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257 BC. The end of Triandria war. World map.
257 BC
The end of Triandria war
The battle of Zama
Hamilcar led an army composed of mercenaries, local citizens, and veterans and strong Numidian cavalry. Ptolemy II led a mix of Ptolemaic,Massaliot League and Syracuse armies. The battle took place near Zama. Hamilcar was first to march and reach the plains of Zama Regia, which were suitable for cavalry manoeuvring. Hamilcar army consisted of forty eight thousands infantry, five thousands strong Numibian cavalry, and forty war elephants, while PtolemyII had a total of Fifty two thousands (28,000 Ptolemy 20,000 Massalia and 4,000 Syracuse) and forty elephants. The cavalry was around six thousands.
Putting his cavalry on the flanks, Hamilcar aligned the rest of his troops in three straight lines behind his elephants. The first line consisted of mixed infantry of mercenaries from CeltiIberia, and the Balearic islands. In his second line he placed the Carthaginian and Libyan citizen levies, while his veterans from Sicily were placed in the third line. PtolemyII deployed in the right center his phalanxes and in the left center the two tagmata of Massaliot League. Behind them were the rest of the allies.In the flanks Ptolemaic cavalry was in the right and Massaliotes in the left. Inspired by Pyrrhus, Ptolemy II held his war elephants, in reserve.
At the outset of the battle, Hamilcar unleashed his elephants and skirmishers against the Greek troops in order to break the cohesion of their lines and exploit the breaches that could be opened.The attack was confronted by the Massaliot League artillery with great success. Half of the elephants died before even reach the Greek lines. At this point, Ptolemy II deployed his war elephants against the right flank of the Carthaginians and the mounted archers of Massaliot League to charge the left flank. After a while the right Carthaginian flank collapsed and this lead to a general collapse for the Carthaginian forces. This was a heavy loss for Carthage. Eighteen thousands died and another nine thousands sold as slaves. Greek losses were five thousands. Defeated on their home ground, the Carthaginian ruling elite sued for peace and accepted humiliating terms, ending the seven years war.
Peace terms
The terms of the “Treaty of Zama” designed by the Greeks were particularly heavy for Carthage, which had lost all bargaining power following its defeat at the Zama. Both sides agreed upon:
By place
Greece
Triandria alliance members: Massaliot League,Epirus,Ptolemaic empire,Rhodes League,Sparta,Syracuse.
The end of Triandria war
The battle of Zama
Hamilcar led an army composed of mercenaries, local citizens, and veterans and strong Numidian cavalry. Ptolemy II led a mix of Ptolemaic,Massaliot League and Syracuse armies. The battle took place near Zama. Hamilcar was first to march and reach the plains of Zama Regia, which were suitable for cavalry manoeuvring. Hamilcar army consisted of forty eight thousands infantry, five thousands strong Numibian cavalry, and forty war elephants, while PtolemyII had a total of Fifty two thousands (28,000 Ptolemy 20,000 Massalia and 4,000 Syracuse) and forty elephants. The cavalry was around six thousands.
Putting his cavalry on the flanks, Hamilcar aligned the rest of his troops in three straight lines behind his elephants. The first line consisted of mixed infantry of mercenaries from CeltiIberia, and the Balearic islands. In his second line he placed the Carthaginian and Libyan citizen levies, while his veterans from Sicily were placed in the third line. PtolemyII deployed in the right center his phalanxes and in the left center the two tagmata of Massaliot League. Behind them were the rest of the allies.In the flanks Ptolemaic cavalry was in the right and Massaliotes in the left. Inspired by Pyrrhus, Ptolemy II held his war elephants, in reserve.
At the outset of the battle, Hamilcar unleashed his elephants and skirmishers against the Greek troops in order to break the cohesion of their lines and exploit the breaches that could be opened.The attack was confronted by the Massaliot League artillery with great success. Half of the elephants died before even reach the Greek lines. At this point, Ptolemy II deployed his war elephants against the right flank of the Carthaginians and the mounted archers of Massaliot League to charge the left flank. After a while the right Carthaginian flank collapsed and this lead to a general collapse for the Carthaginian forces. This was a heavy loss for Carthage. Eighteen thousands died and another nine thousands sold as slaves. Greek losses were five thousands. Defeated on their home ground, the Carthaginian ruling elite sued for peace and accepted humiliating terms, ending the seven years war.
Peace terms
The terms of the “Treaty of Zama” designed by the Greeks were particularly heavy for Carthage, which had lost all bargaining power following its defeat at the Zama. Both sides agreed upon:
- Atlantic trade is now a Massaliot League monopoly.
- Pillars of Hercules opens again for Greeks.
- Carthage returns their prisoners of war without ransom, while paying a heavy ransom on their own.
- Carthage transfers Corsica and Sardinia to Massaliot League.
- Carthage evacuates all of the small islands between Sicily and Africa
- Carthage pays a 2,500 talents of silver indemnity in ten annual installments, plus an additional indemnity of 1,500 talents immediately.
- Carthage transfers her holdings in Sicily between Massaliot League,Ptolemaic Egypt and Syracuse.
- Carthage transfers her holdings in Lybia to Ptolemaic Egypt.
By place
Greece
- Pyrrhus returned in Greece and conquered the Tylisians in a easy campaign.
- Antiochus II in a rather easy campaign conquered Armenia and Atropatane.
Triandria alliance members: Massaliot League,Epirus,Ptolemaic empire,Rhodes League,Sparta,Syracuse.
- Sersor
- Word Count: 530