ROME AND CARTHAGE.--FIRST PUNIC WAR. (264-241.) (Footnote: The word
"Punic" is derived from _Phoenici_. The Carthaginians were said to
have come originally from PHOENICIA, on the eastern coast of the
Mediterranean. Their first ruler was Dido. The Latin student is of
course familiar with Virgil's story of Dido and Aeneas.)
While Rome was gradually enlarging her territory from Latium to the
Straits of Messana, on the other shore of the Mediterranean, opposite
Italy and less than one hundred miles from Sicily, sprang up, through
industry and commerce, the Carthaginian power.
Like Rome, Carthage had an obscure beginning. As in the case of Rome, it
required centuries to gain her power.
It was the policy of Carthage to make a successful revolt of her subdued
allies an impossibility, by consuming all their energies in the support
of her immense population and the equipment of her numerous fleets and
armies. Hence all the surrounding tribes, once wandering nomads, were
forced to become tillers of the soil; and, with colonies sent out by
herself, they formed the so called Libyo-Phoenician population, open
to the attack of all, and incapable of defence. Thus the country around
Carthage was weak, and the moment a foreign enemy landed in Africa the
war was merely a siege of its chief city.
The power of Carthage lay in her commerce. Through her hands passed the
gold and pearls of the Orient; the famous Tyrian purple; ivory, slaves,
and incense of Arabia; the silver of Spain; the bronze of Cyprus; and
the iron of Elba.
But the harsh and gloomy character of the people, their cruel religion,
which sanctioned human sacrifice, their disregard of the rights of
others, their well known treachery, all shut them off from the higher
civilization of Rome and Greece.
The government of Carthage was an ARISTOCRACY. A council composed of a
few of high birth, and another composed of the very wealthy, managed the
state. Only in times of extraordinary danger were the people summoned
and consulted.
Rome had made two treaties with Carthage; one immediately after the
establishment of the Republic, in 500, the other about 340. By these
treaties commerce was allowed between Rome and its dependencies and
Carthage and her possessions in Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica. But the
Romans were not to trade in Spain, or sail beyond the Bay of Carthage.
In leaving Sicily, Pyrrhus had exclaimed, "What a fine battle-field for
Rome and Carthage!" If Carthage were mistress of this island, Rome would
be shut up in her peninsula; if Rome were in possession of it, "the
commerce of Carthage would be intercepted, and a good breeze of one
night would carry the Roman fleets to her walls".
At this time the island was shared by three powers,--HIERO, king of
Syracuse, the CARTHAGINIANS, and the MAMERTINES, a band of brigands who
came from Campania. The latter, making Messana their head-quarters, had
been pillaging all of the island that they could reach. Being shut up
in Messana by Hiero, they asked aid of Rome on the ground that they were
from Campania. Although Rome was in alliance with Hiero, and had
but recently executed 300 mercenaries for doing in Rhegium what the
Mamertines had done in Sicily,--she determined to aid them, for Sicily
was a rich and tempting prey.
Meanwhile, however, through the intervention of the Carthaginians, a
truce had been formed between Hiero and the brigands, and the siege of
Messana was raised. The city itself was occupied by a fleet and garrison
of Carthaginians under HANNO, The Romans, though the Mamertines
no longer needed their aid, landed at Messana and dislodged the
Carthaginians.
Thus opened the FIRST PUNIC WAR. The Romans at once formed a double
alliance with Syracuse and Messana, thus gaining control of the eastern
coast of Sicily and getting their first foothold outside of Italy.
The most important inland city of Sicily was AGRIGENTUM. Here the
Carthaginians the next year (262) concentrated their forces under
HANNIBAL, son of Cisco. The Romans besieged the city, but were
themselves cut off from supplies by Hanno, who landed at Heraclea in
their rear. Both besieged and besiegers suffered much. At last a battle
was fought (262), in which the Romans were victorious, owing to their
superior infantry. Agrigentum fell, and only a few strongholds on the
coast were left to the Carthaginians.
The Romans now began to feel the need of a fleet. That of Carthage ruled
the sea without a rival: it notonly controlled many of the seaports of
Sicily, but also threatened Italy itself. With their usual energy, the
Romans began the work. (Footnote: In 259, three years previous to the
battle of Ecnomus, the Romans under Lucius Scipio captured Blesia, a
seaport of Corsica, and established there a naval station.) A wrecked
Carthaginian vessel was taken as a model, and by the spring of 260 a
navy of 120 sail was ready for sea.
The ships were made the more formidable by a heavy iron beak, for the
purpose of running down and sinking the enemy's vessels; a kind of
hanging stage was also placed on the prow of the ship, which could be
lowered in front or on either side. It was furnished on both sides
with parapets, and had space for two men in front. On coming to close
quarters with the enemy, this stage was quickly lowered and fastened to
the opposing ship by means of grappling irons; thus the Roman marines
were enabled to board with ease their opponents' ship, and fight as if
on land.
Four naval battles now followed: 1st, near LIPARA (260); 2d, off MYLAE
(260); 3d, off TYNDARIS (257); 4th, off ECNOMUS (256).
In the first of these only seventeen ships of the Romans were engaged
under the CONSUL GNAEUS CORNELIUS SCIPIO. The fleet with its commander
was captured.
In the second engagement, off Mylae, all the Roman fleet under GAIUS
DUILIUS took part. The Carthaginians were led by Hannibal, son of Gisco.
The newly invented stages or boarding-bridges of the Romans were found
to be very effective. The enemy could not approach near without these
bridges descending with their grappling irons and holding them fast to
the Romans. The Carthaginians were defeated, with the loss of nearly
half their fleet.
A bronze column, ornamented with the beaks of the captured vessels, was
erected at Rome in honor of this victory of Duilius. The pedestal of
it is still standing, and on it are inscribed some of the oldest
inscriptions in the Latin language.
The third engagement, off Tyndaris, resulted in a drawn battle.
In the fourth engagement, off Ecnomus, the Carthaginians had 350
sail. Thirty Carthaginian and twenty-four Roman vessels were sunk, and
sixty-four of the former captured. The Punic fleet withdrew to the coast
of Africa, and prepared in the Bay of Carthage for another battle. But
the Romans sailed to the eastern side of the peninsula which helps to
form the bay, and there landed without opposition.
MARCUS ATILIUS REGULUS was put in command of the Roman forces in
Africa. For a time he was very successful, and the Carthaginians became
disheartened. Many of the towns near Cartilage surrendered, and the
capital itself was in danger. Peace was asked, but the terms offered
were too humiliating to be accepted.
Regulus, who began to despise his opponents, remained inactive at
Tunis, near Carthage, neglecting even to secure a line of retreat to his
fortified camp at Clupea. The next spring (255) he was surprised, his
army cut to pieces, and he himself taken prisoner. He subsequently died
a captive at Carthage.
The Romans, learning of this defeat, sent a fleet of 350 sail to relieve
their comrades who were shut up in Clupea. While on its way, it gained a
victory over the Carthaginian fleet off the Hermean promontory, sinking
114 of the enemy's ships.
It arrived at Clupea in time to save its friends. The war in Africa was
now abandoned. The fleet, setting sail for home, was partly destroyed in
a storm, only eighty ships reaching port.
Hostilities continued for six years without any great results. Panormus
was taken in 254; the coast of Africa ravaged in 253; Thermae and the
island of Lipara were taken in 252, and Eryx in 249.
DREPANA and LILYBAEUM were now the only places in Sicily, held by
Carthage. A regular siege of Lilybaeum was decided upon, and the city
was blockaded by land and sea; but the besieging party suffered as much
as the besieged, its supplies were frequently cut off by the cavalry of
the Carthaginians, and its ranks began to be thinned by disease.
The Consul, Publius Claudius, who had charge of the siege, determined to
surprise the Carthaginian fleet, which was stationed at Drepana (249).
He was unsuccessful, and lost three fourths of his vessels. Another
fleet of 120 sail sent to aid him was wrecked in a violent storm.
The Romans were now in perplexity. The war had lasted fifteen years.
Four fleets had been lost, and one sixth of the fighting population.
They had failed in Africa, and the two strongest places in Sicily
were still in the enemy's hands. For six years more the war dragged on
(249-243).
A new Carthaginian commander, HAMILCAR BARCA (Lightning), meanwhile took
the field in Sicily. He was a man of great activity and military talent,
and the Romans at first were no match for him. He seemed in a fair way
to regain all Sicily. The apathy of the Senate was so great, that at
last some private citizens built and manned at their own expense a fleet
of 200 sail.
GAIUS LUTATIUS CATALUS, the Consul in command, surprised the enemy and
occupied the harbors of Drepana and Lilybaeum in 242. A Carthaginian
fleet which came to the rescue was met and destroyed off the AEGATES
INSULAE in 241. Hamilcar was left in Sicily without support and
supplies. He saw that peace must be made.
Sicily was surrendered. Carthage agreed to pay the cost of the
war,--about $3,000,000,--one third down, and the remainder in ten annual
payments. Thus ended the First Punic War.