Alliance of the Wolf and the Lion

So, dealing with the plethora of Alexander the Great POD's in my head, here's another one (the last! I promise!).

If Alexander the Great survives to live another twenty or thirty years and sends his fleets after Carthage and his armies after Rome, can you envision an alliance between the Romans and the Carthaginians?

Economically, both would benefit slightly from very loose Macedonian control (local leaders and government remain in place, only military and diplomatic power requisitioned to work for Macedonian interests); and not have to lose men in war to the legendary Alexander. However, both ancient Rome and Carthage were known for being prideful and stubborn, so it's not inconceivable that they create the Greater West Mediterranean Co-Prosperity Sphere (or, rather, Disc), favor each other and each others' client states and allies in trade and diplomacy, and do everything in their power to thwart Alexander.

What ramifications could this have after Alexander's inevitable death? No doubt the alliance would drive them closer, and even 50 years down the line older statesmen of both nations might fondly remember friends made or situations in which they worked together. Could the two relatively primitive states divide spheres of influence between each other, or is that beyond such nation-states with little control over their traders' actual doings?
 
Well they did have an alliance-both agreed to assist each other against Pyrrhus and for neither to make an independent peace treaty with him. So yeah, why not. Though Rome was still insignificant at the time, and if Alexander is in the neighborhood, they are going to be much more careful with their dealings with Magna Graecia.

They could also on the other hand, capitalize on Alexander inevitably running into the Samnites and sign an agreement with him to attack them.
 
Top