Sleepy History - The First Punic War

Starting point is 00:00:00 This is Sleepy History. Sleepy History is a production of Slumber Studios. To listen ad-free, get access to bonus episodes, and support the ongoing production of this show. Check out our premium feed. Visit BetMGM Casino and check out the newest exclusive. The Price is Right Fortune Pick. BetMGM and GameSense remind you to play responsibly,

Starting point is 00:00:35 19 plus to wager, Ontario only. Please play responsibly. If you have questions or concerns about your gambling or someone close to you, please contact connects Ontario at 1-866-531-2,600 to speak to an advisor. Free of charge. BetMGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with Eye Gaming, Ontario. To think of Rome is one of the greatest powers of the ancient world. And while that's true, they weren't without competitors.

Starting point is 00:01:08 In the 3rd century BCE, the greatest naval power in the western Mediterranean was Carthage. This civilization dominated not just North Africa, but also other regions, including Western Sicily. The island of Sicily would become the main battleground for one of the biggest conflicts in ancient history, the first Punic War. Tonight, we'll explore the story of this extraordinary war and how Rome beat the odds to defeat Carthage. In the process, it began its evolution into a superpower. So just relax and let your mind drift as we explore the sleepy history of the first Punic War.

Starting point is 00:02:23 A bloody battle was fought near Carthage, Tunis and modern-day North Africa. It was a battle between two of the major powers of the ancient world. On one side, Carthage, and on the other, Rome. The Roman cavalry, while strong and skilled, was outnumbered. Not only did Carthage have more soldiers on horseback, but it also had another weapon, a hundred war elephants. Roman soldiers were effectively backed into a corner, trampled, and slaughtered. It's thought that about 13,000 Romans lost their lives, while hundreds of others were taken

Starting point is 00:03:21 prisoner. Carthage had won the battle, but this was just one battle of many. in the long war with Rome, the conflict that came to be known as the first Punic War. This evening we'll explore the war in detail from beginning to end. But first, let's take a moment to look at the bigger picture, to define what we're talking about, given that it's a quite complex event. The first Punic War was a conflict that lasted for 23 years, from 264 to 241 BCE. This made it one of the longest continuous conflicts in the ancient world.

Starting point is 00:04:21 It was also the greatest naval conflict of the time. As we've mentioned, the war between Rome and Carthage, the two main powers in the Western Mediterranean. The Carthaginian Empire had dominated North Africa and parts of the Mediterranean for centuries. Rome, on the other hand, the Roman Republic, was a relative newcomer to Mediterranean politics. Rome and Carthage were fairly evenly matched, but their strengths lay in different areas. was wealthier and had more naval experience, while Rome had more manpower. Now, in case you're wondering about the name, the first Punic War, the word Punic means relating to ancient Carthage. The people of Carthage had Phoenician ancestry,

Starting point is 00:05:35 and the Latin word for Phoenician was Punic. So, the name Punic War is a reference to Rome's opponent, Carthage. The conflict is known as the first Punic War, because there were three in total. But tonight, we'll just be looking at the first one, the first time that Rome fought Carthage. That gives us plenty to explore. The first Punic War began in 264 BCE. The origins of the war, however, can be traced back several years earlier. In northeast Sicily, a band of Italian mercenary soldiers had occupied the town of Messana,

Starting point is 00:06:36 modern-day Messina. These soldiers were known as the Mamertines, the name meant sons of Mars. the Roman god of war. The town of Messana was a strategic base. It was located right on the tip of Sicily, separated from mainland Italy by a narrow strait. Misana was the crossing point, a valuable town to control.

Starting point is 00:07:13 The Mamertines had been occupying Missana for several years when Hero, the second of Syracuse, a Greek ruler, decided that enough was enough. He wanted the Mamertines out, in need of military assistance. The Mamertines appealed to Carthage for help. Carthage duly intervened, but now the Mamertines had a new problem, a Carthaginian presence on the island.

Starting point is 00:07:51 So, the Mamertines turned to Rome, and asked for help. in getting rid of the Carthaginians. At first, Rome was reluctant to get involved. They didn't exactly approve of the Mamertines. Also, if Rome intervened, there was a risk of war with Carthage. Then again, they didn't like the idea of Carthage being in control of Massana, a bit too close for comfort. In addition, Rome stood to gain economically from a successful intervention. So, the matter was put to a vote, and in 264 BCE, Roman soldiers were sent to Sicily to help the Mamertines get rid of the Carthaginians.

Starting point is 00:08:57 Nobody could have imagined that this initial conflict would trigger a 23-year war. It began with the Roman seizure of Massana. After marching to Sicily, Roman troops took over Massana fairly easily. The Roman victory came as a shock to Carthage. The Carthaginians were also angered by the perceived cowardice of their general,

Starting point is 00:09:32 who was executed on his return home. the Romans, encouraged by their success in Masana, then attempted, less successfully, to take the city of Syracuse. So, why didn't it stop here? Rome had achieved its initial goal, and presumably, a lengthy war was in nobody's interests. From the Romans' perspective, perhaps there was an attitude of why not? They had made it this far, so why not try to take control of Sicily and see off the competition? The Roman Republic was on a path of rapid expansion. Over the past century, the Romans had conquered southern mainland Italy. So, they probably felt confident that they could carry on in Sicily. Carthage, on the other hand, probably felt equally confident that the Romans would soon run out of steam.

Starting point is 00:10:56 Of the two, Carthage was arguably the greater power. At the very least, it seemed to be at an advantage, given its superior navy. At the start of the war, Carthage was the main naval power in this part of the Mediterranean. It had hundreds of large warships and centuries of experience. In contrast, the Romans were fairly inexperienced and didn't have a standing fleet. They were used to borrowing ships from their allies. However, in the early years of the first Punic War, during battles fought on land, Rome was able to establish a strong foothold in Sicily.

Starting point is 00:12:00 Another notable development was that Syracuse switched sides. Previously, the Greek city in southeastern Sicily had fought alongside Carthage. But in 263 BCE, after being attacked by the Romans once again, Syracuse decided it was safer to make peace. The Romans now had an ally in Sicily. They also gained financially from the deal and got additional manpower. In 262 BCE, the Romans turned their attention to Agrigentum. This fortified town in southern Sicily had become the main military.

Starting point is 00:12:57 base for the Carthaginians, making it an obvious target for Rome. The Battle of Agrigentum was the first large-scale battle between Rome and Carthage. After a lengthy siege, leading to desperate conditions inside the city, Rome and Carthage fought a pitched battle. In addition to their infantry and cavalry. Carthage also had several dozen war elephants. This wasn't the first time Roman troops had encountered elephants on the battlefield. During the Pyrrhic war, about 20 years earlier, they had been forced to develop strategies for dealing with these imposing beasts. Still, for young Roman soldiers at Aggregentum, it was likely their first unforgettable encounter. In the end, Rome won the battle.

Starting point is 00:14:14 This was a turning point in the war, a sign that the Romans were stronger and more resilient than Carthage had predicted. Once the Romans were in control of Aggregentum, they sold the city's population. into slavery. As harsh as this may seem, it was standard practice at the time, and not that surprising, given that the people of Aggregentum had resisted. For the Romans, their actions in Aggregentum were likely intended as a warning to the rest of Sicily. Here's what happens if you resist. It's possible that this brutal behavior alienated towns that may have otherwise been friendly towards the Romans.

Starting point is 00:15:15 Nonetheless, by this point, it seemed that Rome could potentially gain control over much of Sicily. Having got this far, they weren't going to stop now. Before we look at the next stage of the war, let's pause for a moment. to consider an important question. How do we know all this? Why do we have so much information about battles fought more than 2,000 years ago?

Starting point is 00:15:54 Motivations, timelines, numbers of elephants. For the first Punic War, our main source is a historian called Polybius, who lived during the second century BC. Polybius was Greek, but he also spent years in Rome after being taken hostage. As a politician and historian, he traveled widely throughout the Mediterranean, working and carrying out research. Polybius is remembered for his histories, a 40-volume work that explores the rise of the Roman

Starting point is 00:16:44 Republic. In the histories, Polybius documents the Punic Wars in detail. Compared to some other ancient historians, Polybius seems to have been quite rigorous. He prided himself on carefully consulting documents and aimed for an objective approach to history. Where possible, he interviewed people who had participated in battles or acquaintances of important figures, such as Hannibal. Polybius was not alive during the First Punic War. He was born a few decades after it ended. Nonetheless, his writings about the war are generally considered to be reliable. There are even archaeological findings that support Polybius' account. Artifacts including helmets, vases, and parts of warships, have been discovered off the coast of Sicily.

Starting point is 00:18:05 This suggests that Polybius' description of the Battle of Igates, a battle will be coming up to later, was indeed accurate. By 260 BCE, Rome and Carthage had reached a stalemate in Sicily. It became clear to the Romans that they needed a powerful navy of their own. Without one, it was a struggle to prevent Carthage from protecting and resupplying its coastal cities in Sicily, and in the long term, Rome would need to launch an attack on the Carthaginians' homeland in North Africa. The first step was to build some boats. In order to construct their fleet, the Romans studied the shipwreck of a Carthaginian boat

Starting point is 00:19:08 and worked out how to build their own. As the Carthaginians were expert shipbuilders, they might as well copy them. So the Romans quickly set about building a fleet of warships and training a navy. The initial results weren't perfect. The first boats that the Romans built were heavier than Carthage's vessels, which meant they were slower and harder to maneuver. Still, this was a significant first step. The main kind of boats used by Carthage and then Rome was the Quincorim, a large warship

Starting point is 00:20:05 that could carry a few hundred men. Both navies also used a smaller boat, the trirem, which was a little faster, but inferior in combat. Rome was catching up. However, its first attempt at a naval attack didn't go well. A fleet of 17 ships, led by the Roman general Scipio, traveled to the Lipperie Islands off the northeast coast of Sicily. attempted to seize the port. But when Carthage caught wind of what was going on, they sent

Starting point is 00:20:52 a fleet of their own to arrive at night, trapping the Roman ships in the harbor. The inexperienced Roman crews panicked and didn't put up much of a fight for ships were captured. While their general, Scipio was taken prisoner. It was a humiliating defeat. And Scipio was given the Latin nickname, Azina, not just a donkey, but even more insultingly, a female donkey. The Romans resolved to learn from this experience. Next time, they would be better prepared. They came up with an ingenious solution.

Starting point is 00:21:49 The Corvus, or Crow, this was a boarding ramp, potentially. attached to the ship. On the underside was a spike shaped like a crow's beak, hence the name. The corvus could be used to pierce into the side of the enemy ship, anchoring it. Roman soldiers could then pass over the bridge, crossing onto the other ship, and fight man-on-man. The Romans were not yet skilled at sea battles, but they knew how to fight on land. The Corvus essentially turned naval warfare into a land battle. The Romans used this device in their next naval battle, the Battle of Miley in northern Sicily. While Carthage undoubtedly had the upper hand in terms of experience, they lost the battle,

Starting point is 00:22:59 thanks to the Corvus, which acted like a grappling iron. The Romans were able to board the Carthos Athenian ships. Once on board, they overpowered the crews and seized the ships. Buoyed by their victory, the Romans then sailed to Sardinia, where they launched another successful attack on a Carthaginian fleet near the town of Sulky. Carthage's naval commander, Hannibal, not to be confused with the more famous Hannibal had previously led Carthage to victory, but the defeats at Miley and Salki were seen as unforgivable. Gisko is said to have been arrested by his own men and then executed. For the Romans, Miley was a morale-boosting victory,

Starting point is 00:24:06 but while they had won the battle, they were a long way from winning the war. war, which would drag on for another 19 years. Rome and Carthage were in a kind of stalemate once again, but now that Rome had built up a fleet and gained some experience of naval warfare, they were ready to take the conflict to the next level. Now, to invade Carthaginian territory in North Africa. In 256 BCE, the Roman fleet set sail. But as they passed by the south coast of Sicily, on their way to Africa, they were intercepted by Carthage, but followed was the Battle of Cape Ecnomus, possibly the largest naval battle in history. Each side had about 330 ships and 140,000 men.

Starting point is 00:25:22 The Carthaginian crews were far more experienced, and yet, after a chaotic series of clashes and many deaths on both sides, Rome was victorious. After the battle, the Romans stopped in Sicily to prepare their ships. Before sailing on to North Africa. We can imagine that they must have been feeling pretty confident, and even more so, after their capture of Aspice in modern-day Tunisia. But over the following year, the Romans' efforts in Africa had mixed results. After the Romans captured another town, Carthage sued for peace. But the peace terms offered by the Roman commander, Regulus, were seen as excessively harsh. While we don't know exactly what the terms were, it's possible that Regulus wanted Carthage

Starting point is 00:26:35 to give up the whole of Sardinia, Sicily, and more besides. In any case, the Carthaginians decided that it wasn't worth it. They would keep fighting. At the beginning of our story, we mentioned the bloody battle fought near Carthage itself. The Battle of the Bagradas River, also known as the Battle of Tunis. The Carthaginian army was now commanded by a skilled general from Sparta, Xanthippus. Under his command, with a strong cavalry and a hundred elephants, Carthaginian. Annihilated Rome. About 13,000 Romans were killed and hundreds captured. The Roman commander,

Starting point is 00:27:36 Regulus, was taken prisoner. The story goes that he was sent back to Rome to negotiate, but refused to agree to any peace terms or prisoner exchange. So Regulus voluntarily went back to Carthage, where he was tortured to death. At least, that's the story. And it was a popular one, turning Regulus into a hero, a noble, patriotic Roman. But this version of events is most likely a myth. Regulus probably had a much more ordinary fate, wasting away in captivity, like so many other Roman soldiers by 255 BCE, just a year after their arrival. It was clear that the Roman invasion of Africa had been a failure. He had no choice but to retreat. However, the Carthaginians weren't going to let the Romans simply sail away. They tried to block the Roman evacuation, intercepting their ships off

Starting point is 00:29:06 Cape Hermium on the northeast tip of modern-day Tunisia. But the Roman fleet didn't just consist of the escaping ships. They were supported by a substantial new fleet, which had been sent to rescue the survivors. The Battle of Cape Hermium ended in a defeat for Carthage. This meant that the Roman ships could continue their withdrawal from Africa. On the way back to Italy, however, disaster struck. While sailing along the south coast of Sicily, the Roman ships were caught up in a sudden storm. According to ancient sources, as many as 100,000 men lost their lives. If accurate, this would make the incident the worst maritime disaster in his. history, the historian Polybius blamed the Roman commanders, who had apparently ignored advice,

Starting point is 00:30:24 and taken a dangerous route. For Polybius, this kind of recklessness was a Roman character flaw. He describes it as this fault of daring and violence, which makes them think they can sail and travel where they will at no matter what season. Modern historians have another theory. Perhaps the Corvus, the boarding ramp attached to the Roman warships, contributed to the disaster. The device may have weighed down the ships and made them unstable.

Starting point is 00:31:12 Interestingly, there are no references to the Corvus being used after the first Punic war. Perhaps this is why. In the aftermath of this catastrophe, the Romans set about rebuilding their fleet. At this stage, it might have made sense to negotiate with Carthage. But the Romans being the Romans, the war carried on. On their return from North Africa, the Roman fleet was caught up in another terrible storm. 150 ships were lost, and an estimated,

Starting point is 00:32:01 60,000 men. In the years following this maritime disaster, it seems that the Romans tried to stay on land as much as possible. Sicily became the main battleground once again, and from 255 to 248 BCE, there were multiple clashes across the island. During the Battle of Panormus, modern-day Palermo, the Romans faced a daunting challenge. Carthage had dozens of war elephants, which had been shipped over from Africa. But despite this advantage, the Romans won. They also managed to capture many of Carthage's elephants.

Starting point is 00:32:57 Rome generally did well in land battles. When it came to naval warfare, however, Carthage still had the advantage. The following year, the Battle of Drepana, modern day Trappany, was fought off the west coast of Sicily. Before the Romans launched their surprise attack, it said that they carried out a divination ritual involving sacred chickens. If the chickens ate the food, it boated well, but on this occasion, the chickens refused to eat. eat. The Roman commander was apparently enraged by this bad omen. If the chickens were not hungry, he said, perhaps they were thirsty. He promptly threw them overboard. This story is most likely a

Starting point is 00:34:04 myth. But what happened next is well documented. The Romans attacked, but were soon out-maneuvered by the Carthaginians, who still had the upper hand in terms of the Roman's. of naval experience. Most of the Roman ships were sunk or captured, a clear defeat, and not long afterwards, there was another disaster off the coast of Sicily. When news arrived of impending storms, the Carthaginian commander ordered his fleet to leave the area. The Romans, on the other hand, didn't get out in time. They lost 120 ships. It's no wonder that after all the storms and losses at sea, the Romans were demoralized.

Starting point is 00:35:08 Seven years passed before they built another fleet. Despite some successes, Carthage was also demoralized. By 248 BCE, it only had two major states. strongholds left in Sicily, Drepana, and the city of Lillibium, modern-day Marsala. In addition to having lost significant amounts of territory and manpower, Carthage was running out of money. War was expensive. There was also a difference between the Roman and Carthaginian armies in terms of expenses.

Starting point is 00:35:59 The Roman army mostly consisted of. of Roman citizens and their allies. These soldiers were obligated to fight, though of course there were also other motives, such as patriotism and personal glory. Carthage's army, on the other hand, relied heavily on mercenary soldiers, who came from a variety of backgrounds.

Starting point is 00:36:31 The motivations of these men were primarily financial. and they were more expensive to employ. That's important to keep in mind. Later, we'll find out what can happen when mercenaries don't get paid. For now, though, the key point is that Carthage was in increasingly dire straits. The war effort couldn't be sustained indefinitely. Carthage needed a hero. And in 247 BCE, they got one in the form of Hamilcar Barka.

Starting point is 00:37:19 As a general, Hamilcar was one of the most impressive figures of the first Punic War, successfully leading a guerrilla campaign against Roman forces. He conducted lightning raids, which seems fitting, given that his name, Barca meant Thunderbolt. Over the next few years, Carthage managed to preserve its foothold in Sicily, even while the city of Lillibium was continually under siege. In 243 BCE, Rome decided it was time to resume large-scale operations, but, like Carthage, it was on the verge of bankruptcy. In order to the construction of a new fleet, the Senate had to borrow money from wealthy Roman citizens. By this point in the war, the Romans had become much better at building ships, and much more

Starting point is 00:38:35 experienced when it came to naval conflict. In 241 BCE, the fleets met near the Egadian Islands off the west coast of Sicily. time, it was Carthage, not Rome, that was unprepared for the naval battle. Carthage had struggled to find enough men for its warships, and the men who did end up fighting were inexperienced. The Roman ships were more skillfully constructed compared to previous battles, and, no longer weighed down by the corvus. The ships were lighter and easier to maneuver. They were able to move quickly, ramming the enemy vessels.

Starting point is 00:39:37 Carthage put up a good fight, sinking or damaging a significant number of Roman ships. Ultimately, Rome won the battle. As we mentioned earlier, some remnants from the Battle of the EGates have been discovered on the seabed near the islands. Expert divers found helmets, vases, and bronze warship rams, weapons that were attached to the bow of the ship. The wooden ships themselves were destroyed by the seawater long ago, but bronze is more resilient. Through the inscriptions, some of the artifacts have been identified as Roman, while others are Carthaginian. These findings are a poignant symbol of the two sides, who both fought so hard in what was to be the final battle. Although some fighting continued

Starting point is 00:40:53 after the Battle of Egates, this was essentially the end of the war. Carthage couldn't face the prospect of rebuilding their fleet, and their city. cities in Sicily would soon run out of supplies after 23 exhausting years. It was time for a peace treaty. The Treaty of Lutatius, signed in 241 BCE, officially ended the First Punic War. According to the terms of the Treaty, Carthage would have to surrender Sicily and nearby naval bases, release all Roman prisoners, and pay a huge indemnity. Historians have mixed opinions on whether these terms were harsh or reasonable. But given that Carthage was already under

Starting point is 00:42:02 financial strain, we can imagine that the news of the indemnity didn't go down well. That same year, Another war began in North Africa. The mercenary war. We mentioned the mercenaries earlier. Many of Carthage's troops were mercenary soldiers who fought for pay. By the end of the first Punic War, Carthage was basically broke. It didn't have the money to pay the soldiers. So, the angry troops mutinied.

Starting point is 00:42:50 Their leaders were spendious. a former Roman slave, and Mathos, a Libyan. Most of the Carthaginian troops were foreigners, and now that they weren't getting paid, they bore no allegiance to Carthage. There was also a sense of betrayal and mistreatment. The mercenaries' army quickly grew in size, as tens of thousands of Africans joined the rebellion.

Starting point is 00:43:28 For Carthage, the timing could not have been worse. The first Punic War had drained its resources, so suppressing a large-scale rebellion would be extremely challenging. Hamilkar Barka returned to command Carthage's army, and about three years later, the rebel forces were defeated, but only after many deaths, and atrocities committed by both sides. The mercenary war has gone down in history for its brutality. The mercenaries had nothing to lose, while Carthage was also desperate, fighting for survival. Most of the men involved in the mercenary war had also fought in the first Punic War and

Starting point is 00:44:34 hardened by their experiences. Around the end of the mercenary war, Rome, ever the opportunist, took it advantage of the crisis. In blatant disregard of the peace treaty, Rome seized the island of Corsica and Sardinia, which had previously been Carthaginian territories. To add insult to injury, Rome made Carthage pay an additional indemnity. The seeds of another war were already being sown. On the surface, the first Punic War seems like a success story for the Romans. They won the war, after all, and weakened Carthage. Rome was now the dominant power in the central and western Mediterranean. The war had also forced Rome to rapidly build and rebuild its fleet

Starting point is 00:45:51 and to train its men in naval warfare. This was the first step in Rome becoming a maritime superpower. However, it's worth remembering that Rome had also paid an enormous price. It had lost so many men and ships and nearly become bankrupt. And of course,

Starting point is 00:46:23 even though the war was over, the tension between Rome, Rome and Carthage remained. Before we end our story, there's just one more thing. Remember Hamilcar, the Carthaginian general? Well, he had a son named Hannibal. The Hannibal, at the time of the First Punic War, Hannibal was just a child, but he would grow up to become a great general. himself. About 20 years after the first Punic War ended, Hannibal launched an attack in Iberia. This sparked the beginning of the second Punic War. Another epic, years-long conflict between Rome and Carthage. We might say there are no true endings in history. Just one battle after another.

Sleepy History - The First Punic War

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.