Carthage and the lost Libyan War

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 130: Punic Islands

While the Romans thanks to Hannibal had not many forces to spare outside of Italy and even recalled some of these Legions back into the Peninsula. The Carthaginians however were not being idle either and used one of her navies near Corsica and Sardinia to land a few thousand forces of Punic and Hesperian soldiers near the Etrucsian Coast. There the Romans prepared further reinforcements for Corsica and Sardinia after their recent loss of Sicily. To prevent further reinforcements for Hannibal from Spain, North Africa or these cities. A naval battle enraged in the islands between the Ligurian Sea and Tyrrhenian Sea and the Punic Navy managed to outmaneuver the Roman Navy during the battles around and in between them. The islands archipelago, according to Legend, originated from a necklace that Venus, the Roman goddess of beauty and sensuality, lost while emerging from the Tyrrhenian sea. The seven islands are in fact seven pearls the goddess was unable to retrieve. When the Punic forces had won the naval battle, they landed 16,000 forces on Ilva, the ancient name of a island once settled by Ligures Ilvates, known for it's iron resources and valued mines since ancient times. Later the Greeks called it Aethalia (fume), after the fumes of the metal producing furnaces. Apollonius of Rhodes mentions it in his epic poem Argonautica, describing that the Argonauts rested here during their travels. He writes that signs of their visit were still visible in his day, including skin-coloured pebbles that they dried their hands on and large stones which they used at discus. The victorious Punic forces landed on the island and occupied them, like they did with the rest of the Italian Islands west of the Italian peninsula. By building fortified positions, like watchtowers and lighthouses on these islands to get a better overview of the Roman naval movements and therefore deny them to rule the waves again. Thanks to this strategy, the Carthaginians had a good overview of their enemy movements and with this partly over their plans too. This allowed them to further prepare for their strikes and use their watchtowers and lighthouses to ensure their continued dominance over the Tyrrhenian Sea, thus hindering Roman movements and securing their own supply lines from Libya and Hesperia.

None of these former Roman and Italian Islands west of the Peninsula would ever go back to the Romans after the Second Roman War/ Second Punic War, but rather stay under Punic control who would go on to dominate the western Mediterranean Sea with their naval trade empire, outright stopping other powers to trade within their dominated waters for good. Beside that, the Carthagians only would station a small number of of Punic garrisons on those islands, as well as on major port towns and cities along the western coast that would have a direct alliance or protection treaty from Carthage. None of this force were much to directly change the outcome of any future battle or conflict, but their presence meant that Punic protection was more direct and serious. Even with only a few dozen Punic forces in these garrisons, attacking these factions, states and cities meant attacking Carthage itself. Therefore Hannibal would establish a system that would allow for Punic dominance and hegemony over the whole western Mediterranean without a large standing army, but a responding one to regional threats, similar to their mercenary ones before the Punic Wars. As Hannibal was also interested in establishing these independent protectorates depending on Punis trade and defensive armies and navies, but not outright annexing them like the Romans, as this would have overstretched Punic abilities and resources for now. It would likewise ensure that Carthage could play the role of a negotiator and stable force for peace, only getting involved if their trade, or the overall balance of power in the Western Mediterranean was threatened in any way or form. Therefore the system was flexible enough to not put to much financial pressure on Carthage, while securing it's trade routes and dominance with little effort, but great effectiveness. Thereby a system of growth and dominance was born that would outlive Hannibal's Carthage and his families dynasties for centuries to come.

 

[CountofDooku]

The Fall of Rome is closing in TTL once the Punics have more armies in Italy.

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 131: The Securing of Campania – Part 1

The Fall of Beneventum into Hannibals hands and the fact that Hannibal Barcas gave it to his Samnite Allies to govern it themselves, while he only left a small additional garrison beside his Samnite veterans there echoed trough all of Italy. His southern Italian Peninsula Allies the Italians and Greeks were joined by the Samnites, giving hope that soon all of Roman presence and power could be pushed out of Southern Italy. Hannibal knew Carthaginian and Syracuse reinforcements under Hanno the Elder, who had recruited new soldiers, warriors and mercenaries in Hesperia (Spain) and Libya (Africa) before returning to Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and from there on now to Southern Italy, heading with a Punic Fleet to Tarentum, to increase the garrison forces there against the two Roman Legions in Brundisium, therefore Hannibal asked the Lucani and Samnites if they could send some of their forces there to assist in the defense of this important southern region. Hannibal knew that now he had to focus on the two separated Roman Legions in the West Coast, one defending Buxentum and Velia further south, the other west of Capua in Herculaneum, Cumae, Liternum, Volturnum and Neapolis. Knowing that the Roman legion further north could link with the two Northern ones threatening Capua and Beneventum that had raided Combulteria and Telesia before, he headed south intending to defeat the Second Roman Legion there. Unlike the northern one this one could only be supported by one in the north, not two northern ones and one southern one, as Capua would stop any such advances, therefore their situation was rather isolated and they had nowhere to run. When Hannibal marched upon the two Roman held cities, the Roman Legions actually rallied out to meet Hannibal's Forces in the hills and mountains in this part of Campania. Surprised by this move, Hannibal used his slingers, javelin and archers to scout ahead and ambush the Roman Legionaries but in this forested, volcanic massive with a high seismic risk and a Mediterranean climate along the coast and continental climate in the inland, terrain was not on the Punic general's side this time.

Therefore the Romans were in the advantageous position and the Roman Commander eager to use this to his advantage and defeat Hannibal to win glory for himself and his family pushed forward. His advance trough the forest hills left Hannibal no chance then to fall back with the center of his army. At the same time Hannibal's cavalry fought the Roman one on the left flank, soon winning said skirmish. Because of this move, the Roman Legion split up their force, hoping to defeat Hannibal in detail and thereby crush him, but Hannibal backed up to the position atop the hill, where his forces took a defensive position. Now Hannibal used his reserve cavalry that had waited in ambush behind the hill to rush in from the side flanks around the hill. Winning the first cavalry fight, Hannibals infantry meanwhile held the hill with their spears under some causalities, giving away ground to the enemy as they were forced back, so Hannibal's reserve swordsmen had to rush in to hold his defensive line. Therefore the Punic Army managed to hold their remaining hill position long enough for their cavalry to rush over, win the second cavalry skirmish as well and then flank the enemy Legionaries pushing uphill from behind. The Roman Legion routed and even of those who had managed to escape partly fell down the hillside and mountain cliffs in their hastily escape, killing some more then the battle already had. In the End the majority of the Roman Legion was defeated by Hannibal's forces who had a numerical superiority in the overall battle. To march onward to the south-west coast and capture the cities of Buxentum and Velia afterwards was a rather easy task for Hannibals forces. The Roman colony of Buxentum (Greek: Pyxus) and the city of Velia (Greek: Hyele or Elea) was afterwards given to Hannibal's Lucanian allies who would administrate and govern it autonomous in the future.

 

[Orisha91]

Wow.
Samnites and Lucani are about to get a wank.

Carthage will have to manage the relationship between Oscans and the Italiotes.

 

[CountofDooku]

Wow.
Samnites and Lucani are about to get a wank.

Carthage will have to manage the relationship between Oscans and the Italiotes.

Sure keeping the Italian peace for Punic trade will be a huge deal TTL later on.

 

[TennesseeDave]

What if Carthage had an alliance with Macedonia and or the Seleucid Empire against the Roman Republic during the First or Second Punic Wars? Rome would have been cut off at the proverbial pass and history could have been changed quite a bit.

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 132: The Securing of Campania – Part 2

The latest victory allowed Hannibal Barcas to march north, but he did not assault Herculaneum, because doing so would have meant marching between the coast and the Mount Vesuvio, putting him into the very same situation he had put the Romans into at Lake Trasimene. Therefore Hannibal went over Nola and Acerrae to attack Neapolis and Herculaneum from the northeast instead. It allowed for a more secure approach and gave him a open battlefield between both mountains that would allow him to chose a battle that massively favored him. However after the Roman Legion defeat further south had been defeated and the last Punic victories had allowed for the Carthaginians to send some reinforcements from Sardinia, Sicily and Libya towards southern Italy instead. However the Roman Legion in the west knew that the two Roman Legions north of them allowed them to threaten Campania and Capua. This in return frightened Hannibal as he was certain that the Romans would not be foolish enough to walk into another Cannae, but that three of their Legions operating in Campania threatened his possible army movements and potentially supported one another. Hannibal Barka knew that defeating this armies, or their majority could massively secure the positions of Beneventum and Capua further. This however also meant that Hannibal had to lure them out to a open field battle, but the only way to do so, was to use himself as a bait. Therefore he changed direction in Acearae and Atella, followed the Clanius or Liternus river, heading towards Vulturnus or Volturnum and Liternum at the coast that would cut of Liternum, Cumae, Misenum, Puteoli, Neapolis and Herculaneum, just like the Roman Legion at Buxentum and Velia before. The river fell into the sea 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Vulturnus and around the double distance north of Liternum. The Romans realized this danger and marched their Legion from the south northwards, while one of the northern Legions the one near Casilinum marched south over the Volturnus river. It was a gamble, but it looked like it would pay of, important right now was only that Hannibal would manage to defeat both Roman Legions separated from one another and not be crushed in between them.

So therefore Hannibal and his forces headed south, while his cavalry headed north to distract and slow down the northern Legion, giving him time to deal with the southern one first. Because of this Hannibal Barcas ordered his forces to speed up as much as they could, to catch the southern Roman Legion coming from Neapolis. At the same time, Hannibal could not rush them too much, or they would be too exhausted to fight two battles shortly after one another. The Punic forces rushed in and as the Roman Legion formed a V-shape to prevent them doing a second Cannae, Hannibal ordered them to form a inverted V themselves to counter this central Roman push with his own forces. Having put some of his best elite and veteran Punic, Hesperian and Libyan forces to the side flanks of the V, while his Gaul and Italian veterans and allies held the center for as long as they could. Meanwhile his cavalry distracted the second Roman Legion, by distracting them, faking to be a advance party of scouts for Hannibal's main army force, slowing them down the best they could. Meanwhile Hannibal's flanks crushed the Roman Legion flank, slowly but steady surrounding them, as they broke the Roman V-formation and turned it into a O. As the first Roman Legionaries realized what was going on panic spread and the first Legionaries tried to escape of what little opening still was in the Punic formation. Without his cavalry, much of the Romans managed to escape northward, linking up with the Roman Legion heading south and ready to avenge their fallen comrades and defeat Hannibal once and for all. Sure their morale was low, but once again the Romans had superior numbers on their side and if Hannibal refused to battle them openly, they would just reoccupy their positions along the coastal towns and cities. Hannibal meanwhile had send messengers on horse to Capua, explaining to them that the coast was free of Romans and they could occupy and garrison these cities for themselves, administrating them from Capua if they so wished so, or otherwise allow for them to rule themselves independently and free from Rome if that was their desire. The Romans along the west coast were defeated for now, but for how long.

 

[CountofDooku]

What if Carthage had an alliance with Macedonia and or the Seleucid Empire against the Roman Republic during the First or Second Punic Wars? Rome would have been cut off at the proverbial pass and history could have been changed quite a bit.

Clearly with more Macedonian involvement and them taking the Roman colonies in the East of the Adria they can clearly bring the Roman Republic down from all sides TTL.

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 133: The Punic and Syracusean victories

While Hannibal had secured the southwestern coast of Italy, the Punic forces on Corsica under Mahar headed east with their tribal allies towards Aleria to defeat the last Roman resistance on Corsica, so that the island would once again be in Carthaginian hands. With their combined forces marching north, Mahar anticipated a new Roman ambush and therefore had send his forces in different groups over various mountain passes and pathways known mostly to the native islanders. White this strategy he managed to surpass another Roman ambush and even force the Roman forces to retreat towards Aleria itself. There he lay siege to the city, while his forced dug tunnels to overcome the outer defense walls. Once they had managed to get inside they waited for nightfall to overcome a Roman Guard at the gates, open them and then poor in more forces as they would have been able to do by just the tunnels alone. The fighting was fiery, but in the end Mahar's forces managed to win the engagement and capture Aleria, forcing the surviving Roman Legionaries to flee with the Roman Fleet at the harbor towards the Italian Coast, perused by parts of the Punic Fleet. With this victory Mahar was able to send parts of his reinforcements and native allies south towards Sardinia, were they would help the Punic forces in Caralis/ Karalis. Once they had arrived there, the now combined, stronger Punic forces headed for Olbia to push out the last Roman resistance on the island of Sardinia too. With combined forces these headed northeast towards Olbia, the Romans certain that after the disasters in Italy no further reinforcements would arrive and that they were on their own hoped they could defeat and break the Punic Forces once more so they would be forces to return to Caralis again, while they waited for further Roman Legions to retake the island of Sardinia. The two forces clashed in the Battle of Olbia, or more correctly the battle in the hills before Olbia, were the Romans tried to brake the Carthaginian forces. The Romans Legionaries were defeated when the Punic allies, the mountain tribes flanked them with skirmishers and warriors, while the Punic heavy infantry held the center. Soon the Roman forces were outflanked and defeated, many were as well captured before they reached the secure walls of Olbia again, forcing the city to capitulate soon after.

In Sardinia meanwhile the Syracuse headed north to defeat the Roman Legion remnants and to take the eastern part of the Island that Hannibal had promised them in exchange for them accepting the western part of the Islands and the Western Mediterranean as purely Punic domains. When the Roman Legion and the Syracuse Army clashed at Tyndaris, the Romans believed, their javelin could weaken the heavy Syracuse Phalanx and beet their forces easier then the Carthaginians before who had at least somewhat adapted to their own fighting style. However unknown to the Romans, the Syracuse had foreign mercenaries in their ranks, Illyrian Slingers as well as Archers from Crete and Cyprus. The Romans soon found themselves outmatched by a enemy that had a far superior range of firing at their long-range units, while his that way protected Phalanx center could continue to break the central Roman lines afterwards and conquer Messana. The Romans were now completely driven off from all three major islands in the Mediterranean, as well a some of the minor ones and while the Carthaginians now could send a reinforcement army from there made up by Hesperians and Libyans to Hannibal in Capua. The Syracuseans meanwhile thought about heading east towards the last Roman remains in Regium and Locri, but the nearby Roman Fleet in Southwest Italy, trying to evacuate Romans from Sicily as well as blockade Hannibal's ports to prevent reinforcements from reaching him would oppose those efforts and plans. Hannibal meanwhile hat a secondary army in Capua but held back on marching Rome, as he feared the two Roman Legions in Brundisium could threaten his flank and back. Therefore he send this fresh forces southeast to Hanno, son of Bomilcar so that he would have enough forces to face these Legionaries and conquer the rest of the south of Italy while he Hannibal would meanwhile hold of the Roman Legions in central Italy with his own army the best he could until that task was completed by his allies.

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 134: Hannibal's South Italian Strategy

Hannibal Barca and his commanders in Capua had gathered after the recent reinforcements to discuss their tactics and strategies for the further duration of the Second Roman/ Punic War. However once again the strategy each one of them supported and supposed was rather different.

“With our fresh forces we should break the Roman Legions to the north and march onto Rome.” advised Mago, hoping that doing so would bring a quick end to this Second Roman War once and for all. However not all agreed with Mago's voice again, as some called for more cautious.

“Even if we break the northern Roman forces, we could still be flanked by one of the other northern Roman Legions.” said Hannibal fearing that this would force him to a series of battles in the north that would weaken his already limited numbers to much before they even reached Rome at the moment.

“Not to mention the Roman Legions in the southeast in Brundisium.” stepped Hanno now in who was leading the forces there but had come here to coordinate the overall planning. He knew that those Romans had showed to attack nearby towns and cities as long as they knew for sure that Hannibal was northwest around Capua, meaning that they would further try to reconquer southern Italian allies and bring them back under the Roman sandal, when they would gain the opportunity.

“If we keep passing this chances up Hannibal we might lose this war on the log run.” feared Mago concerned looking at the map before them, were small figures represented known own, allied or enemy armies.

“How about we secure the south first and maybe in the same time we will get lucky in Sicily too.” supposed Hannibal Barca, knowing that either way they would have at least three armies to face off against the Romans then, as well as a secured flank, meaning that marching onto Rome afterwards would be a much more easier task, especially as the Romans had already shown that they even used armed civilians and gladiators, proving they ran out of trained Legionaries, or at least needed further time to recruit and train new ones after their recent massive losses.

“Yes, that way our flanks would be secured and we would have a much greater army to march onto Rome.” agreed Hanno, son of Bomilcar seeing how Hannibal's plan proved once again that he was a brilliant, superior strategist and mastermind.

“It could work, we could have more forces and by the time, maybe Syracuse or Macedon have send us further engineers to build massive siege weapons to overcome the walls of Rome.” nodded Mago, realizing that defeating further Roman Legion forces, while their own forces grew by fresh reinforcements from Hesperia, Libya, as well as Sicily and maybe even Gaul and Macedon.

“Is it decided then?” questioned Hannibal, wishing to know if all of his commanders stood behind the decision and would give their best to make this plan become a reality. Nearly all of his commanders, including Mago supported the new strategy of Southern Italy First and from the looks of it they did so honestly. Endangering the Roman Legions in the Southeast in Brundusium would probably also force one of the northern Roman Legiosn to attempt aiding them, meaning Hannibal would be able to spring a trap that could quit possible even destroy a further Roman Legion in central Italy, further increasing their chances for a successful march on Rome afterwards. Either way it would force the Romans to make a move on his favor again, once more playing Hannibal into the hands instead of fighting on their terms. With the strategic planning over, Hanno, son of Bomilcar headed east to Tarentum to accompanied by his new army and reinforcements to get the job done the best he would be able to.

 

[CountofDooku]

Corona curfew over here, I pray that me, my girl and family stay safe untill it's over, maybe not so much new chapters till then.

Thank's to my disability I'm part of the high-risk group even at a normal flu, is my beloved granddad who just recently has had chemotherapy. I'll try to prewrite a few chapters and read here to pass some time, while also trying to get in shape for my girl again (as well as for my own well being). ^^

What we also could do while I'm sick is to make a few questions and answers about my TL's to stay in contact with the readers and plan the future together.

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 135: West Italian Coloniae Latinae

Hannibal Barcas and his forces were finally ready to subdue the Roman Latin Colonies at the West Coast, so that everything south of the Clanius Liternus River would be directly Carthaginian controlled. This would mean no more western threat for Campania and Capua any longer and force the roman forces to stay north of the Volturnus River, with Casilinum and Volturnum as their main positions to send their two northern Legions down. However they would most likely not come from Casilinum, as the nearby Capuan Campanian Forces would be able to either stop them or threaten their flank. Because of this Hannibal's main forces marched west, ready to engage the coastal cities and take them, with engineers and siege weapons if needed. At first Hannibal's cavalry scouted the area to see where the Roman Legion at the Coast was located and the majority of it's forces seamed to be stationed in Neapolis itself. Therefore Hannibal marched his forces there, only to split up shortly before the city and turn west and south to besiege and capture the smaller Roman Latin towns and cities along the coast, hoping to force the Legion in Neapolis out into a field battle of his choosing, so that the two Punic armies could reunite and surround the Roman Legion to annihilate him. However the Roman commander wasn't stupid and so he refused to take the battle to Hannibal, even if it meant nearby Roman cities and towns falling to the Punic barbarians. Unknown to the Romans this was the second plan of Hannibal, have them stay in Neapolis while he defeated parts of the Legionaries in Detail and then march onto their remnants in Neapolis to take the city as well afterwards. Not only that, Hannibal even allowed for some Romans who were not sold in slavery, mainly the injured and unfit for battle ones to retreat to Neapolis, while he freed all Latin Colonists, Capuans and Campanians in their ranks, hoping to split them and Roma apart. Meanwhile the few freed Romans could tell the defenders of Neapolis of his victories and undermine their morale, while their stories of the Roman Commander not helping nearby Roman and Latin colonies and allies would help undermine overall morale in Neapolis.

Then Hannibal reunited his forces, yes even got reinforced by a few Capuans, Campanian and Samnites before besieging Neapolis. To do that he build a defensive siege position with camps and walls around the city, that now with only possible Roman reinforcements from the sea was cut of from supplies and food. The fight for Neapolis took a few weeks all while Hannibal had parts of his forces ready for battle and moving out, but in camp, so he could quickly react to any Roman Legions from the north marching south to him so they could help the besieged city of Neapolis. Hannibal would loose thousands of his soldiers as the siege battle was still not his strong ability and the Romans and Latin forces, including some civilians fought for every road, neighborhood and house. At the same time a Roman Legion came as reinforces down from Volturnum to reinforce Neapolis, only to be meet by Hannibal's reserve and a force of Capuan Campanians that would have them manage to get only a Pyrrhic victory, forcing the now partly diminished Legion back north over the Voltumsi river, were they would join the second Roman Legion still waiting there to stop the Punic forces marching north on Rome itself. Hannibal meanwhile had all Romans in the western cities enslaved, soldiers and civilians alike, while all locals were freed and left under the rule and jurisdiction of nearby Capua who thanks to this now had control of all of Campania uncontested. Hannibal Barcas as the Punic General hoped that this would help so they would stay on his side and assist in the fight against Rome with further reinforcement militia and troops to aid his own troops and mercenaries in battle. In the End Hannibal had managed to capture the coast and take tie cities and towns of Neapolis, Cumae, Liternum, Herculaneum, Hamae and Misenum albeit it under own heavy losses during this skirmishes, battles and sieges. Hannibal then turned his attention back south instead of marching on Rome, as the two Roman Legions at Brundusium had marched onto Tarentum to retake the city that was of major impotence to his southern reinforcements and overall control of the southern Italian Peninsula in general.

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 136: The Second Battle of Tarentum

In the South of Italy, the Punic and Tarentum forces defending the city of Tarentum, or Taras (Τάρας, or Τάραντος Tarantos), soon faced the two Roman Legions with roughly 20,000 Roman Legionaries from Brundusium, against their garrison lead by the Bruttian Commander Carthalo. The Romans tried to storm the city that was by now reinforced by Punic warriors and mercenaries from Liberia and Sicily. Carthalo promised the Roman Commander to open the city up to them, while the defenders would be away. However this was a trick and when the Roman Cohort under their commander tried to infiltrate the city and take it from within they soon found themselves surrounded by a large group of the defenders and their escape path cut off. Quickly the small Roman Cohort was overwhelmed and slaughtered including the Roman Commander, leaving the Roman Siege Forces around Tarentum under the command of the lesser experienced Second Roman Commander. Not willing to give up, the Romans attacked the city again and again, but during the siege new Punic reinforcements from Sicily, Greeks, Punics and Libyans alike came in a fleet to support the besieged city and help the defenders against the Roman Legionaries. Their defenses held firm, even when further Roman reinforcements arrived and assured Carthalo that not only could Tarentum been held, but maybe he could gain control over all of Bruttia from here and rule more then the city alone. With new reinforcements and a small ship to secure three of the four sides of the city and allowed for a counter-attack on the Roman Legionaries to destroy their siege-equipment. The Romans were quit surprised by this move and taken off-guard, so that their inexperienced new commander was unable to coordinate a a proper defense of the Roman siege surrounding the city from the southeast. The battle was fierce and the Romans at first even held their ground before they were outflanked by enemy forces who were transported from Tarentum and flanked them in the southeast.

This forced the Roman legionaries into L-shaped defensive formation, they even had to give up parts of their own siege camp to the attacking enemy Punic-Greek forces. Their ongoing push soon forced the Romans to retread towards Brundusium once more and leave some of their equipment, including siege weapons and some weapons and armor behind. While the Punic Commander did know that it would be impossible to transport the siege equipment all the way to Brundusium, while the Romans could use all the time they would be transported for raids and attacks on their marching way. Therefore Carthalo chose to stay in Tarentum and remain in the security of the city itself. This lead to some heated arguments as the Punic and Greek commanders were eager to either free the remaining Greek cities like the Greek Commanders wished, or free the whole of Bruttia, like Hannibal and the Carthaginians hoped. Hannibal himself had hoped that the Punic and Greek commanders would be able to conquer the rest of southern Italy, while Carthalo and many Tarentumians rather wished to remain in their secure city, defended by their allies and wait for Hannibal's main forces to march south and conquer the rest of the remaining Roman loyal lands. Hannibal however knew that the Roman Legions in the north still threatened Capua, as well as Bovaiamom (renamed Bovianum by the Latins) and Maleventum (later renamed Beneventum by the Romans). Because of this the allies in Tarentum had a heated debate about which direction to follow would be the best, but in the End Hannibal's own decisions would ultimately decide the argument, as without him the Greeks and Punics would be unable to take Brundusium and Bruttia alone, especially ad the Tarentumians were not willing to leave their city undefended to join them in the fight for Bruttia only to maybe endanger their homes and families.

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 137: Maleth and Gwl

South of Sicily on the Islands Gwl (Gozo) and Maleth (Melite or Melita = safe haven or Malta) had been garrisoned by 1,000 Carthaginians (Gozo) and 2,000 Carthaginians (Malta). They and the Punic Fleet there had defeated a Roman Republic attempt led by Tiberius Sempronius Longus in the early stages of the Second Roman/ Punic War to occupy the islands. The Carthaginian garrison forces on these islands were led by Hamilcar, son of Gisco and at first only consisted of a few watchtowers and houses for the Punic soldiers themselves. At first eating, gathered or hunted native or brought as food source to the islands boar, crabs, deer, fox, wolves various berry bushes and fruit trees, but soon first Libyo-Phoenician farmers from Africa, Hesperian farmers from Spain and even Greeks from Sicily (Punic Siculo), mainly from were brought as settlers to the island to establish small towns and cities to supply the shipment of fresh forces between Carthage, Sicily and Southern Italy (Magna Graecia) during the Second Roman/ Punic War. With this growing settlements, soon first shrines and temples to Anat, Astarte, Ba'alat, El and Yam were established as well. Over the course of the war the towns of Smnmemqrt (two water city, or two harbor city, Valetta) and Zdqrt (inner port city, bay city, or southern port city, Marsaxlokk) soon became the biggest towns on Maleth and Gwl, trading between Carthage, Sicily and Southern Italy in the coming decades and centuries, thus making them into the biggest Punic settlements on the two islands. During the Second Punic War however they started out as Phoenician garrisons and military fortifications, whose multi-ethnic mercenaries from all over the ancient worlds laid the foundation for the later different ethnic quarters of these cities in the near future, with the Punic in direct control of the harbor, the markets, the administration centers and the military installations. In fact many of the mercenaries garrisoning the islands later settled here with their families, especially Hesperian and Libyans, who beside some pirate raids were much more secure on the islands from barbaric raids then they had been in their original homelands.

To End the Punic supply chains from Maleth, Tiberius Sempronius Longus tried tho take the islands a second time during the Second Punic War, leading a Roman Fleet trough the Fretum Sicilum from the Mare Thyrrenum into the Mare Ionium to attack and take Syracusae so that the Punics would loose their ally in the East of Sicily, devastating the dreams and hopes of many Greeks in Southern Italy and Sicily that hoped for Carthage and Hannibal to liberate them from Roman rule. If the Roman plan would be successful, it would threaten the Punic hold of Sicily once more and cut of Hannibal Barca from supplies in Southern Italy. Therefore the Carthaginian knew how important the Siege of their ally Syracusae was to them and send their own fleets to support the Syracusaens against the Roman siege and invasion. The Punic army of Sicily however would according to their treaty between Carthage and Syracusae stayed on the western Punic side and not stepped over into Syracusaen eastern Sicily as long as their ally hadn't directly fallen to Rome. A risky strategy, but the help of the Punic fleet allowed to destroy the Roman Fleet besieging the city of Syracusae from the sea helped not only break the full siege, but cut off the Roman Legion landed in eastern Sicily from further supplies from central Italy. This meant that the Roman Legionaries had to supply themselves from the surrounding Greek lands, meaning that they antagonized the Greek population of Eastern Sicily against themselves by doing so. Meanwhile the Syracusaen Hoplites marched out in a Phalanx formation to destroy the Roman siege fortifications around their city. The Romans without supplies were weakened and had even lost many Legionaries to hunger, starvation and desertion before the battle. With low morale, supplies and reinforcements, while Syracusae on the other hand called for further soldiers and help from the east Syracusean Greeks they managed to defeat and destroy the Roman Legion under Tiberius Sempronius Longus and slay or enslave all Roman soldiers involved in the Battle of Syracusae, even selling some of them to the western Punic part of Siculo as slaves.

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 138: Battle of the Silarus

The Battle of the Silarus was fought between Hannibal's army and a Roman force led by centurion Marcus Centenius Penula. The Carthaginians were victorious, destroying the entire Roman army and killing 15,000 Roman soldiers in the process. Hannibal had lifted the siege of Capua after mauling two Roman consular armies in the Battle of Capua. The Roman consuls had split their forces, with Flavius Flaccus moving towards Cumae, while Appius Claudius Pulcher marched towards Lucania. It is not sure why they had done so, because their forces still outnumbered Hannibal's army, even with the losses suffered in the battle. Hannibal decided to follow Claudius. Claudius managed to evade the pursuit of Hannibal, but a centurion, Marcus Centenius Penula, had appealed to the Roman Senate for independent command against Hannibal, claiming that with his knowledge of Campania he could best the Carthaginians. His appeal was granted and 4,000 citizen soldiers and 4,000 allies were detached to serve under him, possibly from the army of Gracchus which was stationed in Lucania. To this force another 8,000 volunteers from Campania, Lucania, and Samnium were added. While Appius Claudius and his consular army marched west to join his fellow consul, Centenius set off to attack Hannibal in Lucania. Hannibal learned of the Romans' approach and halted his pursuit of Claudius. Prior to the battle, Hannibal had his cavalry secure all roads in the area to stop any Roman retreat this time.

The opposing columns spotted their enemies and immediately drew up into battle lines. The poorly equipped Romans held off Hannibal's veterans for two hours until Centenius was killed in action. The Roman army collapsed into a rout and 15,000 Roman soldiers were killed in the battle and pursuit, with only 1,000 escaping the Carthaginian cavalry blockade. After the battle, Hannibal did not pursue the army of Claudius. Instead, he marched east into Apulia once again, where a Roman army under Praetor Gnaeus Flavius Flaccus was operating against some towns allied to Carthage. The Roman consular armies, free of Hannibal, united and resumed their harassment of Capua, were remaining Punic forces and local Campanian managed to hold them off. Out of 16,000 Romans, only 1,000 survived. These survivors were sent to join the legions of survivors that had faced the Punic in Italy before. Hanno the Elder meanwhile headed with a part of the Punic forces towards Bruttium, so they could conquer the remaining Roman held cities and towns there that had before helped the Roman fleet resupply and travel trough the strait between Sicily and Southern Italy in their invasion of East Sicily and Malta, so that in the future another invasion attempt for the Romans would be harder and Bruttium as a whole would be completely secured from them.

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 139: Battles in Daunii

Hannibal Barca knew that if the Punic Army in the Gallic north ot the Italian Peninsula was to stood a chance against the Romans he had to remain in Campania and threaten Latium and Roma itself. That was why he had send Hanno the Elder east with parts of the forces, so he might threaten the Roman Remnants in Apulia and Calabria stationed in Brundisium. Coordinating this attack with the Macedonians allowed the Carthagians to defeat the Roman Colonies in Illyrium, Appollonia and Epidammus, but Hanno's Forces still faced a Roman Army in Frentani and south in Appulia, threatening to unite and crush them. Therefore Hannibal had to keep up the pressure against not only Latium from Campania, but Frentania from Samnium as well, traveling with his forces between Capua and Beneventum to threaten both northern Roman flanks and making a attack from there more unlikely. Velia had fallen before and Rhegium and Petelia on their own posed no true threat to Hanno's Forces, so he conquered them quickly, with the help of some fresh reinforcements from Carthaginian Sicily and Syracusean Mercenaries alike. Then he headed back north again over Aceruntia and Venusia to Aquilonia. From there he invaded Daunii while the Punic Forces in Tarentum threatening Brindusium prevented any major Roman Reinforcements from the Legions there. After taking Ausculum, the Romans forces led by Praetor Gnaeus Fulvius Flaccus, brother of the consul. Apulian envoys had warned Hanno the Elder ahead of a Roman army under Flaccus that was easy prey owing to its low discipline and lack of awareness. Sensing an opportunity for another quick victory, Hanno the Elder marched east to meat them directly. Fulvius and his army had had a rather easy time in most of still Roman held Apulia, and the Romans were unaware of Hanno's presence until he was within the immediate area of Herdonia. Fulvius is said to have become careless from his easy successes and his army was also weighted down with loot from smaller towns and cities in Appulia that had wished to join Hannibal at first but had been retaken or kept under control by the Romans. Fulvius accepted battle on Hanno's offer at the behest of his extremely eager soldiers. The Romans had about 18,000 men available.

Hanno deployed his forces on the plain outside his camp, while sending about 3,000 light infantry to his extreme left flank to effect a surprise attack from the woodlands and farms located in that direction. Hanno also sent out 2,000 Numidian cavalry to take control of the roads in the rear of Fulvius' army, thus cutting off all escape routes. Flaccus did not detect the deployments of the Carthaginians. Hanno the Elder's army overwhelmed the Roman legions almost at once. Fulvius immediately fled the field with 200 cavalry as Hannibal's attacks came from the front, behind, and to both sides. Roughly 2,000 Romans are said to have survived the battle and fleet back to Calabria and Brindusium. In the span of a few weeks, Hannibal and Hanno had killed over 41,000 Roman and allied soldiers in two battles in Campania, Samnia and Apulia. After the Herdonia battle, Hanno had secured Daunii in northern Apulia and marched south towards Brundisium, where the Romans would soon be besieged by his forces outside their city. Carthaginia and his allies managed to liberate most of northern and Apulia and marching south. Because of this, the Roman senate decided to raise four new legions in Central Italy to send to retake Apulia and once again connect both Roman regions in Italy into a single one after Carthagian Forces now had split them in two. Hanno the Elder's march South to take all of Apulia, Calabria and Brundisium was not as fast as Hannibal's would have been, as he left behind garrisons for the cities and towns that had now joined the Punic in Daunii, while at the same time resting parts of his army there to give the wounded a chance to recover after the last hard-fought battles and rapid marches. This allowed the Romans to have the time to raise their new Legions and better prepare Brundusium itself for the clearly upcoming siege by Hanno once his forces had continued to march upon the city. With the Roman Colonies in Greece in Illyrium gone and Macedon as a ally of Hannibal it was questionable if any reinforcements from Central Italy and Rome would arrive in time to reinforce the deminished Legions left in Brinddisium after the Battles of Tarentum and Herdonis. Sipontium in the north of Daunii thereby soon fell under influence of Hanno's forces as well.

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 140: Battle of Silvium

The Battle of Silvium took place when the Carthaginians under Hanno the Elder, who would encircle and destroy a Roman army which was operating against Punic allies in Apulia. The heavy defeat increased the war's burden on Rome and, piled on previous military disasters, such as Lake Trasimene, Cannae, and others, aggravated the relations with Rome's exhausted Italian allies. For Hannibal the battle was a tactical success and did halt the Roman advance. The battle was a main Carthaginian victory of the war, marking like Cannae the Beginning of the End for the Roman Empire and partly even the Roman Republic. The Punic Forces and their allies were lead by Hanno the Elder and the Roman Legion was headed by Gnaeus Fulvius Flaccus. The Punic's earlier victories had brought them a host of new allies from Campania, Samnium, Apulia, Lucania, Bruttium, and Magna Graecia, who revolted from Rome encouraged by his promise to liberate them from Roman Oppression by his narrative of Roman oppression. Hannibal's ability to defend Cannae and Beneventum lead to more Italians joining his side, sure he would be able to keep his promise even against Roman opposition. Because two Roman Legions operated close to one another, Hanno did not dare to challenge them until he had brought some distance and Hannibal's supporting army beside him and half of the Romans. The Romans in the meantime feared Hanno the Elder could united his forces with those left as a Garrison in Tarentum and headed out themselves to stop his army before it could reach the city of Tarentum and unite the two Punic forces. The Romans moved quickly, able to capture some towns that could have served as Carthaginian bases in this region. Meanwhile, Hanno the Elder had headed south from northern Apulia with forced marches and managed to catch the Romans off-guard when they latter was besieging Silvium. Despite the Carthaginian numerical superiority the Roman leader did not decline the battle. He arranged his army in two battle lines and clashed with the Carthaginian infantry. Hanno waited until the Romans and their allies were fully engaged and sent his Hesperian and Numidian cavalry to surround them.

Part of the Hesperian and Numidians attacked the Roman camp which was insufficiently protected. The others fell upon the rear allied legion and dispersed it. The same happened to the Romans fighting in the front line. The Romans, eleven out of twelve military tribunes, and 7,000 to 13,000 soldiers were slain. The rest were scattered and some escaped to Brundusium and Calabria. This victory did not bring significant strategic advantages to Hannibal or Hanno the Elder. The Carthagians thereby managed to keep Tarentum connected to the rest of the Punic and allied held regions in Southern Italy over the Via Appia, the very same route that once had allowed the Roman Legions to capture Magna Greacia in the first place. In the meantime Hannibal fought of the two Roman Legions in Central Italy, buying Hanno the Elder time to finish his southern campaign and keep the Carthaginians in a dominant, offensive position in their campaign. Despite this newest defeat at Silvium did not make the Roman Senate change its warlike stance. Once again, as in the aftermath of these Roman losses, Roman Senators resorted to punitive actions against the remnants of the defeated army. 4,344 men were rounded up and sent to northern Italy, where they joined the survivors of Cannae and other battles had been sentenced to serve in the Apennine Mountains until the end of the war. This had undesired repercussions. The deportation of the soldiers, most of whom were of Latin origin and had Latin colonial families settle in Southern Italy, caused considerable discontent among the Latin colonies which had already been drained by years of continuous warfare on Italian soil against the Punics under Hannibal. Beside great Roman want and need of additional manpower and financial resources twelve out of thirty colonies refused to send any more levies and money to Rome, making the remaining Roman power position even more problematic then it already was because of the recent losses and former Italian allies switching to the Punic side. This crisis continued for the rest of the Second Punic War /Second Roman War years and put severe strain on the Roman war effort.

 

[Stark]

Very fun timeline, thank you for your effort

 

[CountofDooku]

Very fun timeline, thank you for your effort

Glad you like it, more chapters coming soon ^^

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 141: Naval Siege of Brundisium

Brundisium was besieged and the remnants of two Roman Legions inside were supported by the Roman Illyrian Fleet. The Carthagians knew that they had to hurry, or otherwise the Romans would send a reinforce Legion from the north. To prevent exactly that the Punic forces soon build siege equipment and with the help of a Punic Fleet and reinforcements from Tarentum tried to cut off Brundisium completely. Once their siege fortifications around the city were established and siege weapons under construction to take the city, a Punic force was detached to head north to deal with the Roman Legion entering Apulia. At the same time parts of the Roman Fleet tried to break out of the naval blockade to get reinforcement, or to flee north to increase the Roman relief force there while the rest continued to hold the city as long as possible. To prevent exactly that the Punic Forces had established a chain of ships to blockade the Outer Harbor of the city with their ships in between the islands there that they used for campment of their sailors. As the Inner Harbord was well defended by the Outer Defense Wall of the City itself, not unlike Carthage, a direct attack of the Roman Fleet there, or even a naval landing was quit impossible. At the same time the city surrounded by the two Inner Harbor sides was well fortified and defended at the End of the Via Appia. It was clear that the main fight had to come from the Punic forces on land, but the attempt of the Roman Naval forces to escape actually meant the Punic Fleet had to put up a fight as well. Hanno, son of Bomilcar realized that the best course of action was to attack and capture the two Roman forts at the edge of the cities outer wall and the entrance of the harbor, as they were rather isolated, he had a small Punic fleet as support and if he took them, he could then blockade and capture the Roman forces and fleet in the city, completely cutting them off with such a move. For this to work however the Punic Fleet had to withstand the Roman one and defend their blockade position as best as they could. The Punic naval leader Maharbal the Sailor managed to do so by positioning watch posts at the islands and ships, so that the Roman Fleet would not surprise them.

Once the Roman Navy tried to break out, he used the bottleneck they were in to deploy larger Punis ranged ship forces, while cramping his opponents fleet together in their attempt to break out. The so called Naval Battle of Brundisium or Brindsium was still a chaotic mess, besides both sides original rather simple battle plans. However in their attempt to escape the siege the Romans actually landed on some of the Islands the Punics camped upon and had their fortifications, hoping to burn and destroy their supplies and force them to send troops that then would weaken their naval blockade. This way the Naval Battle of Brindisium became a naval and land battle. Seing the chaos, the Punic Commander on land, Hanno realized he had to act or the Romans might leave the siege and return with greater forces. Punic land forces attacked the two harbor forts because of this, concentrating quit some large force on taking them in fear the Romans might otherwise reinforce them over the harbor walls connecting them with the city itself. At the same time enough Punic forces remained in their main siege camp to deter the Romans from breaking out of the siege there. Just as some Roman ships managed to break trough into the Adriatic, the fire coming from the Roman Harbor Forts forced parts of the rest to retread back into the harbor, to assist the Legionary fort garrisons fighting, fearing they might otherwise be unable to break back into it should the forts fell. The Punic Fleet followed them and the Battle for the Brundisium Harbor Fords became chaotic and a unorganized mess soon too. The Romans lost some further ships, but the smaller Punic fleet actually lost a few more and retreated so that they would remain able to lay a naval blockade to the city. Despite this the Punic forces captured the Harbor forts and managed to completely cut of the Roman army and fleet inside of the now completely surrounded city.