Now it’s time to get to
the real subject of this blog, the Second Punic War. So for a bit of additional
set up, the Romans were most likely troubled by the Carthaginian expansion into
the Iberian Peninsula. Hamilicar told them the truth that he was conquering
Spain to pay the Romans back. Hamilcar later signed a treaty with Rome stating
that Carthage would not expand beyond the Hiberus River (the river this refers
to is up to debate) in the Iberian Peninsula[1]. This is where
Carthaginian influence would stop. Hasdurbal the Fair passed away from disease
but Hannibal was now old enough to lead. He was elected as the leader of their
Spanish forces[2]. This further cemented the fact that the
Iberian Peninsula belonged to the Barcid family. Having grown up with his
father’s armies, Hannibal seemed to have a firm grasp on military tactics and
strategy. So for the next two years he fought against the Celtiberians in the
northwest. With numerous successes he
kept moving ever northward towards the Hiberus River.
Always make sure you set clear bounders in treaties and life.
Now there was a Hellenistic colony in northern Spain
called Saguntum. The city was an ally of Rome and was most likely informing to
the Romans about Hannibal’s activities. However there were a few pro Barcid
supporters. The pro Roman government executed them. Hannibal sent his sights on the territory
around Saguntum. Alarmed, they sent envoys to Rome asking for assistance. Now if the river in question was the Ebro
River then Hannibal was most likely in the right. If it was Jucar River, well,
Sagnuntum would have been well passed that.
But Hannibal laid siege to Sagnuntum after talking to a Roman delegation
that may have insulted him[3]. Another delegation was
sent to speak to Hannibal, who didn’t even talk to them claiming that he
couldn’t guarantee their safety and that he was too busy commanding a siege.[4]
I really like maps.
Sagnuntum fell without the Romans acting after the walled
city was starved out. The survivors were sold into slavery as was the norm for
ancient sieges. Both the Romans and Carthaginians were split between wanting to
go to war or trying to discuss peace. A Roman envoy came to the Carthaginian
senate and after hearing their justification for the war said, “We offer you
here, war or peace: choose which you please.” The Carthaginians told them it
was their choice[5].
The envoy by the name of Fabius replied that would be war. And so it began the
Second Punic War.
Now you would think after something as dramatic as that
what would immediately follow would also be dramatic. However that’s not the
case[6]. Rome’s armies were not
mobilized at this point and Hannibal was planning for the future. Hannibal sent a decent portion of this army
to North Africa. They were supposed to protect the region but the council and
Hannibal didn’t exactly see eye to eye on a lot of things so they could have been
sent as a threat. Carthage sent a force to Spain roughly the same size as the
group in Carthage including elephants and Numidian Calvary, two types of units
that would be a great deal of help in the future to Hannibal. 551 words
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