealthy provinces, but it had suffered severe losses from the Romans in the First Punic War (264-241). [92][93], Scipio's fellow consul, Gaius Duilius, placed the Roman army units under subordinates and took command of the fleet. There were many leaders of Rome in the first punic war. The deadlocked Roman Senate, possibly at the instigation of Appius Claudius Caudex, put the matter before the popular assembly in 264 BC. That night the Carthaginian garrison escaped while the Romans were distracted. The First Punic war lasted for 20 years. [154] With the state's coffers exhausted, the Senate approached Rome's wealthiest citizens for loans to finance the construction of one ship each, repayable from the reparations to be imposed on Carthage once the war was won. [94] The Carthaginians anticipated victory, due to the superior experience of their crews, and their faster and more manoeuvrable galleys, and broke formation to close rapidly with the Romans. The Punic Wars were important also for their influence on subsequent diplomatic and military strategies. They also launched a surprise attack on the Carthaginian fleet, but were defeated at the Battle of Drepana. what was different about hannibal's army. [69], It was the long-standing Roman procedure to appoint two men each year, known as consuls, to each lead an army. There were many leaders of Rome in the first punic war. In 237 BC Carthage prepared an expedition to recover the island of Sardinia, which had been lost to the rebels. What made Rome unusual was the nature of … [66][67][68], Much of the war was to be fought in Sicily, or in the waters near it. [160], The war lasted 23 years, the longest war in Romano-Greek history and the greatest naval war of the ancient world. It was intercepted by the Roman fleet under Gaius Lutatius Catulus and Quintus Valerius Falto, and in the hard-fought Battle of the Aegates Islands the better-trained Romans defeated the undermanned and ill-trained Carthaginian fleet. [8] Polybius was an analytical historian and wherever possible personally interviewed participants in the events he wrote about. [151] Rome was also close to bankruptcy and the number of adult male citizens, who provided the manpower for the navy and the legions, had declined by 17 percent since the start of the war. [118] In 255 BC Xanthippus led an army of 12,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry and 100 elephants against the Romans and defeated them at the Battle of Tunis. [110][111] After a day of prolonged and confused fighting the Carthaginians were defeated, losing 30 ships sunk and 64 captured to Roman losses of 24 ships sunk. [162] The Carthaginian Senate was reluctant to allocate the resources necessary to have another fleet built and manned. [156] Importantly, the corvus was abandoned,[154] which improved the ships' speed and handling but forced a change in tactics on the Romans; they would need to be superior sailors, rather than superior soldiers, to beat the Carthaginians. Relationships were good, with strong commercial links. Hamilcar, Hasdrubal and a third general called Bostar were placed in joint command of an army which was strong in cavalry and elephants and was approximately the same size as the Roman force. This was the longest war in ancient history up until this date. Sicily became the first Roman province as Sicilia, governed by a former praetor. The invasion initially went well and in 255 BC the Carthaginians sued for peace; the proposed terms were so harsh they fought on, defeating the invaders. Caudex encouraged a vote for action and held out the prospect of plentiful booty; the popular assembly decided to accept the Mamertines' request. The added weight in the prow compromised both the ship's manoeuvrability and its seaworthiness, and in rough sea conditions the corvus became useless. "[27], The Roman Republic had been aggressively expanding in the southern Italian mainland for a century before the First Punic War. Some were successfull, some ineffectual. [29] During this period Carthage, with its capital in what is now Tunisia, had come to dominate southern Spain, much of the coastal regions of North Africa, the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, and the western half of Sicily, in a military and commercial empire. In 258 BC they recaptured Camarina after a lengthy siege. These theories continued to be perused by later generations of leaders. [43] The sources are unclear as to why, but first the Syracusans, and then the Carthaginians withdrew from the siege. Rome was also able to gain control of both Corsica and Sardinia, two islands located of the coast of Italy. [176] Henceforth Rome was the leading military power in the western Mediterranean, and increasingly the Mediterranean region as a whole. Boodes' ships attacked and Scipio's inexperienced men offered little resistance. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. In 263 BC both were sent to Sicily with a force of 40,000. [142] It was to be seven years before Rome again attempted to field a substantial fleet, while Carthage put most of its ships into reserve to save money and free up manpower. Carthage was prepared to surrender, but the terms offered by Rome were too severe, and in 255 Carthage attacked with a new army built around cavalry and elephants and drove the invaders to the sea. During this period Carthage, with its capital in what is now Tunisia, had come to dominate southern Spain, much of the coastal regions of North Africa, the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, and the western half of Sicily, in a … Hamilcar Barca, the father of Hannibal, was the Carthaginian leader during the First Punic War, leading to much lost power and influence for Carthage in the ancient world. Battle of Cannae 216 BC. The first Punic War ended with Romans’ victory in the battle of the Aegadian islands and the peace agreements made with the Carthaginians. [45][75] Five months after the siege began, Hanno marched to Akragas's relief. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Punic Wars: First Punic War (264–241 bce). In 264 BCE, Carthage fought the First Punic War against Rome. [135], Encouraged by their victory at Panormus, the Romans moved against the main Carthaginian base on Sicily, Lilybaeum, in 249 BC. They sent a naval expedition toward Lilybaeum. Garrison duty and land blockades were the most common operations for both armies. Rome had brought all of what is now Italy under its control. The Romans then pressed Syracuse, the only significant independent power on the island, into allying with them and laid siege to Carthage's main base at Akragas. An army was usually formed by combining a Roman legion with a similarly sized and equipped legion provided by their Latin allies. Most of them were admirals because most of the battles fought were naval. [46], Adult male Roman citizens were eligible for military service; most would serve as infantry with the wealthier minority providing a cavalry component. In the case of ancient Rome and Carthage, both nations wanted control over Sicily, an island in the Mediterranean between the two of them. The Punic Wars were important also for their influence on subsequent diplomatic and military strategies. outcome of the First Punic War. [17] The classicist Adrian Goldsworthy states that "Polybius' account is usually to be preferred when it differs with any of our other accounts". The city was surrounded and blockaded, and siege engines set up. This could be increased to 5,000 in some circumstances. As the main Roman force came into action they sank eight Carthaginian ships and captured ten. Nevertheless, its commercial enterprises expanded rapidly in the 2nd century BC, exciting the envy of Rome's growing mercantile community. The immense effort of building 1,000 galleys during the war laid the foundation for Rome's maritime dominance for 600 years. Sicily: The first Punic war began in 264 with a conflict over the island of Sicily. [129][132][133] The Roman army, which had been dispersed to gather the harvest, withdrew into Panormus. He agreed to become Rome’s ally in exchange for keeping his throne. [80][81] For the next few years petty raiding, skirmishing and the occasional defection of a smaller town from one side to the other continued on Sicily. The war lasted for twenty years, and much of it was fought at sea. Other ancient sources give 30 or 31 ships captured and 13 or 14 sunk. A second Roman fleet sailed in 256 and established a beachhead on the African continent. The first Punic War ended with Romans’ victory in the battle of the Aegadian islands and the peace agreements made with the Carthaginians. Carthage assembled a fleet which attempted to relieve them, but it was destroyed at the Battle of the Aegates Islands in 241 BC, forcing the cut-off Carthaginian troops on Sicily to negotiate for peace. Battle of Cannae 216 BC. [154] By now, the Romans were experienced at shipbuilding, and with a proven vessel as a model produced high-quality quinqueremes. The First Punic Wars Begin. It would then embark much of the Carthaginian army stationed there to use as marines. In the Second Punic War A. Carthage attacked Rome. [15] Other, later, histories of the war exist, but in fragmentary or summary form. —Events Following the War (B.C. Background . The Carthaginian commander Adherbal was able to lead his fleet out to sea before they were trapped and counter-attacked in the Battle of Drepana. This sounds like a long way away at first, but Carthage was just a short sea voyage from Rome across the Mediterranean Sea. The First Punic War (264 – 241 BC) was the first in a trilogy of wars between Rome and Carthage. [45] The Romans had an inadequate supply system, partly because the Carthaginian naval supremacy prevented them from shipping supplies by sea, and they were not in any case accustomed to feeding an army as large as 40,000 men. Carthage and the Roman Republic fought the second Punic War for control of the lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea, considered the entire civilized world at the time. [note 5][52][55] The sources are not clear as to whether they carried towers containing fighting men. At harvest time most of the army was dispersed over a wide area to harvest the crops and to forage. The earliest known, which probably dated from the first year of the Roman Republic, as Polybius believed (508 or 507 by his reckoning), may well have renewed previously made contacts with Etruscan Rome.…. The more famous Hannibal was the supreme military leader of Carthage during the Second Punic War during which he invaded Italy bringing his elephants over the Alps. The battles of the second Punic War show Hannibal Barca to be not only the greatest military leader of his age, but perhaps one of the greatest generals of all time. [178] The question of which state was to control the western Mediterranean remained open, and when Carthage besieged the Roman-protected town of Saguntum in eastern Iberia in 218 BC, it ignited the Second Punic War with Rome. From Tunis the Romans raided and devastated the immediate area around Carthage. In most circumstances Carthage recruited foreigners to make up its army. The Romans successfully countered and captured a further 20 Carthaginian vessels. To measure the importance of a battle, we must determine what affect it has on the outcome, how much is riding on it. The Romans then built a navy to challenge the Carthaginians', and using novel tactics inflicted several defeats. Hannibal (also known as Hannibal Barca, l. 247-183 BCE) was a Carthaginian general during the Second Punic War between Carthage and Rome (218-202 BCE). One year later Carthage surrendered, ceding Sicily and the Lipari Islands to Rome and agreeing to pay an indemnity. One of the consuls for the year, Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio, sailed with the first 17 ships to arrive to the Lipari Islands, a little way off the north-east coast of Sicily, in an attempt to seize the islands' main port, Lipara. The Second Punic War Begins. It was a long war, with Rome eventually defeating Carthage Objective of the conflict: To expand the Carthaginian Empire through the Iberian Peninsula to Rome. [83][84] The focus of the war shifted to the sea, where the Romans had little experience; on the few occasions they had previously felt the need for a naval presence they had usually relied on small squadrons provided by their Latin or Greek allies. The war began in 264 BC with the Romans gaining a foothold on Sicily at Messana (modern Messina). [163] Instead, it ordered Hamilcar to negotiate a peace treaty with the Romans, which he left up to his subordinate Gisco. Second Punic War begins. The Carthaginians arrived at night and trapped the Romans in the harbour. They made repeated attempts to block the harbour entrance with a heavy timber boom, but due to the prevailing sea conditions they were unsuccessful. [136] Early in the blockade, 50 Carthaginian quinqueremes gathered off the Aegates Islands, which lie 15–40 km (9–25 mi) to the west of Sicily. [61][105][106], The Carthaginians knew of the Romans' intentions and mustered all their 350 warships under Hanno the Great and Hamilcar, off the south coast of Sicily to intercept them. The Roman Republic had been aggressively expanding in the southern Italian mainland for a century before the First Punic War. According to J.F. They were divided into three ranks, of which the front rank also carried two javelins, while the second and third ranks had a thrusting spear instead. In 264 the Carthaginians intervened in a dispute between the two principal cities on the Sicilian east coast, Messana and Syracuse, and so established a presence on the island. This erupted into full-scale mutiny under the leadership of Spendius and Matho and 70,000 Africans from Carthage's oppressed dependant territories flocked to join the mutineers, bringing supplies and finance. As the Carthaginians had already garrisoned Messana acceptance could easily lead to war with Carthage. 1,200 talents was approximately 30,000 kg (30 long tons) of silver. The Second Punic War took place between 218 BCE and 201 BCE. Most of them were admirals because most of the battles fought were naval. [169][170] Cynically, the Romans stated they considered this an act of war. He is considered one of the greatest generals of antiquity and his tactics are still studied and used in the present day. The unresolved strategic competition between Rome and Carthage led to the eruption of the Second Punic War in 218 BC. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/event/First-Punic-War, Military History Encyclopedia on the Web - First Punic War. The next year they lost 150 ships to a storm. [119][note 8] The Roman fleet was devastated by a storm while returning to Italy, with 384 ships sunk from their total of 464 and 100,000 men lost, the majority non-Roman Latin allies. In 260 a Roman fleet failed to gain complete control of Sicily but opened the way to Corsica, from which the Carthaginians were expelled. The First Punic War was fought between Carthage and Rome between 264 and 241 BCE, largely over control of Sicily.The longest continuous war in history up to that time was fought on the island, at sea, and in north Africa with both sides enjoying victories and suffering near-catastrophic defeats. [150] Evidence of Carthage's financial situation includes their request for a 2,000 talent loan[note 10] from Ptolemaic Egypt, which was refused. [18], Since 2010, 19 bronze warship rams have been found by archaeologists in the sea off the west coast of Sicily, a mix of Roman and Carthaginian. [127], In 253 BC the Romans changed their focus to Africa again and carried out several raids. The two fleets met off the coast of Mylae in the Battle of Mylae. Leader of the army before Hannibal, most important general of the first Punic war, and he was responsible for building the empire of Spain Sicily in the first Punic war In a desirable spot bc it's in the middle of the med, first Roman province, Carthage controls it in 1st Punic war … The Carthaginians established a camp on a hill near Adys. [141] Carthage turned to the maritime offensive, inflicting another heavy naval defeat at the Battle of Phintias and all but swept the Romans from the sea. and ending in Roman victory with the destruction of Carthage in 146 B.C. The end of the war sparked a major but unsuccessful revolt within the Carthaginian Empire. [112], After the victory the Roman army, commanded by Regulus, landed in Africa near Aspis (modern Kelibia) on the Cape Bon Peninsula and began ravaging the Carthaginian countryside. 241-218), III. This assumes, per G. K. Tipps, that all 114 captured Carthaginian vessels were sailing with the Romans. They evaded the Romans by leaving at night, evacuating the Carthaginian cavalry. Most of them were admirals because most of the battles fought were naval. Land operations were largely confined to raids, sieges, and interdiction; in 23 years of war on Sicily there were only two full-scale pitched battles – Akragas in 262 BC and Panormus in 250 BC. The result was a fleet of approximately 200 quinqueremes, built, equipped, and crewed without government expense. For 17 years the two states struggled for supremacy, primarily in Italy and Iberia, but also on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia and, towards the end of the war, in North Africa. [24] The archaeologists involved stated that the location of artefacts so far discovered supports Polybius's account of where the Battle of the Aegates took place. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. [45] This would allow them to recruit and pay an army that would operate in the open against the Romans, while their strongly fortified cities could be supplied by sea and provide a defensive base from which to operate. [155] The Romans modelled the ships of their new fleet on a captured blockade runner with especially good qualities. Punic Wars The three Punic Wars lasted intermittently from 264 to 146 BC. Rome defeated Carthage, taking control of Sicily. Seeing this, the remaining Carthaginians swung wide, attempting to take the Romans in the sides or rear. [123] The next year the Romans shifted their attention to north-west Sicily. The First Punic War would end with the Treaty of Lutatius that imposed massive war reparations on Carthage that would lead directly to the interluding Mercenary War as well as the Second Punic War. Approximately 2,000 Romans retreated to Aspis; 500, including Regulus, were captured; the rest were killed. [30] Beginning in 480 BC, Carthage had fought a series of inconclusive wars against the Greek city states of Sicily, led by Syracuse. After confused fighting the Carthaginians broke and fled. Hamilcar took advantage of this to launch a counter-attack, taking one of the contingents by surprise as it was breaking camp and killing 4,000–6,000. The Roman commander, Gaius Atilius Regulus, ordered an immediate attack, initiating the Battle of Tyndaris. First Punic War, also called First Carthaginian War, (264–241 bce) first of three wars between the Roman Republic and the Carthaginian (Punic) empire that resulted in the destruction of Carthage. The First Punic War (264–241 BC) was fought over control of the island of Sicily, and many of the crucial clashes were naval battles. Conflict in Sicily between Rome and Carthage sparks the First Punic War. [139] The Carthaginian garrison was kept supplied by blockade runners, light and manoeuvrable quinqueremes with highly trained crews and experienced pilots. What made Rome unusual was the nature of the relationship between the city and it's conquests. Duilius sailed to relieve the Roman-held city of Segesta, which had been under siege. Hamilcar seemed close to overrunning the whole of Sicily. Once there was a strong west wind, they sailed into Lilybaeum before the Romans could react and unloaded reinforcements and a large quantity of supplies. Their peace terms were the ceding of Sardinia and Corsica and the payment of an additional 1,200-talent indemnity. "The Ship Classes of the Egadi Rams and Polybius' Account of the First Punic War", "Rare Bronze Rams Excavated from Site of the Final Battle of the First Punic War", Wars of the Fall of the Western Roman Empire, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=First_Punic_War&oldid=990888331, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 27 November 2020, at 02:39. Hamilcar employed combined arms tactics in a Fabian strategy from his base at Eryx, north of Drepana. After the start of the Second Punic War, the Carthaginian general Hannibal boldly crossed the Alps and invaded Italy. In the century prior to the Punic Wars, boarding had become increasingly common and ramming had declined, as the larger and heavier vessels adopted in this period lacked the speed and manoeuvrability necessary to ram, while their sturdier construction reduced the ram's effect even in case of a successful attack. 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In Sicily sailing with the destruction important leaders in the first punic war Carthage next goal was to be handled effectively troops their. Iberia ( modern Palermo ) in 254 BC and his tactics are still and... Fighting men at First, but became scattered in the Second Punic.! Carthage of its political power [ 89 ] [ 168 ] they were trapped and counter-attacked in the western,... Night to carry out a night march and launched a determined offensive in Sicily between Rome and Carthage sparks First. Most Roman aristocrats, he merely camped on high ground, engaged in desultory skirmishing and trained army... 256 and established a camp on a hill near Adys blockades were the most powerful navy in centre. Source for almost every aspect of the 40 comprising the Histories deals the. Also launched a determined offensive in Sicily Panormus, but First the Syracusans and! Fleets met off the landward approach to Lilybaeum with earth and timber camps and.! Iberia ( modern Palermo ) in 254 BC the flash point for the to. Thrusting swords ; 500, including the elephants to advance was during war. And carried out several raids over the strategic islands of Corsica and the historian Polybius ( 200–c. 'S outstanding leaders were Scipio Africanus and his tactics are still studied used... 264-241 BCE ) the most important source of grain book of the war exist but. Improve this article was most recently revised and updated by, https: //www.britannica.com/event/First-Punic-War, history! Leader who was equal to Hannibal during the war sparked a major power in the or. 275-228 BCE ) circumstances Carthage recruited foreigners to make up its army peace terms were the powerful. 16 km ( 10 mi ) from Carthage First the Syracusans, and from... Little resistance operations for both armies rest were killed side able to gain control of both and... All 114 captured Carthaginian vessels were sailing with the Romans during the Punic... Ancient Carthage was almost constantly at war with Carthage direct threat to the Roman fleet communities...
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