Years of the third Punic War. Third Punic War (149-146 BC)

1. Wary attitude towards Carthage on the part of the Romans. Cato the Elder

By the middle of the 2nd century. BC Carthage recovered from previous defeats and again became a prosperous city. And the richer he became, the more he felt the restrictions imposed on him by the victors. According to the peace treaty of 201 BC, the Carthaginians could not wage any wars without the consent of the Romans. This was used by the neighboring Numidian king Masinissa ().

In 153 B.C. Massinissa raised strife over the so-called great plains and over the region of fifty cities, which they call Tusca. The Carthaginians filed a complaint with Rome. The Romans sent envoys, among them Marcus Porcius Cato, who, arriving on the disputed land, demanded that both sides give them the right to decide on everything. Massinissa, as always firmly relying on the Romans, granted them this right, but the Carthaginians were suspicious of the proposal, since they knew that the previous ambassadors had judged in bad faith. They said that the treaty concluded under Scipio after the Second Punic War () does not need any trial or correction; it is only necessary that nothing is disturbed from it. But the ambassadors, not wanting to pronounce their decision, left and began to inspect the country, which was carefully cultivated and had large sources of income. Entering the city, they saw how powerful it had become and how much its population had increased after the extermination inflicted on it by Scipio shortly before. Returning to Rome, they said that it was not so much envy as fear that aroused in them the position of Carthage, a hostile city and so significant, neighboring and growing so quickly. And especially Cato said that the Romans would never even have lasting freedom until they destroyed Carthage. The Senate, having learned about this, decided to fight, but at first they used pretexts and kept their decision hidden. And they say that from that time on in the Senate Cato constantly repeated his opinion that Carthage should not exist.

2. War between the Carthaginians and Numidians

In 152 BC, the democrats expelled about 40 supporters of Massinissa from Carthage. They fled to the Numidian king and began to encourage him to war. In 150 BC, Massinissa besieged the city of Horoscope. The Carthaginians (although they did not have the right to do so under the treaty of 201 BC) opposed him under the command of the boetarch Hasdrubal. In total he had 25 thousand infantry and 400 city horsemen. Massinissa retreated little by little, as if running away, until he led the enemies to a large and deserted plain, which was surrounded on all sides by steep hills and where no food could be found. Here, turning against the enemies, he camped on the plain.

A stubborn battle took place, which lasted from dawn until night; there were many dead on both sides. The victory remained with Massinissa. The Carthaginians retreated to a hill. Massinissa, surrounding him on all sides, stopped the delivery of food. The Carthaginians first ate all the cattle, then all the horses and, unable to bear the hunger any longer, agreed to make peace on Masinissa’s terms: they promised to hand over the defectors, pay 5 thousand talents of silver within 50 years and take back their exiled aristocrats. After this, Masinissa agreed to release the exhausted enemies from the encirclement. Without weapons, one by one they pass through the ranks of the Numidians. At this moment, Masinissa's son Gulusa (either with the knowledge of his father, or on his own) sent cavalry towards those leaving. The unarmed Carthaginians were almost completely exterminated. Only a few (including the commander Gazdrubal) reached hometown.

3. Wrath of the Romans and the beginning new war

Although the Carthaginians suffered a complete defeat, the Romans did not want to let them violate the treaty and decided to use this incident as a pretext for a new war. In the spring of 149 BC, military recruitment was announced throughout Italy. Trying to soften Rome, the Carthaginians imposed a death sentence on Hasdrubal and his other supporters who had started a war against Masinissa. They also sent ambassadors to Rome, who pointed out that the Numidians were the culprits of the war.

The Roman Senate, firmly determined to fight and inventing pretexts for this, responded as follows: the Carthaginians did not sufficiently justify themselves to the Romans. Then the ambassadors, speaking again, asked: if they were considered guilty in the eyes of the Senate, then at what cost could they wash away the accusation; The Senate answered verbatim: “if you satisfy the Romans.” When they began to look for what would be sufficient to satisfy, some believed that the Romans wanted the amount of money determined under Scipio to be increased, while others wanted them to cede the disputed land in favor of Massinissa. Finding themselves in difficulty, they again sent envoys to Rome and asked them to find out exactly what was sufficient satisfaction for the Romans. To this the Romans again said that the Carthaginians knew this well. With these words they sent the ambassadors back.

The Carthaginians were in fear and bewilderment. Utica, the greatest city in Libya after Carthage, which had convenient harbors for berthing ships, was disappointed in the Carthaginian cause, sent ambassadors to Rome and placed itself at the complete disposal of the Romans. The Senate, which had previously been striving for war, now openly expressed its intention and, having gathered at the Capitol, decided to fight the Carthaginians. Consuls were sent as military commanders: Mania Manilius over the infantry, and Lucius Marcius Censorinus over the fleet. They were instructed not to stop the war before they destroyed Carthage.

4. Arrival of the Romans in Africa. Conditions imposed on Carthage

Having made sacrifices, the consuls sailed to Sicily. Under their command there were 80 thousand foot soldiers and up to 4 thousand horsemen. The declaration of war and the beginning of hostilities were communicated to the Carthaginians simultaneously by one messenger; he brought a decree of war and at the same time announced that a fleet was sailing against them. Astonished by this, they began to despair of their situation, both because they had no ships, and because they had so recently lost so many young people; they had no allies, no ready mercenaries, no grain collected in case of a siege, and nothing else, as happens in a war that was not declared in advance and started so quickly. They therefore sent other ambassadors to Rome, giving them authority to decide as they pleased, in order to settle the matter as soon as they could under the circumstances. The Senate told them that if the Carthaginians gave the consuls still in Sicily as hostages 300 of the noblest children among them in the next 30 days and “carried out everything else prescribed to them,” they would have Carthage free and autonomous and all the land that they have in Libya.

The Carthaginians were suspicious of the Senate decision, handing over hostages not on the basis of a firm agreement. But since they were in such danger, with all their zeal, warning the appointed time, they took their children to Sicily. The consuls, having received the hostages, sent them to Rome, and announced to the Carthaginians that they would say everything else that was needed to end the war in Utica.

Having sailed to Africa, they became a camp - on foot where Scipio's camp had once been, and ships - in the harbors of the Uticians. When the ambassadors from Carthage arrived for negotiations, the consuls first praised them for the speed of delivering the hostages, and then asked: if the Carthaginians intend to live peacefully, then what need do they have for weapons? “So,” the consuls continued, “hand over all the weapons, no matter how many you have, both public and private, that each of you has, both darts and catapults.” The ambassadors responded that they had to obey, but they did not know how they would defend themselves from Gazdrubal, whom they had sentenced to death and who, having already gathered up to 20 thousand soldiers, set up camp near Carthage itself. The consuls said that the Romans would take care of this, and the ambassadors promised to issue weapons. Cornelius Scipio Nazica and Gnaeus Cornelius, nicknamed Spanish, were sent along with the ambassadors; they accepted 200 thousand of all kinds of weapons, infinite set arrows and darts, up to 2 thousand catapults releasing sharpened arrows and stones. It was a wonderful and at the same time strange spectacle, writes Appian, when the enemies themselves carried their weapons to their enemies on a huge number of carts; they were followed by the ambassadors and all the members of the council of elders and the most noble persons of the city, and the priests, and other prominent persons; they hoped that the consuls would feel either respect or regret for them. Brought before the consuls with signs of their dignity, they stood before them. Censorinus, after a pause for a long time with a hard expression on his face, he finally said the following: “As for obedience, oh, Carthaginians, and readiness up to this time both in relation to hostages and in relation to weapons, we praise you, but in difficult circumstances we must speak briefly. Listen firmly to the rest of the orders of the Senate, leave Carthage for our peace of mind, settle in whatever place you want in your country, 80 stadia from the sea, since it has been decided to raze this city to the ground.” While he was still saying this, the Carthaginians began to shout and raise their hands to the sky and called on the gods as witnesses to the deception committed against them. Although the consuls were overcome with pity at the sight of the vicissitudes human destiny, but they remained stern. The ambassadors did not achieve any mitigation.

5. The Carthaginians prepare to defend the city

When the news of the new demand of the Romans was conveyed to the people, the entire city was filled with groans and cries of anger, fear and threats. The council on the same day decided to fight and announced the liberation of the slaves; the same Gazdrubal, who had previously been sentenced to death, was elected commander for external actions. death penalty, which already had 20 thousand people gathered. Inside the walls, another Gazdrubal, Massanassa's grandson by daughter, was chosen as commander. After this, the Carthaginians sent envoys to the consuls, asking for a truce for 30 days in order to send an embassy to Rome. As a result of the change in mood, they were quickly filled with cheerfulness. All state and sacred areas and all other large premises were converted into workshops. Both men and women worked together day and night, resting and receiving food in shifts in the prescribed amount. Every day they produced 100 shields, 300 swords, and 1000 arrows for catapults. Women cut their hair so that men could string their bows.

Preparing for war, the Carthaginians pinned their hopes primarily on the powerful fortifications of their city. Carthage was located in the interior of a large bay. It was separated from the mainland by an isthmus twenty-five stadia wide; from the isthmus, between the swamp and the sea, a long and narrow ribbon of spit stretched to the west, at most half a stadium wide. The part of the city facing the sea was surrounded by a simple wall, as it was built on steep cliffs, the same part that was facing south towards the mainland, where the Birsa fortress was located on the isthmus, was surrounded by a triple wall. Of these walls, each was up to 15 m high, not counting the battlements and towers, which were spaced 400 m apart, each in four tiers; the width of the wall was 8.5 m. In this system there was only one weakly fortified place - the corner of the wall, which, bypassing the spit, bent towards the bay.

The harbors of Carthage were interconnected, so that it was possible to sail from one to another; the entrance to them from the open sea was 22 m wide, and it was locked with iron chains. The first harbor was provided for merchant ships, and it had many different berths; in the inner harbor (it was called Coton) there was an island in the middle, and both this island and the harbor were surrounded by huge embankments. The embankments were rich in shipyards and docks, designed for 220 ships, and, in addition to the shipyards, warehouses where everything needed to equip the triremes was kept.

6. Beginning of the siege. Scipio Aemilian

When the consuls realized that the Carthaginians did not intend to fulfill their last demand, they approached the city. Having divided operations among themselves, both moved towards the enemies: Manilius from the mainland along the isthmus; Censorinus came from land and from ships against the most weakly fortified corner of the wall. The consuls despised the Carthaginians as unarmed, but, encountering new weapons and the unexpected determination of the soldiers, they were amazed and retreated. After some time they tried again and again failed. The Carthaginians immediately grew in self-confidence, and the consuls, fearing Hasdrubal, who had become a camp in their rear, behind the swamp, began to strengthen two camps themselves: Censorinus near the swamp, under the walls of the enemies, and Manilius on the isthmus, on the road leading to the mainland.

Censorinus made machines and stairs. And again both consuls tried to storm the city and equally failed. Censorinus, having filled up part of the swamp along the spit to create a wider space, moved two large machines with rams; one of them was pushed by 6 thousand infantrymen led by military tribunes, the other by oarsmen, also under the command of ship commanders. Thanks to the competition that arose as a result of equal and equal work both between the workers and between those in charge, part of the wall fell and was already visible inner part cities. But even under such circumstances, the Carthaginians, pushing back the attackers, began to rebuild the fallen wall at night. But since the night was not enough for them to do this, they, fearing that the part of the work that they had just done, and still wet, could be destroyed by the Roman machines during the day, made a sortie against the enemy’s structures, some armed, others without. weapons, having only lighted torches, and burned them.

As daylight approached, the Romans were seized with a desire to break through by force through the fallen and incompletely repaired part of the wall; Moreover, inside there was a flat place visible, convenient for battle. Led by the consul, they boldly rushed through the gap into the city. Only one of the military tribunes - Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus - hesitated to enter after the others (this was the adopted son of Publius Scipio, the son of the famous Scipio Africanus, the conqueror of Hannibal). As he feared, those who broke through into the city were attacked from all sides by the Carthaginians (they placed armed soldiers at the front, and the unarmed ones were attached to them behind with stones and stakes and placed many others on the roofs of the surrounding houses). Bombarded and attacked from all sides, the Romans broke ranks and were soon driven back behind the walls. They could have suffered heavy losses if Scipio had not covered the retreating troops with his troops and thereby saved them. This was the first thing that created his fame, since he turned out to be more far-sighted and cautious than the consul.

A little later, Censorinus went to Rome to hold elections, and the Carthaginians began to act all the more decisively against Manilius. At night they laid planks on the ditch of the Roman camp closest to them and began to destroy the rampart. When those inside were confused, Scipio quickly rode out with his horsemen from the camp through another gate, and, going to the rear of the Carthaginians, instilled fear in them and forced them to retire into the city. And again, everyone believed that with this deed Scipio saved the Romans from great losses.

7. The campaign to Neferis and new failures of the Romans

Consul Manilius decided to launch a campaign against Neferis against Gazdrubal. Scipio was against this, seeing that the entire area was covered with steep slopes, gorges and thickets and that the hills were already occupied by enemies. His opinion, however, was not supported by other military tribunes, and Manilius, an inexperienced man in military affairs, began to cross the river. Gazdrubal moved towards him, and a terrible massacre took place on both sides. Finally, Gazdrubal, having climbed to some kind of fortification, where nothing could be done with him, sat down in it to attack those leaving. The Romans, already repenting of their action, retreated in formation to the stream, but since the river was difficult to cross and there were few fords, they inevitably fell into disorder. Seeing this, Gazdrubal boldly attacked the enemy and killed a large number of Romans.

At this critical moment, Scipio quickly led the 300 horsemen he had with him and all the others he had managed to gather against the enemies, dividing them into two parts; they had to alternately throw darts and immediately retreat, and then attack again and again quickly jump back. Since this happened often and without any interruption, the Libyans, constantly defeated, turned against Scipio and began to press less on those crossing the river, so that they managed to cross the stream. After them, Scipio and his horsemen jumped to the other side, although with difficulty, being hit by the spears of the enemies.

Everyone praised Scipio, and many were sure that such a commander should be at the head of the Roman army. When, at the beginning of 148 BC, Manilius learned that the newly elected consul Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus had arrived to replace him, he sent Scipio ahead of him to Rome. The army accompanied the departing Scipio all the way to the ship and offered prayers to the gods so that he would return to Libya as consul.

8. Unsuccessful actions of Calpurnius Piso

With the onset of spring, the consul Calpurnius Piso arrived and with him Lucius Mancinus as commander of the fleet. They did not attack either the Carthaginians or Gazdrubal, but launched military operations against other Libyan cities. Having tried to besiege Aspida from land and sea, they failed. From there Piso marched to Hippagretae and besieged them for a whole summer to no avail. The Hippagretians, having made two sorties, burned all his siege engines. Having achieved nothing, Calpurnius retired to Utica for the winter.

9. Election of Scipio as consul

When news of Piso's failure arrived in Rome, the people began to be indignant, fearing an ever-increasing war, so significant, irreconcilable and close. Remembering the exploits of Scipio and comparing them with the present situation, the Romans became eager to send him as consul against Carthage. And then came the elections of the authorities, and Scipio (since the laws in no way allowed him to be a consul due to his age) came forward, seeking the post of aedile, but the people elected him consul. The old consuls did not want to acknowledge this choice, but the Romans loudly insisted on it. Finally, one of the tribunes of the people said that he would deprive the consuls of the right to hold elections if they did not agree with the people. And the Senate was forced to abolish the age limit for a year. So Scipio, seeking aedileship, was chosen consul (147 BC). His colleague Gnaeus Livius Aemilianus Drusus began to demand that he cast lots with him regarding Libya, and insisted until one of the tribunes of the people proposed that the decision on the command of the army be transferred to the people. The people chose Scipio.

10. Scipio strengthens discipline

The soldiers under the command of Piso had no habit of order and discipline. On the contrary, they were accustomed to laziness, greed and robbery. The legions were accompanied by many small traders who, following them for booty, made raids together with braver warriors who went out without orders to plunder.

Arriving in Africa, Scipio immediately expelled from the camp many useless people and with them everything superfluous that served only for luxury. When the army was thus purified and a saving fear was instilled in it, it began to quickly carry out orders.

11. Capture Megara

First of all, Scipio tried to attack in one night in two places the so-called Megara - a very large suburb in the city, surrounded by a wall. He sent one part of his army against him, and on the other side he moved with axes, ladders and levers. However, it was not possible to destroy the wall; Then the consul ordered the young men to boldly climb the tower of a private person, which was located outside the wall and was equal in height to the wall. The young men who climbed the tower drove the defenders off the walls with darts, and then, placing poles and boards on the span between the towers and the wall, ran over them to the walls and jumped into Megara. Having then smashed the small gates, they let Scipio and 4 thousand soldiers into the city. The Carthaginians immediately began a hasty flight to Byrsa.

12. Fortification works of the Romans

Scipio burned down the fortified camp of Gazdrubal, which he had abandoned the day before, escaping to the city after the assault on Megara. Having taken possession of the entire isthmus, the Romans dug it up from sea to sea. When this work was completed, the consul ordered the digging of another similar ditch, located close to the first, facing the mainland. Having added two more side ditches to them, so that the entire dug-in space was a quadrangle, he surrounded it with sharp stakes. In addition to these pillars, he strengthened the remaining ditches with a palisade, and along the one facing Carthage, he erected a wall. In the middle was built of stone very high tower, and a four-story wooden building was built above it, from where one could see what was happening in the city.

The erected structure served Scipio as both a camp and a very long fortification against enemies. Coming out from here, he took away from the Carthaginians food that had previously been delivered to them by land. And this became the first and most important cause of famine and disaster for the besieged; after all, the entire population from the fields moved to the city, and because of the siege they could not swim out to sea themselves. Now food was delivered to the besieged city only by occasional ships that broke through the chain of Roman patrol ships in windy weather.

To stop any connection between the city and outside world Scipio decided to block the entrance to the harbor, facing west and located not far from land. He began to build a long embankment into the sea, starting from the spit that was between the swamp and the sea, moving it into the sea and straight to the entrance to the harbor. The Romans made this mound from large stones, tightly adjacent to each other, so that it would not be demolished by waves. When Scipio began the work, the Carthaginians laughed contemptuously at it, considering it lengthy and, perhaps, completely impossible; but over time, when such a large army with all its ardor did not stop working day or night, they became afraid and began to dig another passage on the other side of the harbor, facing the open sea, where it was impossible to build any embankment due to the depth of the sea and the fierce winds . Everyone dug: women and children, starting from the inside, carefully concealing what they were doing. At the same time, the Carthaginians built ships from old wood. And they hid all this so carefully that even the prisoners could not tell Scipio anything definite.

13. Sea battle

When everything was prepared, the Carthaginians opened a new mouth of the harbor and unexpectedly sailed out to sea on 50 ships, menacingly equipped to intimidate their enemies. And the suddenly formed passage and the fleet that appeared in this passage frightened the Romans so much that if the Carthaginians had immediately attacked with their ships the ships of the Romans, left unattended, as happens during siege work, they would have taken possession of the entire sea camp. But the ships of the besieged then sailed out only for show and, proudly laughing at the Romans, returned back.

On the third day after this, the Carthaginians lined up for a naval battle. In turn, the Romans, who had managed to put the ships and everything else in order, sailed out to meet them. From both sides there were shouts and words of encouragement, and all the energy of the rowers, helmsmen and warriors was manifested, since the Carthaginians pinned their hope of salvation only on this battle, and the Romans - on the final victory. Therefore, until mid-day there were many blows and wounds on both sides. In this battle, the small fast ships of the Libyans, sailing to the bottom of the large Roman ships, either pierced the stern, or cut off the rudder and oars and caused many other various damages. The battle was still unresolved when the day began to turn towards evening, and the Carthaginians decided to retreat. When returning, the small ships were embarrassed at the entrance to the canal, and the triremes, delayed by this, were unable to escape in time. The Romans attacked the defenseless ships and inflicted a lot of heavy damage on them. Start second naval battle The Carthaginians did not dare.

14. Capture of Neferis by the Romans

When winter began, Scipio decided to destroy those forces of the Carthaginians that they had outside the city and from where food was sent to them. Razoslav in different directions his legates, he himself moved against Diogenes, who, after Gazdrubal, was the commander of the garrison in Neferis.

The Romans besieged the enemy camp and brought vehicles to its fortifications. When two spans of walls between the towers collapsed, Scipio sent a thousand selected soldiers to ambush Diogenes’ rear, and he himself with another 3 thousand began to advance through the ruins of the spans. A stubborn battle ensued, in which all the forces of the besieged were gradually drawn into it. The selected thousand warriors, taking advantage of the fact that no one noticed them or even suspected that they were there, boldly attacked the fortification, destroyed the rampart and climbed inside the fortress. Frightened by this sudden attack, the Carthaginians fled. Massinissa's son Gulusa, swooping down on the fleeing with cavalry and elephants, carried out a great beating. Up to 70 thousand died, along with non-military personnel, up to 10 thousand were captured, and about 4 thousand escaped. After the camp, the city of Neferis, besieged by Scipio for 22 days, was also taken. This victory was very great importance. After all, Diogenes’ army delivered food to the besieged. When Neferis was taken, the rest of the fortified points of Libya surrendered to Scipio's legates or were taken by them without difficulty. The Carthaginians were deprived of food and received nothing by sea from Libya, which had already passed into the wrong hands.

15. Roman breakthrough to Coton

When the spring of 146 BC arrived, Scipio began the siege of Birsa and the harbor of Coton. At night, Gazdrubal burned part of Coton and with the bravest of the citizens went to the citadel. Scipio immediately launched an assault on the fortifications, diverting the attention of the Carthaginians. Meanwhile, Scipio's friend, the legate Gaius Laelius, attacked them from the other side. The cry of the Romans frightened the besieged and forced them to retreat. Weakened by hunger, they could no longer hold back the enemies, who, having captured the walls, occupied the area of ​​the people's assembly.

16. Fall of Byrsa and surrender of the Carthaginians

Scipio's main attention after this was turned to the conquest of Byrsa, the most fortified place in the city. Three streets led there from the square, and they were surrounded on all sides by tall six-story buildings. The Romans captured the first of these houses, and then, throwing logs and boards between the alleys, began to move from one roof to another and clear them of the enemy. While this war was going on above, another was unfolding in the narrow streets. Everything was full of groans, crying, screams and all kinds of suffering, writes Appian, since some were killed in hand-to-hand combat, others still alive were thrown down from the roofs to the ground. Approaching Byrsa, Scipio ordered all three streets to be set on fire. When another part of the city burned out, the Romans destroyed the houses and thus approached the fortress. Six days and six nights passed in such labors, and the Roman army was constantly replaced so as not to tire of insomnia, labor, beatings and terrible sights.

It seemed that this battle would last forever, but on the seventh day several Carthaginians, crowned with the wreaths of Asclepius, began to beg Scipio for mercy. They asked him to grant only life to those who wished to leave Birsa on these conditions. Scipio agreed to spare everyone except the defectors. And immediately 50 thousand people came out along with their wives along the narrow passage between the walls that was open to them. They were taken into custody, and all the Roman defectors, approximately 900 people, despairing of their salvation, fled to the temple of Asclepius along with Hasdrubal. From there they continued to fight stubbornly. But when hunger, insomnia, fear and fatigue began to exhaust them, they left the temple fence and entered the temple itself and onto its roof. At this time, unnoticed by others, Gazdrubal ran to Scipio with prayer branches. Scipio sat him down at his feet and showed him to the defectors. When they saw the betrayal of their leader, they set fire to the temple and burned alive in it.

17. News of victory and great joy of the Romans

After the destruction of Carthage, Scipio allowed the army to plunder everything except gold, silver and temple dedications for a certain number of days. At the same time, he sent the fastest ship to Rome as a messenger of victory, decorating it with the booty he had taken.

As soon as they learned about the victory in Rome, everyone ran out into the streets and spent the whole night together, rejoicing and hugging, as if only now, writes Appian, they became free from fear, only now did they feel that they could safely rule over others, only now were they confident in the firmness of their state and won such a victory that they had never won before.

18. Destruction of Carthage

The Senate, from among its number, sent ten of the noblest, so that together with Scipio they organized Libya for the benefit of the Romans. They decided that Scipio would destroy everything that remained of Carthage, and forbade anyone to inhabit this place, condemning anyone who would try to settle Byrsa and Megara again. It was also decided to destroy all the cities without exception that fought to help the Carthaginians; to those who helped the Romans, they gave each a part of the conquered land. The residents of Utica received especially significant land increases.

Rome and its neighbors during the Punic Wars

Under the terms of the peace treaty drawn up after the end of the Second Punic War, the Romans had the right to intervene in all political affairs of Carthage. Marcus Porcius Cato the Elder was placed at the head of one of Rome's commissions to Africa. Seeing the countless riches of the Poons, Cato declared that he would not be able to sleep peacefully until Carthage was completely destroyed. The Roman army quickly prepared for war. The Romans made cruel demands to the Poons: to hand over 300 noble hostages and all weapons. The Carthaginians hesitated, but still complied with the demands. However, the Roman consul Lucius Caesarinus stated that Carthage should be razed to the ground, and a new settlement should be founded no closer than 14 miles from the sea. Then the desperate determination of which only the Semites were capable flared up in the Carthaginians. It was decided to resist to the last extreme.

The Roman army stood at the walls of Carthage for almost two years. Not only were no positive results achieved, but the spirit of the Carthaginians only increased. In 147 BC. e. The leadership of the Romans was entrusted to Scipio Aemilianus, the grandson of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, the hero of the Second Punic War. Scipio first of all cleared the army of the mass of harmful rabble, restored discipline and vigorously waged the siege. Scipio blockaded the city from land and sea, built a dam and blocked access to the harbor, through which the besieged received everything they needed. The Carthaginians dug a wide canal, and their fleet unexpectedly went to sea.

In the spring of 146 BC. e. The Romans took Carthage by storm. Having burst into the city, they experienced fierce resistance for another 6 days. Driven to extremes, the Carthaginians set fire to the temple in which they locked themselves in order to die in the flames, and not at the hands of the enemy. The former possessions of Carthage were turned into a Roman province called Africa. It was subsequently governed by governors. The population received freedom, but was subject to taxes in favor of Rome. Outlying provinces were given different rights depending on their behavior during the war. The Roman rich flocked to the new province and began to collect profits that had previously gone into the coffers of Carthaginian merchants.

The Third Punic War did not bring glory to Rome. If in the first two wars equal opponents fought, then in the third - omnipotent Rome dealt with defenseless Carthage.

Historical significance of the Punic Wars

It was Rome that initiated the wars with Carthage, eager to seize as much land as possible, and such a major power as Carthage was a “tidbit” for the Romans. The victory was very difficult for Rome. In total, the wars lasted about 120 years. The Romans had talented generals. They were able to create a good navy, which Rome did not have at all before the start of the First Punic War. After three exhausting and bloody Punic Wars, Rome captured Carthage. The surviving inhabitants were sold into slavery, and the city itself was razed to the ground, and the place on which it stood was cursed. The territories belonging to Carthage were turned into Roman provinces. Rome became the sole and sovereign master of the Western Mediterranean and confidently ruled its eastern part.

Questions and tasks for self-test on topic 8.

1. Who and when was Carthage founded?

2. For what reason did the war begin between Rome and Carthage?

3. Describe the First Punic War.

4. Describe the Second Punic War.

5. Describe the Third Punic War.

6. What is the historical significance of the Punic Wars?

Bo second half of the 2nd century. BC e. as a result of two successful wars with Carthage, deep penetration In the countries of the Hellenistic East, subjugation of Macedonia and Greece, Rome became the largest Mediterranean power, the hegemon of not only the Western, but also the Eastern Mediterranean.

While the strength and attention of the Romans were focused on the East, the defeated Carthage managed to recover and strengthen its economic situation. Forced to abandon military takeovers and active foreign policy, Carthaginian merchants and slave owners are now investing their funds in Agriculture in Africa.

In Carthage, lively trade with local tribes begins to flourish, plantation agriculture is widely developing, and the number of workshops and trading enterprises is growing in the cities.

This revival of the economic power of Carthage caused strong discontent in Rome, especially among the equestrians and that part of the nobility that was associated with foreign trade. A strong and influential party arose that demanded the complete destruction of Carthage, even if this threatened a new war.

The head of this party was Marcus Porcius Cato (the Elder), who zealously promoted this idea and ended each of his speeches in the Senate with the same phrase: “Still, Carthage must be destroyed!”

It was not difficult to find a reason for war. The Numidian king Masinissa, feeling the support of the Romans, behaved extremely aggressively and tried to annex part of the Carthaginian territory to his possessions. An armed clash occurred, and although the Carthaginians were defeated, the Roman Senate regarded their actions as a cancellation of the terms of the treaty of 201 BC. e. and declared war. Thus began the third Punic War (149-146)

As soon as the Roman army landed in Africa, the Carthaginians sent envoys to the Roman command asking for peace. The Romans demanded the release of all weapons. When this was accomplished, they declared that the inhabitants should leave the city, as it would be destroyed. This new demand caused an explosion of anger and hatred towards the Romans. Carthage began feverishly preparing for defense; The entire population worked at night: weapons were forged, city walls were strengthened.

The siege of Carthage was far from an easy undertaking. It dragged on for more than two years. In 147 BC. e. Command of the army besieging Carthage was taken by Scipio Aemilianus, the adopted grandson of Scipio Africanus.

He strengthened discipline in the army, achieved a complete blockade of the city, and in the spring of 146 BC. e. began a general assault. The Romans broke into the city, street battles began, which lasted a whole week until the central fortification, Birsa, was taken.

The Senate commission, which arrived in the conquered city, decided on its complete destruction. Carthage was set on fire, burned for 16 days, then a furrow was drawn in the territory of the destroyed city with a plow as a sign that it was cursed. The Carthaginian possessions were included in the Roman province of Africa.

But before the Romans, after they had destroyed their age-old enemy, there stood another difficult task: settle in the former overseas possessions of Carthage - in Spain. Having ousted the Carthaginians from there, they entered into a long and stubborn struggle with the local tribes.

Back in 197 BC. e. A major uprising broke out in Spain, suppressed by the Romans with great difficulty.

In 154 BC. e. a new uprising occurred, sweeping almost the entire country. Various tribes took part in it: Lusitanians, Arevaci, Celtiberians, etc. Around 147 BC. e. The Lusitanians acquired a talented leader, the former shepherd Viriatus. The Romans were forced to recognize him as king of the Lusitanians.

The movement began to decline only after Viriath fell at the hands of sent assassins.

In 143 BC. e. Another uprising broke out in northern Spain, the center of which was the city of Numantia. In 137, the Roman consul Mancinus, who was surrounded, signed a peace with the Numantines, shameful for the Romans. Only the winner of Carthage, Scipio Aemilianus, managed to suppress this uprising and in 133, after a 15-month siege, captured Numantia.

The Third Punic War, the final conquest of Spain and the transformation of Asia into the Roman province completed the formation of the Roman Empire - the largest slave-owning state in the Mediterranean world.

Before we start talking about the causes of the Punic Wars, it is necessary to understand how many of these wars there were, between whom they were fought and what their periodization was.
The Punic Wars were a series of major military conflicts between Ancient Rome and Carthage. Throughout history, three things happened between them. big wars:
– 264-261 BC e.
– 218-201 BC e.
– 149-146 BC e.

Causes of the First Punic War
Before the outbreak of the first war between the Carthaginians and the Romans, these two peoples were loyal allies. However, Rome planned to expand its influence, and first of all it began to conquer Italy, which did not suit Carthage at all. And when Rome captured Sicily, relations between the states completely deteriorated. Sicily is important strategic point, which gave control over Mediterranean Sea.
The war was difficult for both sides, but still the Roman Republic managed to win and its reward was the island of Sicily.

Causes of the Second Punic War
After defeat in the first military conflict, Carthage forever lost the island of Sicily and the income from it, and also lost its monopoly on trade with the Mediterranean, which seriously damaged the power of Carthage.
But after the defeat, Carthage began to capture Spain and, with the help of its resources, was able to restore its power. Moreover, Spain is a rather advantageous springboard for an attack on Italy.
At this time, the Romans entered into an alliance with Saguntum and Spain, which was hostile to Carthage. It is also impossible not to take into account the personality of Hannibal, who saw his destiny in the war against Rome; he fiercely sought to give revenge to Rome and defeat it.
Hannibal also saw that now the number of Roman soldiers was not so large - a little more than 60 thousand. Moreover, this big army was divided into three smaller ones, governed by consuls. Hannibal had a little more than 50 thousand soldiers at the start of the war. He understood that it was easiest now to strike Rome when its troops were scattered.
As for all the same main reason the beginning of the war is the establishment of dominion in the Mediterranean.
The Second Punic War was without controversy the largest and bloodiest. The other two wars were just “rehearsals.” Both sides suffered huge losses. But, like last time, Rome won. However, there were moments when Rome almost found itself in the hands of Hannibal and only a miracle helped Rome.
As a result of the war, Carthage lost almost its entire fleet and had to pay a huge indemnity for 50 years. And Rome became the strongest state in the Mediterranean.

Causes of the Third Punic War
Rome feared that Carthage would be able to restore its power, even though it had been greatly undermined during the Second Punic War. Rome strengthened significantly during this period and conquered Greece and Egypt.
Although Carthage had lost its military power, it still remained large shopping center, which interfered with the prosperity of Roman trade.
And Rome was not in vain to worry; Carthage quickly began to accumulate its wealth again. The Roman politician Marcus Porcius Cato said at one of the Senate meetings: “Carthage must be destroyed.” And the majority of senators shared his opinion.
This time it was Rome that initiated the conflict, while the first two Punic Wars were initiated by Carthage.
As a result of the conflict, the city of Carthage was completely burned to the ground. It burned for several weeks. Although the Carthaginians defended themselves fiercely (for more than two years), they all fell under the onslaught of the Roman army. The Romans cursed this land forever.

Carthage Commanders Strengths of the parties Losses

Third Punic War(- BC) - the last of the Punic Wars, as a result of which Carthage was completely destroyed.

Background

In January 1985, the mayors of Rome and Carthage signed a symbolic peace treaty, bringing the conflict to a formal end.

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Notes

Literature

• Karinsky D. D. ,.// Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
• Revyako, K. A. Punic Wars. - Minsk, 1985.
• Shifman I. I., "Carthage". - St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg University Publishing House. 2006. isbn 5-288-03714-0. With. 478-505.

Parties Related events

Third Punic War

Excerpt characterizing the Third Punic War

Instead of the demand four months ago to retreat from Numberania, now they demanded to retreat only beyond the Neman. Napoleon quickly turned and began to walk around the room.
– You say that they require me to retreat beyond the Neman to begin negotiations; but they demanded of me in exactly the same way two months ago to retreat beyond the Oder and Vistula, and, despite this, you agree to negotiate.
He silently walked from one corner of the room to the other and again stopped opposite Balashev. His face seemed to harden in its stern expression, and his left leg trembled even faster than before. Napoleon knew this trembling of his left calf. “La vibration de mon mollet gauche est un grand signe chez moi,” he said later.
“Such proposals as clearing the Oder and the Vistula can be made to the Prince of Baden, and not to me,” Napoleon almost cried out, completely unexpectedly for himself. – If you had given me St. Petersburg and Moscow, I would not have accepted these conditions. Are you saying I started the war? Who came to the army first? - Emperor Alexander, not me. And you offer me negotiations when I have spent millions, while you are in an alliance with England and when your position is bad - you offer me negotiations! What is the purpose of your alliance with England? What did she give you? - he said hastily, obviously already directing his speech not in order to express the benefits of concluding peace and discussing its possibility, but only in order to prove both his rightness and his strength, and to prove Alexander’s wrongness and mistakes.
The introduction of his speech was made, obviously, with the aim of showing the advantage of his position and showing that, despite the fact, he accepted the opening of negotiations. But he had already begun to speak, and the more he spoke, the less able he was to control his speech.
The whole purpose of his speech now, obviously, was only to exalt himself and insult Alexander, that is, to do exactly what he least wanted at the beginning of the date.
- They say you made peace with the Turks?
Balashev tilted his head affirmatively.
“The world is concluded...” he began. But Napoleon did not let him speak. He apparently needed to speak on his own, alone, and he continued to speak with that eloquence and intemperance of irritation to which spoiled people are so prone.
– Yes, I know, you made peace with the Turks without receiving Moldavia and Wallachia. And I would give these provinces to your sovereign just as I gave him Finland. Yes,” he continued, “I promised and would have given Moldavia and Wallachia to Emperor Alexander, but now he will not have these beautiful provinces. He could, however, annex them to his empire, and in one reign he would expand Russia from the Gulf of Bothnia to the mouth of the Danube. “Katherine the Great could not have done more,” said Napoleon, becoming more and more excited, walking around the room and repeating to Balashev almost the same words that he said to Alexander himself in Tilsit. “Tout cela il l"aurait du a mon amitie... Ah! quel beau regne, quel beau regne!” he repeated several times, stopped, took a gold snuff box out of his pocket and greedily sniffed from it.
- Quel beau regne aurait pu etre celui de l "Empereur Alexandre! [He would owe all this to my friendship... Oh, what a wonderful reign, what a wonderful reign! Oh, what a wonderful reign the reign of Emperor Alexander could have been!]
He looked at Balashev with regret, and just as Balashev was about to notice something, he again hastily interrupted him.
“What could he desire and seek that he would not find in my friendship?..” said Napoleon, shrugging his shoulders in bewilderment. - No, he found it best to surround himself with my enemies, and who? - he continued. - He called to him the Steins, Armfelds, Wintzingerode, Bennigsenov, Stein - a traitor expelled from his fatherland, Armfeld - a libertine and intriguer, Wintzingerode - a fugitive subject of France, Bennigsen somewhat more military than the others, but still incapable, who could not do anything to do in 1807 and which should arouse terrible memories in Emperor Alexander... Suppose, if they were capable, one could use them, - continued Napoleon, barely managing to keep up with the words that constantly arise, showing him his rightness or strength (which in in his concept were one and the same) - but even that is not the case: they are not suitable for either war or peace. Barclay, they say, is more efficient than all of them; but I won’t say that, judging by his first movements. What are they doing? What are all these courtiers doing! Pfuhl proposes, Armfeld argues, Bennigsen considers, and Barclay, called to act, does not know what to decide on, and time passes. One Bagration is a military man. He is stupid, but he has experience, an eye and determination... And what role does your young sovereign play in this ugly crowd. They compromise him and blame him for everything that happens. “Un souverain ne doit etre a l"armee que quand il est general, [The sovereign should be with the army only when he is a commander,] he said, obviously sending these words directly as a challenge to the sovereign’s face. Napoleon knew how the emperor wanted Alexander to be a commander.
– It’s already been a week since the campaign began, and you have failed to defend Vilna. You are cut in two and driven out of the Polish provinces. Your army is grumbling...
“On the contrary, Your Majesty,” said Balashev, who barely had time to remember what was said to him and could hardly follow this fireworks of words, “the troops are burning with desire...
“I know everything,” Napoleon interrupted him, “I know everything, and I know the number of your battalions as accurately as mine.” You don’t have two hundred thousand troops, but I have three times that much. “I give you my word of honor,” said Napoleon, forgetting that his word of honor could not have any meaning, “I give you ma parole d"honneur que j"ai cinq cent trente mille hommes de ce cote de la Vistule. [on my word of honor that I have five hundred and thirty thousand people on this side of the Vistula.] The Turks are no help to you: they are no good and have proven this by making peace with you. The Swedes are destined to be ruled by crazy kings. Their king was mad; they changed him and took another - Bernadotte, who immediately went crazy, because a crazy person only being a Swede can enter into alliances with Russia. - Napoleon grinned viciously and again brought the snuffbox to his nose.
To each of Napoleon’s phrases, Balashev wanted and had something to object to; He constantly made the movement of a man who wanted to say something, but Napoleon interrupted him. For example, about the madness of the Swedes, Balashev wanted to say that Sweden is an island when Russia is for it; but Napoleon shouted angrily to drown out his voice. Napoleon was in that state of irritation in which you need to talk, talk and talk, only in order to prove to yourself that you are right. It became difficult for Balashev: he, as an ambassador, was afraid of losing his dignity and felt the need to object; but, as a person, he shrank morally before forgetting the causeless anger in which Napoleon, obviously, was. He knew that all the words now spoken by Napoleon did not matter, that he himself, when he came to his senses, would be ashamed of them. Balashev stood with his eyes downcast, looking at Napoleon’s moving thick legs, and tried to avoid his gaze.