Carthage and the lost Libyan War

[CountofDooku]

Prelude:
It all began with the Punic War (later called the First Punic War but most called it the Roman War or First Roman War) a struggle for more then 20 years (264 to 241 BC) between Carthage and the Roman Republic over the supremacy in Sicily. A great sea-power before the war in the western Mediterranean Carthage still lost the fight after Rome built up a powerful navy, developed strategies and allied itself with local political powers in Sicily (mostly the Kingdom of Syracuse). After the Punic War a treaty between Rome and Carthage force the Carthaginians from Sicily. The Romans lost more manpower, but their Latin Allies and they had more population than the Carthaginians. Carthage had to pay reparations and soon faced another struggle as their mercenary armies demanded their payment. They rebelled, seized Tunis by force and Carthage capitulated to the mercenaries' demands. But then two of the mercenary commanders, Spendius and Mathos, persuaded the Libyan conscripts in the army to accept their leadership, and then convinced them that Carthage would exact vengeance for their part in the revolt once the foreign mercenaries were paid and sent home. They also persuaded the combined mercenary armies (90.000 man) to revolt against Carthage, and various Libyan towns and cities to back the revolt. What had been a hotly contested labor dispute exploded into a full-scale Libyan revolt (later called the Libyan War with up to 70.000 fighting Libyans later in the War) from 240 to 237 BC. The general from the Sicily campaigns Hamilcar Barca, father of Hannibal Barca fought brave but n the meantime the Romans annexed Sardinia and Corsica while Carthage was occupied fighting the Libyans. At the Battle of Tunis the Rebels defeated and injured Hamicar, looted Carthage and forced the once great power to accept their own Dual-Kingdom with Leptis as it's capital. Hanno the Great soon used these circumstances to eliminate all opposition in the Senate of Carthage. The Magonides, responsible for Carthage's expansion into Libya, Sardinia, and Sicily nearly lost all power and Influence and the Barcides of Hamicar were forced to leave the City after their losses to the Libyans and Numidians in Africa. Hanno the Great now the only Shophet after a short Carthagian Civil War and his Hannonid, or Hannonian faction, feared another Roman war and just like Greek Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt focused on Africa. New agriculture, industry and alliances and trade with the Numidians, Libyans as well as Rome and Syracuse allowed the Hannonid to once again become a power in Africa. But just like the Diadochy and Hellenistic Empires in the East there now was more than one Carthage. While Phillip V. of Macedon tried to force the Romans out of Illyria while they where occupied with the Gauls in northern Italy another Nation had risen within Iberia. The last Barcids under Hamilcar that had left Carthage westwards, along with some left Numidians and other mercenaries who sided with them in the Civil War, had crossed the Pillars of Hercules and founded his own Kingdom within the Phoenician colonies around Gades in west Andalusia. With his premature death in battle (228 BC) the Barcid Kingdom fell in the hands of his son Hannibal. Hannibal soon conquered the rest of East Andalusia and founded Carthago Nova as a new capital afterwards. Without new Carthage or Phoenician settlers from outside Iberia Hannibal soon allied himself with local tribes and even Greek colonies and cities. Carthago Nova soon became a multicultural but primary Hellenistic state.

(Map of the major Powers in the Mediterrain as well as the Influrence of both Carthagean Staates in Iberia and Spain in 228 BC)

Hanno the Great was alarmed, as Hannibal after the death of his father now Shophet of Carthago Nova tried to expand his trade with Numidia and Carthage as well as other Iberian factions as well as Massilia in the western Mediterrain. As Hannibal started recruiting more and more Africans and primary Numidians in his Armies Hanno feared the worst. The securing of the silver-road in Iberia seamed to be in Hannibals Interest for his own Kingdom and soon the Iberian War started. Hannibal and his brother Hasdrubal along with their allies the Counei, Turdetani, Bastetani, Oretani and Contestani had started a war against the Celtici, Turduli, Vettones, Carpetani and Vaccaei to annex their lands or force these tribes to become vassals of their Kingdom in 221 to 220. Hanno in Carthage was alarmed about these victories and even the Romans, occupied in other wars saw these events as a potential the rise of another great power in the western Mediterranean. Because of that the Romans declared alliances with the Celtiberi, and Mediterranean cities like Sargunt, Tarraco, Emporion, Rhode and others garanteing their independence against Hannibal. Hannibal was outraged because Hanno now declared the Iberian waters again hegemonic trade routes of Carthage to protect his city from the growing economic power of Carthago Nova while raising an Army in Tingis to reclaim the lost Carthage tribute Cities in Andalusia. Also the Romans tried to bond his movements in Iberia just like they did with his home town of Carthage in Africa. Hannibal saw this as an act of aggression and Hegemonie over all of the western Mediterranean and decided to act. The now beginning Iberian War in 219 was fought between four major powers of the Western Mediterranean; Hannibals Empire of Carthago Nova in the south and east, the free Iberian tribes like the Lusitani, Turduli, Callaeci, Astures, Cantabri and some smaller tribes in the west and nothwest coast of Iberia, the roman allied tribes in the east, primary Celtiberi and Lacetani as well as Hanno's Army that crossed the Pillars of Hercules. But even when the Romans feared Hannibals new Empire in the West they themselves had no Interest in Hanno claiming the Andalusian phoenician Colonies back for Carthage or even reconquering to the Numidians and Libyans lost lands in Africa. Hanno himself raised two other mostly Carthaginian and partly mercenary army in Carthago itself, hoping that a fast victory in Africa and south Iberia could regain his City the status of a major power in the Western Mediterranean. The Romans themselves had four Armies, one in Illyria fighting the Macedon's, one in Sicily ready to cross over to Africa, if Hanno would get to ambitions, one in Sardinia and Corsica to protect these provinces as well as northern Italy against raids from the Celts, Hanno or Hannibal and one to support their allies in Iberia themselves, should Hannibal attack them. The conflict was fueled by the Roman allies in Iberia that attacked tribes allied or under the protection of Hannibal as well as Hanno's Army attacking the south. Hannibal ordered his brother Hasdrubal to secure Andalusia and Carthago Nova while he started a campaign to secure the northeast as well as fighting back any Roman expedition force trying to expend the Roman influence in Iberia. In the meantime Phillip V. of Macedon saw these war in the west as a excellent Opportunity to become the Hegemon over all of Greece and Illyria while the Balearic people where torn apart between supporting Hanno or Hannibal.

(Map of the major Factions in the beginning of the Iberian War)

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 1: Iberian War Year One, Month One:

Hannibal started his Iberian War in the summer season of 219 BC as his Army marched north to secure the territories of the Vettones, Carpetani and Vaccaei as well as securing the borderland with the Celtiberi and to get a more secure access to the Iberian resources like gold, iron, copper, tin or wood in the region. As Hannibal annexed some boarder regions he moved fast thanks to the Silver-road he build to link Gades with Ilipa, Helmantike and Arbkale. But while Hannibal secured these territories the Carthaginian Army of Hanno the Great under Maharbal reached Gades and conquered the nearby Andalusian phoenician Colonies. The Turdetani tried a halfhearted attack, but Hannibals brother Hasdrubal marched along the Shophet-road that linked Carthago Nova, Helke, Castulo, Baula to Gades. But the revolt of the Bastuli against Carthage as well as Carthago Nova slowed Hasdrubals Arny down. Hanno the Great first planned to start a two front war by assaulting Carthago Nova with a second fleet by sea. But the continuing attacks of the fleet of Massilia and a landing of a Massilian Army in the
Balearic Islands soon changed his plans of action. With the Roman friendly and Greek City of Massilia threatening the remaining trade of Carthage and maybe forcing it's way to the for non-carthagean ships forbidden Pillars of Hercules Hanno knew there was much more at stake than just Hannibals conquest for hegemony over Iberia. So he ordered his second Army and Navy to secure the Baleares and to prevent Massilian from becoming a ally and dominant power for other Greek cities of Iberia or even ally themselves with Syracuse in Sicily against Carthage. Meanwhile Hannibals other brother Mago stayed back in the city of Carthago Nova to secure the capital and also to prevent the roman allied tribes like the Celtiberi to attack the own allies and vassals such as the Carpetani.

(territorial changes in the first month of the first year of the Iberian War, gray = Massilia, green = Carthage, yellow = Carthago Nova, pink = roman allied tribes)

With the landing of Hanno's Army in Andalusia Hannibal knew he had to conquer Gades to stop his enemies supply routes. But to to that he had to build a navy to move his Army to Gades and conquer the nearby lands up to the numidian territories. The only place he belied in successfully doing so was western Iberia, far away from the main Roman and carthagian influence and fleets as well as their navies on the other side of the Pillars of Hercules. Meanwhile Maharbals plan was much simpler, he wanted to annex all phoenician Colonies in Andalusia for Carthage under Hanno the Great. Hannibals brother Hasdrubal planned on pushing the enemy Army back to Africa or better in the sea. Massilians General Xanthippos had more ambitions plans, first he wanted to annex the Baleares, later free and ally all other Greek cities in Iberia to further weaken carthagian influence weather it was carthago or Carthago Nova as well as any other non-Greek power in eastern Iberia. The Roman senate tried to ally itself with other tribes and factions in eastern Iberia and promised them protection to ensure that none of it's enemies gained more power and influence till new Armies where ready or in Iberia to enforce these politics with the sword if needed. But until then it was just diplomacy, just like the two delegations send to Hanno and Hannibal in Carthage and Carthago Nova, that warned them not to start a full out war in Iberia or to threaten Roman Interests in the region any further.

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 2: Hannibals State of Carthago Nova:

(image of Carthago Nova)

Since Hannibal raised power as the Shophet of Carthago Nova he did everything in is power to overcome the weakness of his state. Since he was majorly elected by the army, and far from home, he knew that he couldn't count on pure strange or a major population. He also needed a strong military to secure his territories and their boarders against Iberian rebellions and enemy neighbors. War and military might alone could not archive these goals even with the great manpower pool of Iberia. Because of that Hannibal raised a mobile cavalry army making his name Barcas (the lightning) respected and feared among the Iberian and even some numidians, greeks and gaullic tribes and cities. To have enough money for his (mostly) mercenary army Hannibal collected taxes (the tenth) from those territories under his control or hegemony. He also secured the trade, build roads and treaties for alliances, confederates or protection with local tribes, cities and powers I exchange for taxes like resources or manpower.

Thanks to this policy Carthago Novanian client states developed and created a state alongside conquered or allied territories around Carthago Nova. Leaded by the Shophet as King or Judge (like the Romans and Greek called him), Hannibal was the monarch of the new state. Hannibals state had provinces like Beseani, Oretani, Turdetani, Turduli, Celici, Counei and later Vettones, Capetani and Vaccaei. In these Territories the strongest tribes or these with the most manpower, or military experience and population served as provincial hegemonic and protectors for Carthago Nova. They had to supply mercenaries but in exchange paid lower taxes then the rest and Carthago Nova did not interfere in their local laws, customs and religion, as long as they did not threaten the influence, trade or hegemonic power of Carthago Nova. A special status belonged to all Phoenician/Punic and shortly later Greek City-states or colonies. They had a great amount of independence and even the right to mint and issue coins (at least the carthago nova shekel/talent that gained more and more influence in Iberia as accepted currency everywhere in iberia).

They spread the punic-greek culture across the new state and just like the provincial strongest tribes and military commanders (strategos) gained influence in the oligarchy of Carthago Nova and regulate governmental business such as public works, tax-collecting, and the administration of the state treasury. These aristocratic families were represented in a supreme council (Roman sources speak of a Senate of Carthago Nova and Greek ones of a council of Elder or a gerousia), that had a wide range of powers. Above them was the Shophet as an exercised judicial and executive power, that Hannibal used to chose military generals and administrators (like his brothers). He as the Shophet supervised the Treasury and Foreign Affairs in poll with the Council of Elders.

There also was the Tribunal of Hundred and Four, similar to the Spartan ephors. These judges acted as a higher constitutional court and oversaw the actions of generals, that in case of a defeat could be sentenced to crucifixion. They appointed special commissioners, so called pentarchies, that dealt with a variety of affairs of state. These Carthaginian tradition of oligarchs was weakened by Hannibal with democratic elements to prevent the greek and punic/phoenician independent city-states ad colonies as well as the major or hegemonic tribes from gaining to much influence. The Shophet used these elected legislators, trade unions and town meetings in the form of a Popular Assembly. By that the popular assembly had the decisive vote. Thanks to them the Carthago Novanian public held more sway over the government than the people of Rome held over theirs. A new constitution written by Hannibal along with his politics secured the influence of the Barcid family in the military and politics. New families and factions occurred like the Iberia who favored a independent and strong punic-greek-iberian empire in Iberia itself. Their strongest opponent were the Afrcani who favored returning to Africa and reclaiming all once lost territories of Carthage (and even the City itself) in the Western Mediterranean.

The military of Carthago Nova relied heavily, though not exclusively, on foreign mercenaries. The core of the army was build from the descendants of Phoenicians, Greeks (Helleni), later mixed Helleni-Phoenicians (Greek-Phoenicians), Ibero-Phoenicians, Libyans, Liby-Phoenicians as well as Greek, Iberian, Balearic, African, Italian, Gallic and even Berber mercenaries. Hannibal’s Army mixed the native qualities of these armies, warriors and soldiers but also managed to archive a trained standard and unification under Hannibal. Thanks to his Greek, Iberian and Phoenician Advisers Hannibal began to use mass-production of standardized weapons and armor or instead of just buying and capturing a big variety of differed types and copied the militia and hoplites of Rome and the Greek city-states during his Iberian War.

Hannibal also granted the veterans of his wars full citizen rights, something only the Phoenicians, Greeks, Helleni-Phoenicians and to a lesser extend Ibero-Phoenicians and Liby-Phoenicians had until then. The native tribes and people conquered by Hannibal or allied and his vassals didn't had the same rights in the society of Carthago Nova unless they stronger adapted to Phoenician, Greek or Helleni-Phoenician and by that became Ibero-Phoenicians and Liby-Phoenicians. Hannibal's Army itself even if with a strong and mobile cavalry and his soon feared war elephant’s was still mostly build up of Infantry.

With a great amount of silver, lead, chopper, tin and bronze Hannibal's economy was wealthy, even more so since he convinced the Lusitani, Astures and Callaeci to mentain good trade-relations with his state of Carthago Nova while in the meantime he tried to undermine the Carthaginian merchants monopoly on the Atlantic tin and bronze trade with these tribes in the Atlantic coast to gain influrence of the wealthy trade to britannia and northern Europe. As now the the Mediterranean's largest producer of silver thanks to the mines of Iberia Hannibal had a most profitable trade, but this power also alarmed the Romans, Carthage and Massilia as trade rivals in the Western Mediterranean. The trade and production of Tyrian purple just like carthage endangered the monopol of this extremely valuable dye and strangened the Barcid Dinasty. The promoted agriculture in his Iberian territories helped Hannibal to have a treasure of tentousend talents (or 800,000 Roman pounds of silver) at his disposal for the Iberian War. All of this increased the danger of a new war over Iberia and over the Trade in the western Mediterranean, but Hannibal couldn't bac down and simply accept Romans influrence or that of the traitor Hanno the Great in Iberia.


The Iberian War:

But with the beginning of the Iberian War and the Roman Delegation in Carthago Nova the Shophet Hannibal sone faced the roman threat of war if he attacked the Roman allies in northeast Iberia, or if he and Hanno endangeroud roman interest with their war in Iberia. Hannibal knew from his traders and spies that the Roman Army for Iberia was still month away and that the Romans faced another war with Macedon and where unsure of Hanno's reactions, who started another war against Numidia and Lybia at the same time. Hannibal ensured the Roman Delegation hat his actiosn would not endanger their interest in Iberia but these pacification woul secure the trade that benefittet both states. He also offered a free-trade agreemand for romn and carthago novan merchant ships in Sardinia, Corsica and the Balearic Islands. In the meantime his spies in Italy, Africa, southern Gaul and Iberia told him enough to know the Romans were about to send a Army to Iberia and that Carthage and Massilia whould soon fought over the Balearic Islands.

Hannibals Fires of Baal (lighthouses and watchtowers) from Gades to Carthago Nova hat Order to immediatly report any sign or attempt of landing and invasion from Hanno's fleet. This helped Hannibal's brother Hasdrubal to concentrate on facing Maharbals Army with his own, while his and Hannibals brother Mago traveled in disguise to the Baleares to recruid some of the faimos slinger mercenaries there for their Armies and the defending Militia and Hoplites in the City of Carthago Nova. All these actions gave Hannibal time to prepare his operations, march and attack in the northwestern Iberian Region. The attacks and raids of the roman allied Celtiberi against the carthago novan territories, allies and vasalls of Vaccaei, Carpetani and Oretani forced Hannibals Army to march east to the boarderlands near the Celtiberi to show his military strange and to stop their agression against his and his allies regions in Iberia.
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Comments very welcome!

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 3: The War in Africa:

Everything was working just like Hanno the Great had planned. In Iberia his Armys had conquered Gades and reached Malaca. General Maharbal was ready to expand his zone of influrence from Gadir, B'B'L, Asido, Kascuta, Bailo, Oba, Iptuci, Vesci, Malaka, Nabrissa, Cumbaria, Ugia, Salpesa, Searo, Orippo, Carmo, Halos, Ursone, Ventipo, Acinipo, Carissa,Sisipo, Baicipo and Cartaia over to Ulia, Munda, Ipora, Bora, Ilurco, Ilturir, Sexs and Abdera. The rebellion of the Bastuli didn't change these first conquest's and victories as Maharbal was ready to crash them in a battle before Hasdrubal arrived with his Army.

In Afrika, mainly around Tingis (or Tingi) and Lixus the Mauri tribes of the Baniurae and Maurusii were allied with Carthage. They gained money from Hanno and wealthy trade from the Mediterranean to Britain across the Pillars of Hercules. For that they protected the phonetician colonies and cities on the coast and secured the inland, something that the weakened Carthage couldn't have done on it's own after the conquest of the Iberian holdings under the Barcids and the territorial losses of the war against Numidians and Libya.

The first reports of Hanno's Army that started the African campaign from Hippo were promising too. His emissary coming from General Proxemos the Spartan Mercenary reported the latest victories of his they reconquered the lost cities of his first African Army.

"Great Shophet Hanno, Proxemos conquered Rusicade, Chullu, Igili and Saldae and linked the coast around these cities to our main domain in Carthage!" the emissary reported to Hanno whose smile grew bigger. First the ship that arrived with news about the success and victories in the lost colonies of Iberia, now these results against Massinissa the numidian King of the Massylii.

"It's a good thing that the numidian States of Massylii and Masaesyli fight each other. Good for Carthage!" Hanno said smiling. He knew that if Syphax the king of Masaesyli would ally with his enemy Massinissa the combined numidians where a treat to his African plans. But carthage had so far only feared attacks and losses from the hands of the numidian Massylii who conquered their land and raider their cities driving Carthage back to the area around Tunis after the Libyan War.

"What about the second Army under Hasdrubal Gisco?" Hanno wanted to knew. These Army hat the important job of holding the Libyans at bay on the southern boarder, while attacking Massylii in the flank. To secure the lost coastal regions of Carthage, Hanno knew he had to fight the nomadic Numidians of Massylii in their main land.

"Oh great Shophet Hanno the second African Army under Hasdrubal Gisco had started their campaign from Uchi, just as planned and successfully attacked Sicca, Obba, Naraggara, Mactaris. Now they are threatening the inner African main cities of Massylii like Sufetula, Theveste, Madaurus and Cirta just like you intended great Shophet!" the Messanger told Hanno.

"Very good!" Hanno said. These were excellent news, the Libyans would fear to attack Thanae and other Carthaginian holdings in Tunesia as long as the Army of Hasdrubal Gisco fought the inner African lands of the Massylii while at the meantime guarding the boarder near Tacape. The region, rich in agriculture and had provided other valuable resources like silk, cotton, linen, wool, pottery, faience, incense, perfumes, ivory, glassware and wood.

With Hasdrubal the Bald and it's fleet on their way to the Baleares to reclaim the island from Massilia and their army and fleet everything seamed to work fine for Hanno the Great in this war. That could provide him with a new base of Operations against Hannibal and regaining the Carthaginian Hegemony over the trade in the western Mediterranean.

And while he fought the Massylii in Africa the other numidian power of Masaesyli was fine with letting their rival lose some of their territorial gains from the last war against Carthage. After all king Syphax had not gone to war with Carthage to conquer their enclaves in Numidia around Cartenna, Iol, or in Mauretania Rusadir, Herculis, Tingis, Zilis and Lixus in Algeria and Morocco, but rather favored to blackmail them for money, resources and accepting that the trade routs from the coast to the southern Berber Territories and deserts was totally under his control.

But not everything was as smooth going as Hanno wished. While his better equipped and greater Armies could conquer some cities, and dealing the nomadic numedians some lost battles these tribes simple answered by attacking the Carthaginian outposts and garrisons one by one and disconnect the trade and supply routes around these cities as well as these of the advancing Carthaginian army, while preparing for a major attack on those enemy forces.

Unlucky for Hanno the Roman delegation that had arrived a few days ago made it clear that they were against any major change in Africa as long as neither; Carthage, Massylii, Masaesyli and Libya would get a chance of establishing a hegemony or one-empire-state in Africa. By that the Romans clearly denied any of these states the same influence, status and power they hat themselves in Italy. Hanno was sure these was to ensure no major rival in the western Mediterranean would emerge after the fall of Carthage after the Libyan War. But unlike Hannibal, Hanno didn't belive that the greed of Rome would only stop if they reached world's end. He thought that the Romans could be kept on friendly or allied terms if the trade increased and he didn't reclaim or attack their territorial gains in Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica after the Punic War (or Roman War as the Carthaginian called it). By focusing mainly on Africa Hanno hoped to rebuild an Empire and again reached the status of a major power in the western Mediterranean, maybe even split the trade routes along the old naval zone of dominance between Carthage and Rome.

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 4: Italy, fighting in the Po Valley:

In the years of 225 to 222 BC Rome was was preoccupied with a war against the Celtics and Gauls in the Po valley in northern Italy. These battles were frought under Publius Cornelius Scipio who encountered the Gauls and Celts in northern Italy. He used the same tactics the Romans used against the Galli in middle Italy. Colonies like Arminium (found in 268 BC) and Sena Gallica (found in 283 BC) secured the lands of these former Roman enemies. Now Publius Cornelius Scipio marched with his Legion to Ariminum because the western territories of the former Etruscan League, now a Roman Province were guarded by the Apenninus Mons (Mountains). There were already a plan to build colonies named Cremona and Placentia to guard the Apenninus frontier and the middle Po valley. But just like the Roman Army under his brother Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus designated for the Iberian allied tribes and cities that would not arrive sooner these colonies wouldn't be created until the next year in 218 BC. Today in summer 219 BC Publius Cornelius Scipio marched northwest from Ariminium to Mutina. His final goal was to secure the Po Valley by once again reaching Mediolanum, a city besieged and captured by Rome in it's fight against the Insubri in 222 BC. Since then Roma had allied himself with the tribes of Venetia and Cenomani, but the Celtic and Gallic tribes of Lingoni, Boi, Cenomani, Insubri, Tauruni, Salassi and Leponzi remained a treat to the northern Roman Republic. The long term goal could only be to annex and secure the Region of Cisalpine Gaul as a roman province. From Ariminum his Legion marched to Mutina where the barbaric tribes had besieged the city. Many Roman colonists and other citizen had fled the former Etruscan city as the fearsome barbaric warriors arrived to besiege it. Publius Cornelius Scipio managed to attack the tribes besieging the city in early morning. A dense fog helped him to march his army near the city without the enemy warriors noticing him. As the sun set and enlightened the slowly clearing fog his forward Legionaries already had engaged the enemy. The battle then started with 5.000 roman infantry, 5.000 allied infantry, 500 Roman cavalry and 500 allied cavalry on Scipios Legion, against 8.470 barbaric warriors of various tribes. As the battle raged on Scipios broke the siege of the city, but soon was himself surrounded by his enemies in the forest before the city. The causalities for both sides were heavy, but the better tactic of Scipio and the roman shield wall and formations managed to be victorious as the barbarian warriors started to flee and left much of the loot behind them to save their lives.

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 5: Illyria

But Rome and his Senate and Legions were occupied on the other side of the adria. Demetrius of Pharos had won the First Illyrian War in 229 BC against the Romans and ruled much of coastal Illyria but was defeated till 219 BC in the Second Illyrian War. Demetrius had allied himself with the Illyrian Atintani and detached them from their Roman alliance. He than sailed south of Lissus and engaged in piracy in contravention of the settlement in 228 BC. In 221 BC, Demetrius also created an alliance with the Illyrian Histri at the head of Adriatic, that constantly attacked Roman supply ships. The Romans answered by attacking the Histri and by 221 BC the Macedonian aliance with the Aschaean League against the Aetolian League over the dominance in Greece further destabilized the Region. Basileus (king) Philip V of Macedon had some goals similar to Hannibal. He wanted to be the sole hegemonic Power of all of Hellas and was strongly against the Roman expansion ti Illyria. As Demetrius and his Illyrian commander Scercilaidas sailed south with 90 illyrian lemby (galley) their assault on Pylos in the western Peloponnese failed, but he captured 50 enemy ships. He than separated his forces Demetrius and his force plundered the Cyclades, while Scerdilaidas' forces returned north to Illyria.

At Naupactus Scerdilaidas was encouraged by his brother-in-law Amynas the King of Athamanes, that had joined the Aetolians in their planned invasion of Achaea with with forty ships. Thanks to Cynaethan traitors, they attacked, seized and burned the town of Cynaetha and also attacked, but failed to take Cleitor. At the same time Demetrius continued on into the Aegean with 50 ships. He sailed to the Cyclades where he forced tribute from some of the islands and plundered others. Chased by Rhodian warships he put into Cenchreae. At the same time the Macedonian commander of Corinth, Taurion agreed to drag Demetriu's ships across the Isthmus to bring them into play in the Gulf of Corinth, in return for Demetrius' assistance against the Aetolians. Although Demetrius conducted a few raids on the Aetolian coast, he was too late to hinder the Aetolians' return from Achaea. After returning to the Ardiaean Kingdom, Demetrius continued operations during the following winter, attacking and seizing Roman allied cities and communities in southern Illyria. Because of these actions, the Romans decided that the harbors on the Ardiaean Kingdom's coast now had to be made secure in view of another war against Carthage or the rising Carthago Nova in the western Mediterranean.

This started the Second Illyrian War, but Demetrius was well prepared for a Roman invasion. He placed a garrison in Dimallum, an Illyrian city-fortress from Apollonia. He eliminated his opponents in other places, those Illyrians who opposed his rule, and stationed 6,000 of his best forces on his home island of Pharos. The Adriatic took on particular importance in Rome's preparations for the coming war in the western Mediterranean. Not only because illyrian mercenaries had fought with Carthage in the Punic War but also because they later raided the coats as Pirates and the possible war in Iberia and Africa, far away from Rome forced the Romans to set matters right in Illyria first.

In 219 BC, they decided that Dimallum was crucial to Demetrius' power in the region and prepared to besiege the city, but were able to take it by direct assault within only seven days and went on to Pharos. As a result, all the Illyrian towns and cities of the area submitted to Roman protection, each receiving the appropriate terms and conditions. Next, the Romans moved against Demetrius on the island of Pharos, who awaited the attack with good troops, ample provisions and war materials behind strong fortifications, that of the city of Issa. To avoid a long siege, Aemilius decided to risk another frontal attack with his Legionaries. The Roman army moved from the mainland to a wooded area of the island. Meanwhile, the next day, a small force of ships was sent out to tempt Demetrius from behind his fortifications. Demetrius marched down to the harbor to oppose the Roman landing. The strategy worked, and when the main Roman army appeared from another direction on the island, the Illyrian army was forced to give battle, as they were cut off from their city. Attacked on two sides, and cut off from the protection of the city walls, the battle was lost. In 218 BC, the Illyrian forces soon surrendered, while Demetrius deserted the island and fled to Macedonia, making his way to the court of Philip V of Macedon, who was now the Macedonian king following the death of Antigonus.

The Romans destroyed the fortifications of Pharos and before the summer was over Aemilius was back in Rome receiving congratulations for a job well done. Any threat to Roman holdings in Illyria had been eliminated, all the gains of the First Illyrian War had been secured, and the old restrictions of movement imposed on Illyrian kings. Demetrius may have returned to the Ardeaian State and have been attacked by another Roman force, although the regime of Pinnes, now confirmed as king, was left intact. Rome supported a small Ardeaian State ruled by Pinnes and his successors. The Roman republic called for the extradition of Demetrius, but Phillip refused. Pinnes was ordered to pay the arrears of tribute, reparations imposed after the war. The weak Ardaeai State soon fell prey to Macedonia, while the partial destruction brought onto the scene the urban koina of the Parthini, Byllines, Amanatini and others.

Phillip of Macedon watched the Roman actions closely and was warned by Demetrius about the Roman actions and behavior. On the other side of Italy, far away in the west in Iberia, Hannibal himself also had watched the war closely thanks to his spies to knew more about the Roman strategy and tactics. He also adopter some of the Roman plans and Alexanders ideas to fortification, strengthen and guard his Empire that had now be separated into the Diadochi States. Hannibal even used his veterans and loyal tribes of Greek, Phoenicians, Helleni-Phoenicians (Greek-Phoenicians), Ibero-Phoenicians, Libyans, Liby-Phoenicians and some others to create his own colonies and garrisons, either as totally new cities, or as an extension of already excising ones. Near of Astapa he founder Qart-Numidia to link the Silver-road with the Shophet-road. To secure the rich silver mines and the beginning of the Silver-road in Helmantica and Arbocala he created the garrison cities of Qart-Ibero-Phoenicia, Qart-Helleni-Phoenicia, Qart-Liby-Phoenicia, Qart-Hannibal, Qart-Hasdrubal, Qart-Mago, Qart-Hamilcar and Qart-Hannibalia to secure the boarders to the Celtiberi. Also he wanted to secure the Silver-road and spread the Helleni-Phoenicia culture in Iberia. His allied tribes and cities became more and more Helleni-Phoeniciaised and developed a simular form of politics to Carthago Nova that Rome had to it's Foederati.

(map of the army positions and the generalll situation in Italy, Illyria and the war in africa)

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 6: Macedonia and Hellas:

The War of Demetrius or First Illyrian War left the Aetolian League in 228 BC with more territory than ever. They soon expanded in all directions and attempted to conquer Thessaly, where Macedon had recently collapsed. The Macedons reacted violantly and an alliance emerged between Philip V of Macedon, the Kingdom of Epirus, he Boetian League and the Achaean League in the mid 220s. This gave power to all of Greece to the Macedon and the Hellenic League. The Aetolian League was forced to take defensive measures, now encircled from the Hellenic League. It all began in 229 BC as Antigonus Doson the guardian and king of Macedon ruled instead of the still too young Philip. But as Philip became King Philip V the Hellenic League entered a new era.

Aetolia had every right to feel threatened, being the only thing standing in the way of complete Macedonian control of Greece. Ariston helped create a radical new Aetolian policy, actively attempting to prevent the further decay of Aetolia’s international position. The Aetolians were worried about Achaea forming an alliance with the territory of Messenia, in the southwestern part of Peloponnese. If this happened, they would be completely surrounded by their enemies in the Hellenic League. Because of this, Ariston sent expeditionary forces to the city of Phigaleia, in Messsenia, to exert more pressure. On the way, these troops pillaged and raided multiple Achaean cities, creating further hostility.

The real cause of problems between the two leagues was not occasional alliances or disputes, but differing policies and methods at a fundamental level. The Hellenic League had a tradition of threats and using violence to achieve their political goals. The Aetolian League, however, was cautious and non-violent in most cases. They had only been in one conflict since 278 BC. Their expansion used diplomacy and politics, instead of violence. The Aetolians aligned themselves with Sparta in 227 BC. This officially marked the end of any alliance between the Aetolian League and the Hellenic League. Sparta wanted this alliance because it would align them with Elis, which would help with their campaign in northwest Achaea. This created more hostile feelings by the Hellenic league towards the Aetolians, feeling as though they had been abandoned by them during this conflict with Sparta.

Philip V of Macedo gathered the members of the Hellenic League in Corinth, where they discussed the problems involving the Aetolian League. Aratus and other members of the league gave lists of complaints, most ranging over a period of many years, dealing with the Aetolians. Philip responded to these complaints with a declaration of war on Aetolia by the symmachy of the Hellenic League. Although acting as though he was responding to the complaints of the league members, Philip was very interested in war to establish himself as a victorious leader and to consolidate the power of Macedonia in Greece. This was exactly what the Aetolian policy since 222 BC had intended to avoid. Although all of the members of the Hellenic League wanted war with Aetolia, Philip and Achaea were the only parties who were interested in waging the actual war. This lack of interest by most of the Hellenic League is most likely a result of the peaceful policies of Aetolia that had been pursued in recent years.

In the spring of 220 BC, the Aetolians marched through the middle of Achaea and based themselves in Phigaleia, south of Achaea. The Achaeans were unable to fight this threat on their own, and so Aratus sent representatives to Philip V, asking for the aid of the Symmachy. Macedon was reluctant at first, but after Aetolia became allies with the Illyrians, Macedon's neighbors, Philip marched south to Corinth in the Peloponnese, where he called a council for all his allies. There, they unanimously decided to go the war. He sent a force to Crete to take control from the Aetolians, which was quickly successful, while he returned to Macedon for the winter to prepare for war, including buying the allegiance of the Illyrians and their fleet from the Aetolians. Meanwhile, news of the death of Sparta's king Clemones III in Egypt allowed for the rise of a new leader, Lycurgus, under whom the Spartans allied with Aetolia. In the summer of 219 BC Sparta attacked Achaea from the South, Elis attacked from the west, and the Aetolians attacked from the north.

(the situation in Macedon, Hellas and Asia)

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 7: Battle for the Baleares:

Massilia formed at around 600 BC by the greeks and had since then formed a hybrid of Greek settlers, Gallic locals and others pulled to the city by trade. They were ruled by the Council of Six Hundred, led by three elected presidents. Candidates for membership had to prove that they are third generation Massilians or fathers to Massilian children before admission. These Messilians had since then become a major trade city-state, controlling the trade in the northwestern Mediterranean and southern Gaul. But despite this they wanted more, much more. They eyed on the Carthaginian trade monopoly and were eager to get the rich trade between Gaul, Iberia, Spain and Italia for themselves. On friendly terms with the Romans thanks to trade and common barbaric enemies they had no officially alliance or pact to this day. Some of the Messilians thought that their city could become as much a major power in the western Mediterranean that Rome or Carthago Nova had become, or Carthage once was. They eyed the Greek cities and colonies on the Iberian coast as potential allies or vassals and played with the idea to ally themselves with Syracusae in Sicilia, or the Roman conquered Greek cities in southern Italy if they had the opportunity.

To secure their trade against piracy and to use the weakened state of Carthage to play a bigger role in the whole western Mediterranean, the Messilians had build a stronger navy than ever before. Eighteen decked ships of war, twelve un-decked ships of war and thirty-two of smaller ships manned by local sailors, and large numbers of archers and warriors from the nearby allied tribes, such as the Albiei. They transported 4.800 Hoplites, 3.000 Warriors and 2.600 Mercenaries to the Baleares to claim the important islands in the middle of the western Mediterranean for Messilia in early 219 BC. Before the Islands had been part of the Carthagian Republic, but their losses in the Libyan War and the decline of the iberian territories to the Barcids nearly destroyed the influence of Carthage in then far western Mediterranean.

General Xanthippos stationed some garrison troops in the port city of Mago and other places to ensure the population of nearly 30.000 balearic remained in control of Messilia and not regained independence as soon as his fleet and army sailed west to break the Roman and Carthago Novan influence and alliance of the Greek cities and colonies on the Iberian coast. These actions lead Hanno the Great to order his second fleet under strategos and admiral Hampsicora to row north instead of attacking Carthago Nova by sea and encircle Hasdrubal and his Army in Andalusia like planned.

His Carthaginianfleet of 70 (galleys) reached Ebesus (Ibiza) and Colubaria (Formentera) as the Messilian Army and navy under Xanthippos was preparing to man their ships at Columba (Mallorca) and Nura (Minorca). Xanthippos fast realized what was going on and led his army march to battle formation on land as his fleet formed a line for battle under heavy Carthaginian fire at the southern coast of Columba.

Everything looked like the Carthaginian fleet and army had a fast victory at their hands as the fleet of Xanthippos fleet to Nura and seamed to travel back north to Messilia unwilling to face the Carthaginian enemy. Hampsicora was pleased as he knew his enemy had to stop boarding if he wouldn't want his fleet get crushed at the islands beach. With the Messilian Army now on land in Columba and their fleet on the run, this easy retaking of the Baleares looked more and more like a great victory in Hanno's war and a brilliant chance for Hampsicora to gain prestige. So he split his fleet in two and let the main battle ships follow the fleeing Messilian Fleet, while his transports, secured from other battle ships started the invasion of Columba to face the clearly desolated and unprepared Army of the Messilians in the great valley between the mountains of the island.

The landing worked just like planned and the Carthaginian army, made up of 6.200 Carthaginian Hoplites, 4.300 Libyan spear man and 700 numidian cavalry left their ships to form a line of battle against the army of Messilia. Hampsicora himself lead the army while on the water his navy cased the Messilians. But just as the fleet of Messilia under had passed between Columba and Nura Xanthippos eighteen decked ships of war and twelve un-decked ships of war turned around to deny the Carthaginians to pass trough the bottleneck area between the two islands, while his faster, smaller ships sailed around Nura to attack the Carthaginians from behind. The carthaginian commander of the fleet thought that this tactic was to ensure the faster ships to escape to Messilia and so he pushed forward with most of his forty galleys to crush the Messalian fleet by sheer force and better trained naval soldiers.

On Colubaria itself Hampsicora ordered his army to let the elephants and cavalry stand in the front, directly facing the Messilian Phalanx. His heavy Carthaginian Hoplites were right behind these front line in the second line, while his lighter Lybian soldiers stand on both flanks to close the valley between the mountains and the beach, to deny the enemy army to escape to the beach again. As the Messilian marched forward to encounter the Carthaginian army that day the elephants, first the fear of the Messilian front troops as well as the Carthaginian cavalry rout and turned around. The Messilian Phalanx marched forward, as the Carthaginian army, clearly desolated from just landing and forming a formation turned back to the beach. With the heavy Hoplites in the front line and guarder at the flanks and the second line by the own Warriors and Mercenaries the Messilians advantaged.

Between the Island of Columba and Nura the Carthaginian fleet had engaged the fleet under Xanthippos believing hat the rest of his fleet was fleeing back to Messilia. The battle raged on as unprepared for the Carthaginian commander the smaller, faster thirty-two ships arrived at the back of the Carthaginian fleet. More agile then their bigger Carthagian enemies, they encircled the Carthaginian fleet and boarded many of their wedged together fleet of his big quinqueremesgalleys was maneuvered so near each other, that turning around was impossible. Some of the ships were rammed and sunk, other boarder and the rest of the Carthaginian fleet now turned around to escape themselves one by one whenever there was a opening in the encirclement.

On land the situation looked as worse for the Carthaginians as on sea with the Messilian Phalanx marching onto the to the beach fleeing Carthaginian army. But Hampsicora hat other plans, his elephants and cavalry didn't flee, they turned around just as planned and used alleys in the own phalanx formation to get behind the heavy infantry and to turn around again. As the Messilian army advanced they didn't realist this and thought that they could crush the enemy at the beach. With the Carthaginian Army turning back to the beach the Messilian Army now advantaged more to the middle and her flanks were overstretched with light troops and mercenaries. That was exactly what Hampsicora had planned and hoped for. His now at the flanks groping elephants and cavalry pushed the lighter warriors ans mercenaries of Messilia back and now nearly encircled the Messilian Army between the beach and both mountain ranges. Panik started to control the Messilian flanks and soon sweat trough the army till it reached the Phalanx in the center. Their formation slowly lost their wall of spears and turned back, full panic now giving the commands. The shear number and rampage denied the Carthaginian to full encircle, and destroy or capture the enemy army. The Messilian Army fled the battle towards the other beach side of the islands.

At first Hampsicora wanted to follow them to finish them of, but the first news of the disaster of half of his fleet let him think otherwise. With the other half of his fleet still on the beach it was possible that the enemy could crush them also and so he returned to his ships, to secure the beach and let them take a defense formation against a possible Messalian fleet that turned back and attacked once more. But Xanthippos had to let this change pass away. Just comparing both fleets, his victory over half of the Carthaginian fleet was already good and his main goal now was to evacuate the remaining rest of his own army from the island, to ensure they didn't get full slaughtered or captured by Carthage.

In the end it was nearly a stalemate, since Carthage had retaken the Baleares from Messilia, but had lost thousand of his soldiers on land, as well as losing over twenty-six quinqueremes either sunken or captured by Messilia who had great plans with these more modern ships then their own. The defeat on the island and the loss of the Baleares were a hard blow against the plans of Messilia, but their escaping army, even if it had lost some of it's equipment and many man provided them with another chance. Xanthippos knew that the Carthaginians had to guard the Islands for another attack from Messilia and that they still were fighting amount themselves in Iberia. Maybe a fast landing in Rhode, Emporion, or even Saguntum could help Messilia gain alliances and influence along the coast with the at the moment Roman allied Indiketes, Lacetani, Ilercavones and Edetani, maybe even the Celtiberi to form a own great power in Iberia Xanthippos hoped.

Unknown to Xanthippos and Hampsicora their enemy observed the battle. Mago Barca himself was incognito at the Baleares and had recruited some mercenaries disguised as a trader for slaves for the defense of Carthago Nova City, where a third Carthago Novanian Army was trained to secure southern Iberia. The plan Hannibal had was to secure the Northwest and after that turn south, while his brother Hasdrubal turned north to guard the silver mines and Mago stayed south to guard the capital city of Carthago Nova and the south coast. With this movements and a yet to be buil fleet at western Iberia, Hannibal planned on landing in Mauretania himself and to take the Carthagian Cities and Colonies there to stop the African supply of Hanno the Great and to attack him in North Africa directly to advance onto Carthage itself when everything worked as planned.

(map of the fighting in the Baleares and Hannibals turn north from the Celtiberi boarder, preparing for a war against the allied tribes of Cantabrian and Asturian that were famous for their cavalry, guerrilla warfare, in a difficult and mountainous terrain allowed them to conduct quick surprise strikes with ranged weapons and lay ambushes according to their neighbors. Hannibal hoped that these fight could encircle the Celtiberi and stopping their raids on the Carthago Novan boarder as well as securing his back for the Northwest and western Iberia campaign, but more of that as well as the Carthagian/Carthago Novan battle in Andalusia in the next update)

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 8: Iberia, Cantabrian and Asturian lands:

With the Garrison of Arbocala reinforced and the borderland to the Celtiberi secured, at least for the moment, Hannibal turned north, and allied himself with the Bedunenses and Lanciences that made agreement with him to accept his dominance and to let his army pass their land. Asturica one of the major cities was Hannibals first goal, but he knew the Cantabrian and Asturian were famous for their wast and ranged ambushes and their cavalry as well as for their difficult and mountainous terrain and guerrilla warfare. According to his spies and traders both allied tribes could muster 70.000 -100.000 warriors.

Hannibals Army itself was made up of 80.0000 infantry (mostly Phoenicians, Greek, later mixed Helleni-Phoenicians (Greek-Phoenicians), Ibero-Phoenicians, Libyans, Liby-Phoenicians as well as Greek, Iberian, Balearic, African, Italian and Gallic soldiers and mercenaries), 20.000 cavalry and 40 war elephants. With these army some of the smaller tribes could be frightened to let him pass or even ally with Hannibal.

He marched directly trough Lancia to reach Astoria but was ambushed by the Astures and Cantabrian several times. The Carthaginian Phalanx proved to be inefficient against the more mobile barbarian cavalry and long range attacks. The enemy used two deathly tactics, one being the circulus cantabricus, where a group of horse archers or mounted javelin throwers would form a single-file rotating circle. As the archers came around to face the enemy formation they would let their missile fly. The effect was a continual stream of arrows or javelins onto an enemy formation. The other tactic was the 'cantabricus impetus', a massive frontal attack against enemy lines with the goal of breaching them. Both combined were a major problem for Hannibal, since his Hoplites, weather on march or in battle formation were slow and inefficient against these attacks of arrows, javelins. Similar to the upcoming Roman war tactics against the Macedonian Phalanx in a few years.

Hannibal analyzed these attacks and began to realize why these two allied tribes where so feared in Iberia. But then again that was the main goal why he attacked them. With the Roman influence in trade and promises of independence guarantees on the east coast increasing, fear of Hannibals abilities and powers by defeating the famous Astures and Cantabrian in battle was a good way to let the Roman allies think twice before attacking Carthago Nova again.

But Hannibal not only needed a new tactic, he needed better and other soldiers as well to be victorious against an enemy that similar to himself practiced mobile warfare. Hannibals decision was as easy as brilliant, he shortened the long Hoplite pikes to nearly a half or one third and added a falcata or kopis as a short range weapon. While the spear now could also be thrown easily the sword gave access to a extra weapon in one on one combat. But maybe most brilliant change was the Hoplon shield itself. Hold by a leather belt at the right neck as well as one on the forehand and positioned before the left shoulder this new Hoplon shield could be maneuvered more quickly than ever before. A mail shirt and more often a lino-thorax would be the armor for those soldiers, combined with a bronze helmet. Still able to form a Phalanx wall with short spears, or provide full cover for the soldier behind itself if covering behind it these new kind of Hoplite would become the main infantry for Hannibal and Carthages Armies, much like the Roman Legionnaire became for Rome.

Equipped with these new armory and weapons the soldiers (called Falcatesair) of Hannibal engaged the enemy near the Astura River where the Astures attacked Hannibal down from the mountains. Sure of their victory since to former encounters with Carthago Nova these barbaric warriors where surprised, as their enemy instead of getting shot, just ducked behind his shields as the cavalry tried to ambush and breach them. When the barbaric cavalry turned around thanks to the losses of the Phalanx the Falcatesair a rain of arrows, javelins and stones struck more of them down from behind. Then out of nowhere the carthago novanian cavallery attacked them from another side and behind grass, trees and rocks well-hidden Facates surprised them by attacking their flanks. The new tactic seamed so well that by the end of the month the two tribes were forced to surrender to Hannibal. The terms of peace where indeed gentle and Hannibal knew that this was only a peace for a short amount of time, just like with the Romans, but that was all he needed at the moment. The tribes remained dominant in their territory, but became vassals of the state f Carthago Novae. They had no right to attack smaller tribes in their land without agreement of Carthago Nova unless they openly rebelled and they also hat to pay taxes and give some hostages to Hannibal, who sent these to the capital, where his brother Mago just returned and immediately began to rise a new army and build a own mediterranean war fleet.

Quickly Hannibal reorganized his army, some troops (mostly tribes auxiliary forces and mercenaries) with low moral were paid off and send home. Others were given lands in the territories of the Astures and Cantabrian tribes, as well as some minor tribes where helped with fortification of their cities and garrison troops to further weaken the Astures and Cantabrian after Hannibals main army was gone. The cities of Qart-Maureta, Qart-Hannibalopolis, Qart-Hasdrubalia, Qart-Barcidia and Qart-Magonides were founder by Hannibal with some auxiliary forces and mercenaries as well as their families that had gained the right to build on the city land on the boarder, or even in the territories of the Astures and Cantabrian tribes as loyal garrison troops alongside minor tribes now under protection of Carthago Nova.

Since the Astures and Cantabrian rather died by suicide with their own sword, fire or poisoning than becoming slaves not much prisoners where made and only few of them could be sold out of Iberia. But Hannibal let the Astures and Cantabrian their own government and even paid them for those soldiers he pressed out of their land for his own continuing conquest. They were free man not afraid to die and such qualities could prove to help Hannibals conquest of Iberia if these people could remain loyal to him. At the end it wouldn't work out as Hannibal planned it but it was a better strategy than the Romans would have adapted in the region. The Astures and Cantabrian remained mostly peaceful thanks to the mild peace and the cities and garrisons created by Hannibal. Their defeat even let some tribes near the Pyrenaei mounts refuse the offer of protection from the Romans and prefer to stay neutral while trading with Carthago Nova, the free tribes under Roman protection in the northeast as well as with Messalia. Xanthippos managed to lead his army to Iberia in Emporion since he feared the Carthaginian fleet could have followed his fleet after the evacuation of Columba.

Meanwhile the Ilegatare, Edetani and Ilercavones allied with Rome just like the Indiketes, Lacetani, Ilercavones, Edetani, Rhode, Emporion and Sargunto formed the Iberian League thanks to roman suggestion and diplomacy. Clearly directed against the Carthage and Carthago Novan influence and goals in Iberia the League also should stop Messalia from gaining more influence and territories in Iberia itself. Even if it was a roman ally it was also a potential enemy and rival in Iberia and the Western Mediterranean for Rome.

(the latest overview map of the war in Iberia, pink is now the Iberian League for their own defence allied tribes, cities and colonies but not very unified or organised, but the Romans will try to change that)

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 9: Iberia, Gallaeci lands

The Gallaeci or Callaeci were a large Celtic tribal federation who inhabited Gallaecia the northwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula. They inhabitable Castrum (hillforts) from small villages to less than one hectare and even great forts with more than 10 hectares denominated oppida (citadel)," being these latters more common in the Southern half of their traditional settlement. This mode of inhabiting the territory-by hillforts was common throughout Europe during the Bronze and Iron Ages, getting in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, the name of 'Castro culture" (Castrum culture) or "hillfort's culture", which alludes to this type of settlement before the Carthago Novanian arrival. These fortified villages tended to be located in the hills, rocky promontories and peninsulas surrounded on the sea, it improved its visibility, advocacy and the domain over territory. The location of these settlements was also studied to a better control of natural resources used by its inhabitants. The Gallaecian hill-forts and oppidas maintain a great homogeneity, presenting evident commonalities.

Since Hannibals victory over the Astures and Cantabrian and his trade agreements earlier to bypass the Carthagian Atlantic coast trade the Gallaeci were on friendly terms with Carthago Nova. Hannibal already used mercenaries from Gallaeci and got the permission to build a naval port called Qart-Hanno (in honor of Hanno the Navigator not Hanno the Great). As now a ally of Hannibal, the Gallaeci gained not only trade and money from these alliance. They adopter the Punic and Greek writing (witch they themselves not had before) and part of their language as well as learning trade business and math in great amounts from traders of Carthago Nova. They also allowed Hannibal and his army and slaves to build the last part of the Silver-road (the other part being expended to the new colonies and garrisons in Astures and Cantabrian) from Helmantica and Arbucala up to the north and northwest of Iberia, where other new trade ports, for the Carthago Novan trade with Britain, northern Europe and Africa were founded. These spread the Phoenician, Greek (Helleni), later Helleni-Phoenician (Greek-Phoenician), Ibero-Phoenician, Libyan and Liby-Phoenician culture of Hannibals state further trough northern and northwestern Iberia even it that was a slow process. Even more important the increasing trade and building of trade ships brought new money for Hannibal and his allies allowing him to build the a fleet for the Atlantic. At first Hannibal planned on using these fleet for attacking Tingis, but the already present small carthaginian fleet in the waters kept a close look on Hannibals actions as well as raiding the trade of his and his allies merchants to Britain and Africa by piracy.

(Mago's new army in Carthago Nova, not fully trained and equipped to be Falcatesair yet)

These actions gave Hannibal time to prepare for the Lusitanian War, called in Greek Pyrinos Polemos ("the Fiery War"), to fight the last resistance of his hegemony in western Iberia against the Lusitanian tribes and making the next step in preparing his attack on Carthaginian colonies around Tingis. But while Mago raised a new army in Carthago Nova and Hannibal integrate the new territory in provinces a major battle was fought between Maharbal and Hasdrubal known as the Battle of Obulco. Before these battle both strategos fought the rebelling Bastuli fearing otherwise they could attack them from the back, or cause further rebellions and raids in their main territories in south Iberia.

(left the situation in Iberia after Hannibals last moves and alliances thirth month, right the situation after the Battle of Obulco - that will be written in detail in the next update)

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 10: The Battle of Obulco

While Hannibals Campaign in northern and northwestern Iberia was fought and Mago Barca raised a new army of 18.000 infantry, 1.000 cavalry, 1.000 numidians and 3.0500 Iberian tribal in Carthago Nova, Hannibals other brother Hasdrubal marched with his army of 17.000 infantry, 2.000 cavalry, 2.000 numidians and 4.000 Iberian tribal to face Maharbal army in Andalusia. Maharbal had conquered Gades and all once Carthaginian colonies in western Andalusia and was now marching towards Carthago Nova, the Capital of the Barcids.

In the meantime the defeated army of Xanthippos with 3.700 Hoplites, 1.760 Warriors and 850 Mercenaries had arrived between Tarrco and Emporion where the Greek cities and colonies helped him out and reinforced his army to 30.000 infantry and 3.000 cavalry. Xanthippos further recruited 20.000 Celtiberian mercenaries and allied himself with the Iberian League. After the example of Messilia the League adopted a greek-gallic-iberian character and each tribe send a Representative to Emporion where a kind of Senate was created. The Romans fared that Xanthippos and Messilia were influencing the Iberian League in their own way and warned both. Xanthippos answered by executing the Roman Delegation and the Roman Advisers at a festival, thus breaking the Roman influence over the Iberian League. Rome was outraged, but despite Messilia declaring Xanthippos a traitor to the friendship with Rome and raising a new army to fight him, they secretly wanted to help him, becoming the domain power in a Messilia style an Messilian dominated and lead Iberian League. Then the time would be right to ally themselves with other Greek, Gallic and Iberian cities, colonies and factions in the Mediterranean against Rome an Carthage.

Near the city of Obulco the army of Maharbal with 12.000 carthaginian infantry, 6.580 numidian and mauric cavalry and up to 8.000 african trials and mercenaries fighting for Carthage met Hasdrubals army for battle. Maharbal tactic was to use the terrain to full deploy his cavalry forces and to make good use of his strong carthaginian Hoplite phalanx. With is phalanx the center and right flank, secured by the african tribal Maharbal hoped to use the flat terrains and hills to encircle the enemy and to crush his forces, by flanking and surrounding them on the left. Hasdrubal on the other hand hoped that his strong infantry could hold the phalanx at by, while his numidian, iberian tribal and cavalry used a longer, outstretches line, to flank the massive phalanx and to bring victory to Carthago Nova.

The battle started with Hasdrubal sending his cavalry to locate the enemy forces and his 600 scouts discovered the enemy advantage towards a hill where his army was deploying for battle. Eager to attack the enemy from behind and deal great damage to his african tribals, the cavalry commander of Hasdrubal ordered reinforcements and attacked with most of the cavalry forces. Maharbals african troops where shaking, but his own cavalry, elephants and long range warriors saved his back. With his main army nearby Maharbal managed to counterattack and kill most of the scouts and then turned around to face Hasdrubals main army charging down the hill. The rest of Hasdrubals cavalry had meanwhile positioned itself inside a nearby forest, out of sight from Maharbal.

As Maharbals main attack down the hill pushed the center of Hasdrubals army back his cavalry as well as himself was again attacked by Hasdrubals cavalry from behind. Unable to turn around and coordinate the downhill attack on the other side of the hill Maharbal battled the enemy cavalry with his own and crushed them a deadly blow. Down the hill his attack stocked, since his slowly phalanx was stopped by Hasdrubals forces. As Maharbals cavalry arrived to swift the battle for Carthage his carthaginian infantry and Hoplites as well as his african tribal troops became stuck between the battle formation of Hasdrubal, the small forest and trees around them and the rest of their own forces still pushing down the hill.

As Maharbals phalanx pressed against the smaller phalanx of Hasdrubal still the carthagian troops seamed to win. It was then that Hasdrubals remaining, lighter and more agile forces managed to encircle the enemy from the flanks and attack the phalanx from there thanks to arrows, javelins and stone rocks. That destroyed the moral of Maharbals troops, even more as Maharbal himself was wounded in battle. His numidian, mauric and african troops rebelled and his formation dissolved into an unorganized mass. After the battle many of his troops were either slayed, or enslaved, but some managed to flee. Most of them never returned to Africa and created small groups of bandits and outlaws, raiding the land between Obulco and Gades.

This victory secured the south Iberian coast for Carthage Nova once again, but the waters were still ruled by Carthagian ships that raided Carthago Novan and Messilian trade ships. Most important, Maharbal escaped, returned to Tingis and bought mercenaries for a new army while Hasdrubal reconquered the cities around Gades, fought the small groups of bandit former numidian, mauric and african troops, while Hannibal prepared for his Lusitanian War. But according to Mago, Hasdrubal was lucky away from Carthago Nova, where some senators called for peace with Carthage, now that Iberia was more or less secured once again and the lost territories where retaken. With the Iberian League rising they didn't want to confront a two, or three front war against Carthage, Lusitania and the Iberian League all at once. Many of them even wanted peace to trade and get rich from the once again growing economy.

Only Hannibals tributes and looting, from his former victories and his position as Shophet managed to control the Senat and to ensure, that the war against Lusitania and Carthage in Tingis could be won before a great coming confrontation with the Iberian League or even Rome itself. Hannibal in search for allies and to relieve the pressure on Iberia planned a counterattack in Africa after pacifying the Lusitanians. For that he allied Carthago Nova with Massinissa the numidian king of the Massylii. By this automatically his rival Syphax the king of Masaesyli allied himself with Hanno the Great. As even the mauric were divided between supporting Carthago Nova and Carthage all of northwest Africa was drawn into the Iberian War.

(more accurate map showing the carthagian territories in Africa now more accurate as well as in the same color = red, yellow is Carthago Nova, left before, right after the Lusitanian War - that is coming in the next post of mine- Massalia is light gray, the now more Greek and rid of most roman influence Iberian League is dark gray, the disputed or neutral and tribal Mauric territories are brown, the numidian Massylii attacked by Carthage/Hanno and now allied to Carthago Nova are the darker yellow in the right of the map losing ground to carthage, their numidian enemy Masaesylis shown orange -formally the color of all numidian but still between both major tribes decided territories)

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 11: Iberia, Lusitanian War

Or as the Greek called it, Pyrinos Polemos, the Fiery War began with Hannibal advancing into the territories of the Lusitanians. These were a tribal confederation between the rivers of Douro and Tagus, but not a single political entity. Hannibals plan to attack the Lusitanian had a few reasons, first of all they resisted his father as ruler of the Barcid dynasty in Iberia but even more important, they presented a treat to his empire and could easily treated the Silver-road or his new taken provinces and allies in northern and northwestern Iberia as well as attacking him from behind if the war with Carthage continued, or a war with the Iberian League broke out, that could be a possible ally of Lusitania. Luckily for Hannibal each tribe had its own territory and was independent, and formed by smaller clans. However, they had a cultural sense of unity and a common name for the tribes. Each tribe was ruled by its own tribal aristocracy and chief. Many members of the Lusitanian tribal aristocracy were warriors, but only when an external threat occurred did the different tribes politically unite, as happened at the time of the Carthago Novanian attempt to conquest of their territory nearly twenty years ago, as one chief became the single leader of the Lusitanian tribes. The name of this chief was Kaukainos (or Caucenus) and he was ruled the for some time, leading the tribes in the resistance against Carthaginian attempts of conquest, and was successful against Hannibals father Shophet Hamilcar.

Thanks to these encounters and boarder incidents and raids, Hannibal knew, that the Lusitanians were considered to be particularly adept at guerrilla warfare. The strongest among them were selected to defend the populace in mountainous sites. They used hooked saunions made of iron, and wielded swords and helmets like those of the Celtiberian enemies of Carthago Nova. They threw their darts from some distance, yet often hit their marks and wounded them deeply. Being active and nimble warriors, they would pursue their enemies and decapitate them. In times of peace, they had a particular style of dancing, which required great agility and nimbleness of the legs and thighs. In times of war, they marched in time, until they were ready to charge the enemy.

Fearing the Iberian League might attack his new provinces Hannibal split his army into two separate armies, both consisting of 40.000 infantry, 10.000 cavalry and 20 war elephants, plus 20.000 more man that were provider by allied tribes or mercenaries. Hannibal planned splitting his army again and this time invading the territory of the Lusitanian Confederation from three sides. He also knew about his brothers victory in southern Iberia and hoped that Hanno the Great would now sue for peace and give him time to set things straight in Iberia before fully confronting Africa and by that fighting a two-front war. As no offer for peace came, he allied himself with the Nubian Massylii, sending them silver to provide mercenaries and to extend the war against Hanno in Africa even further despite his victories in the first months. Casually Hannibal offered Hanno peace at the same time, hoping to gain time for further pacifying Iberia, while Hanno would gain peace for Africa and new trade with Iberia thanks to Carthago Nova. Hannibal knew all to well that since the war witch Messilia and Carthago Nova real trade between Carthage Africa and Iberia was nearly disrupted. Hoping that the traders of Carthage would accept his offer for peace he proposed the following:

The conditions imposed by the proposed treaty on Carthago and her allies were that;

• The Carthago Novan were not to sail past the Pillars of Hercules into the Atlantis thalassa, unless driven there by storm or enemies;
• If any Carthago Novan was "driven ashore" he was only to buy or take what was needed for "the repair of his ship and the service of the gods", and had to leave within five days; and
• Merchants could operate in Rusadir, Herculis, Tingis, Zilis and Lixus only in the presence of a Carthago Novan herald or town-clerk, and the sale would be secured by the state.
• The Carthaginians were to be free trade in the western Mediterranean on all Iberian coasts of Carthago Noca.
• The Carthaginians were not to attack settlements and tribes, that were "subject to the Carthago Novans";
• The Carthaginians were not to attack even townships not subject to Carthago Nova in Iberia, and if they conquered one they were to "deliver it unharmed to the Carthago Novans";
• The Carthaginians were not to build fortresses in Iberia;
• The Carthaginians could not stay the night in Iberia if they entered the district armed; and
• In Carthaginian Baleares, Carthago Novans were to have the same rights as Carthaginians.

The conditions imposed by the treaty on Carthago Nova and her allies were that;

• The Carthago Novans were not to maraud, traffic or found a city east of the Baleares or in Libya (Africa).
• The Carthago Novans could traffic or found a city in Baleares and Libya, and could only take provisions and refit their ships. If a storm had driven him to one of those coasts, he was to depart within five days.
• If the Carthago Novans conquered any city in Libya that was not subject to Carthage, they may keep the prisoners and the goods but were to deliver the town to Carthage.
• If Carthago Nova or Carthage make a treaty of alliance against Messilia, Syracusae, Mauretania, Libya, Massylii, Masaesyliis or any other Numidian faction, or Rome, the two states were to make it on such terms as not to preclude one giving aid to the other, if that one's territory is attacked.
• If either the Carthago Novans or the Carthaginians stand in need of help, Carthage was to supply the ships, whether for transport or war, and Cathago Nova was to supply the mercenaries, but each state was to pay for its own men employed on the ships.
• The Carthaginians were to give aid by sea to the Carthago Novans if need be; but no one was to compel the crews of the ships to disembark against their will.

Hanno the Great did not agree to the tread, clearly thinking that the war against Massylii in Africa would soon be won and that a new, combined attack from the Baleares to Carthago Nova and from Tingis to Gades could bring him and his faction a great victory and dominance over south Iberia and the Western Mediterranean. Little did he know that the tread was not appointed for him at all. Hannibal meant what he wrote but the tread was mostly directed to other powers and players in the great war. Once for Rome, Messilia and the Iberian League to assure them, that other than breaking the Lusitanian tread Carthago Nova had no intention in a greater war over all of Iberia. Even more he wanted to show them that he would welcome their traders and merchants at his coasts, and still supported free trade in the Western Mediterranean and Africa that could benefit them all. To underline that he was just securing his holdings and territories and not having any further claims that could alarm them he didn't even demand territories in the Baleares or Africa for peace. There were a few reasons for this, first of all Hannibal yet had not the fleet to defend such new holdings, or to even bring an army for capturing them. Second of all he needed time to ensure his Iberian holdings didn't get overstretched and he had to build infrastructure in them and expand his cultural influence there. In the end he mainly addressed the Senat of Carthage knowing to well that Shophet Hanno the Great still was no true King like other Emperors. The split between the Hannonid faction and that of the Barcides had been out of different strategies and plans for the future of Carthage. If Hanno now continued the war in Iberia even with the promise on accepting his domain in the Baleares or Africa and by doing so shut down the profits from the trade in Iberia and Atlantis thalassa or just endangering them he could lose his political might and influence, even within his own faction. Other than a peace with Carthage that was the other opinion Hannibal hoped for with his proposed tread.

The war against the Lusitanians started on three fronts; a part of Hannibals army, as well as mercenaries and tribal warriors of the Callaeci attacked from north. The second army, with some troops of Hannibal, some mercenaries and some Celtici warriors attacked from south, both army having 8.000 to 12.000 infantry and 2.000 cavalry while the main army of Hannibal, composed of 34.000 infantry, 6.000 cavalry and 20 war elephants attacked from the northeast. They battled the Lusitanian Confederation in a few fights and surprisingly for Hannibal, even the women of the Lusitanian where warriors, defending their towns alongside men in Scallabis, Dipo, Tamusia and other cities. Kaukainos hoped to form a confederation or alliance with the Iberian League with other Iberian Tribes like the Celtiberians. Unluckily for him the Iberian League refused because they were yet still unprepared to fight the Carthago Novans and together with Messilia wanted to train more troops and build a greater modern fleet before doing so. Clearly Hannibals victories against the Astures and Cantabria and his brother Hasdrubals victory over the former mighty and feared Carthage as a hegemonic power of the Western Mediterranean had played some role in this decision. But even after killing and enslaving over 30.000 Lusitanians and station garrisons in the captured cities, the war was not yet over. A guerrilla warfare occurred and Hannibal answered by aiding smaller tribes and enemies of the Lusitanian, after all he had no time for a longer guerrilla fight and wanted to focus his continuing operations again Carthage in Africa and aiding his ally Massylii as well as preparing for a possible war against the Iberian League. New towns were founded in the conquered lands and they became more and more Helleni-Phoenicianised thanks to trade, marriage, culture and religion over the years. Hannibals Empire even named Iberia in another dialect, his own and refereed to it as Hesperia Ultima, "the last western land" in Greek-Punic, as well as for Helleni-Phoenician and Greek writers, or shortly Hesperia, or the Hesperian peninsula (called Hispania by the Romans and their Latin allies).

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 12: Dikaiosyne Anníbas Bárkas (Lex Hannibal Barca)

With his victory over the Lusitanians, Hannibal took his time to reorganize the conquered lands. Before Carthagian territories were lose allied and paid their tribute but had great autonomy. Hannibals impressions in all of Iberia and with the Carthagians and Romans leave marks and he was willing to change the structure of his state to strengthen it further more. With the upcoming autumn/fall the time for great expeditions, campaigns and conquest was nearly over and his armies had to use wintering rest places before the next spring.

First of all Hannibal divided his new territories to govern them more efficient. With the eyes on a reunification with Carthage he organized the greater province of Hesperia Megalos for all territories in Iberia, clearly planning other Megalos provinces like Africa (one day divided in the provinces Lybia (Africa), Mauretania, Numidia and Carthage) and Mediterranean (Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and Baleares) and similar plans.

He divided the smaller Provinces (Eparchía) into three different territories. The first territory was the land conquered by his father, the province Barcida, where Phoenicians, Greek, Helleni-Phoenicians (Greek-Phoenicians), Ibero-Phoenicians, Libyans, Liby-Phoenicians and other cities and colonies alreasy existed. These territories and their land, loyal to Carthago Nova and united by culture and religion hat the Polis (full citizen rights), while confederate tribes and their people hat limited citizen right, some times more, sometimes less than the Metic/later called Paroikoi (foreign resident) that immigrate to Carthago Nova. The major difference was the Nomos (law) because the Metic had to obey the laws of Carthago Nova, while the confederate tribes and their people could govern themselves under their own law if wanted as long as these law didn't endanger Carthago Novan interests in Hesperia.

These Provinces and Megalos Provinces were governed by a Gerousiastís (Senator/Gouvernor) and benefit from the more modern influence (in culture, religion and technology) of Phoenicians, Greek and Helleni-Phoenicians. Some times, when the Province (as confederate tribes, states and cities) were governed by a major tribe and his chief or king, this leader automatically was the Gerousiastís. But when a province revolted or opposed Carthago Novaninan Law and Orders, or the laws, all Gerousiastís voted for in the Senate it could become governed by a Strategos (a military Commander under martial law). Carthago Nova even reserved itself the right to appoint the next leader of these people after the Strategos left his position as Gerousiastís.

The lands of allied tribes, states and cities that were not governed by Carthago Nova directly had even more autonomy. But they could only send observer to the Senate and were not represented with a vote and a Gerousiastís. But they still hat free trade with Carthago Nova and were under their protection and guarantee of independence. A special role in the Provinces beside the confederate tribes, states and cities hat the autonomous cities (mostly Phoenicians, Greek and Helleni-Phoenicians cities and their colonies). As long as they remained loyal they had autonomous rights to govern themselves even inside a province. They where nearly independence and had the right to mint and issue coins, as well as sent their leaders or representative as a Gerousiastís to the Senate. The colonies of such a autonomous city automatically hat the law of the founding city wherever they were placed (if they had the right to do so in the territory), otherwise they would come under the rule of the Gerousiastís of the Province.

New streets and colonies expanded the Helleni-Phoenicians culture and religion in Carthago Nova. But some territories and even provinces like Barcida and Carthago Nova where not governed by Senators/ Barcida but by the Shophet himself. But Hannibal did not only administrate his state, he also planned colonies and build thermae, stadium, libraries, theaters, agora, a acropolis, a forum, a aqueduct, amphitheater, a necropolis and other major buildings in Carthago Nova and other cities, to develop his state. He even invited foreign minorities to live in his state, even a single new Greco-Buddhism temple could be found in his capital city.

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 13: Macedonia and Hellas, the beginning Hegemony War

By the end of the summer, Macedons Ally Achaea was near collapse. Philip the V, meanwhile was marching down the coast west of Aetolia, starting from Epirus and ending in Calydon, where he received news of a pending invasion to Macedon. He returned to his homeland, but the invasion never took place. The news of Hannibals victories and conquests in Spain arrived and Philip hoped to have similar results in his war for Hegemony over Hellas before the Romans could interfere any further than they had already done in Illyria, Eoidamnus and Apollonia.

In the winter of 219-218 BC Philip secretly took his army to Corinth, and from there down to southern Elis, winning victory after victory against the surprised Eleans, and he retook Phigalea. He then moved back up through Achaea and from there made a campaign against northern Elis and was met with similar success. That summer, he took a fleet to Aetolia and devastated the city of Thermum, in the middle of Aetolian land, and then retreated back westward to land he had previously conquered in the summer of 219 BC. From there he sailed back to Corinth and marched to Sparta, where he made many successful raids before returning to Corinth to deal with soldiers dissatisfied with the low yields of plunder. After a failed attempt at a peace conference, Philip returned home for the winter of 218-217 BC.

In the summer of 217 BC, Aratus managed to provide some new organization of Achaea that enabled them to hold off Elean raids. At the same time Philip V took the city of Thebes in Phthiotic Achaea, but was forced to leave in order to deal with dissatisfied Illyrians who wanted more spoils of war.

(map showing the roman west coast of Hellas, the Kingdom of Macedon, Epirus in light green, Aetolian League in pink, Boetia in blue, Achaea League in brown, Sparta in red, the Kingdom of Pergamum in dark green, the Selucid Kingdom in yellow, the Possessions of Lagides in pink and the last colour are the independent states and cities. The circles show either an alliance to Macedon or Aetolia)

Hesperia/Iberia:
In the last land of the west Hannibal had used his previous victories, to ensure that the Iberian League, even if opposing his full rule over Hesperia would stay neutral, while he prepared for his campaign in Africa. Had his father accepted the river of Segura (not the Ebro) as his zone of influence in Iberia and not promised to cross it Hannibal now offered the Iberian League the river Sucro as the boarder he would not cross in Iberia. The Iberian League accepted these terms and Rome was also pleased. Still the Roman delegation hoped for peace between Carthage and Carthago Nova and strongly opposed any move Hannibal would do against the Iberian League and Africa itself. While the first term was acceptable Hannibal could not tolerate raids from Carthage against his coast or trade routes and the threat the western Carthaginian cities posed for his state. While the Júcar treaty allowed him to call out for the Iberian League to contain and stop boarder raids from tribes like the Celtiberi to secure peace between both powers.

That gave Hannibal peace for his campaign in Africa and the tribunes, trade, leases and taxes flowing to Carthago Nova allowed him to build banks and modern buildings in a rapidly growing capital city with a good and secure natural harbor. Clearly the Carthaginian fleets and Armies in the Baleares and near Tingis posed a continuing thread to Hannibals plans. As rumors arrived in Carthage, that Hannibal was building two strong fleets, the Carthaginians wanted to stop him, before he could engage them at sea, like the Romans did in the Punic War (or Roman War). Hanno the great ordered his fleet in Tingis to march north and attack Hannibals fleet before it was finished. His army and fleet in the Baleares receive the orders to attack Carthago Nova if that was possible without endangering the possession of the just recaptured Baleares themselves.

His fleet arrived on the coast of the city Olisipo, where Hannibal had gathered his fleet build by the Lusitanian, Gallaeci and smaller coastal tribes. The carthaginian admiral was surprised to sea that Hannibal, the great tactician and strategist like the Iberian called him had only build a few galleys and warships, that were still on land in the city, while most of his fleet at sea was composed of smaller trade ships and similar types. He attached the great fleet of small ships to enable Hannibals ability to land in Africa. It was one of the easiest battles he had ever fought, soon many of the Carthago Novanian ships where in flames, but there formation was holding. It was then, as they arrived in boarding distance, that he could see what really was going on. The ships of Hannibal where merely manned with a few sailors and those jumped in the water to swim to the coast as they get nearer to the Carthaginian fleet. Hannibal's small ships were all connected by chains and now that the Carthaginian commander saw that rather their own crew set them on fire instead of his attacks he could sea the trap that he stepped into. But it was too late, the burning fleet caused a panic in his own fleet some ships turned around, some were pinned against each other. Every Carthaginian sailor and soldier stuck on such a ship jumped in the cold sea, hoping to swim to safety instead of burning on his ship. The commander managed to reach the coast, where Carthaginian ally and confederate troops took them prisoner. Only a few Carthaginian ships survived and were undamaged enough not to get captured, but to sail back to Tingis. Now it begins to dawn on the fleet Commander; Hannibal was long gone to attack Africa itself, the fleet was just a trap for his fleet that could have stopped Hannibal's invasion.

With his faster troops (mostly cavallery) Hannibal had indeed reached the Pillars of Hercules, combined them with a part of Hasdrubal's army and did something even his brother, as well as Maharbal in Tingis and many other called either madness or genius. In the beginning autumn/fall before the season for war was totally over, the Romans could arrive in Hesperia, or Hanno the Great could finish of his ally Massylii totally. Hannibal used the army of his brother Hasdrubal to build enough rafts to cross the Pillars of Hercules at the smallest point with his full army, including cavalry and elephants, gave the command and protection over all of Hesperia Megalos to Hasdrubal and ordered Mago with his most fastest troops (few infantry, mostly cavalry and ships) to land in Numidia and to help Massylii by combining their troops before winter arrived. It wouldn't be enough, but it should hold Hanno of long enough before the new year and by than the situation in Africa would have dramatically changed.

In the meantime the roman army had arrived in Messilia and their strength together prepared their diplomats managed to convince the trading town to stop any form of support and supply for General Xanthippos, his Army and the Iberian League. For that Messilia was allowed to annex the territories around the Greek cities of Rhode and Emporion directly and form a defensive alliance with Rome. Xanthippos without further the support from Messilia agreed and Messilia gained a major dominance of the northeastern trade in Iberia. Their influence over the Iberian League transferred back to Rome, but there trade influence and territory thanks to the treat of Emporion with Rome was now greater than ever in Iberia.

In the meantime Mago had arrived with his fastest troops at the court of Massinissa the numidian King of the Massylii and offered him his troops and his command in honor of their alliance with Carthago Nova before winter arrived. Together they planned the defense of the Carthaginian attacks on Sufetula, Theveste, Madaurus and Cirta. While it hurt Mago like Hannibal to fight his Phoenicians, and Liby-Phoenicians brothers, he knew that the traitor Hanno the Great that had split the Carthagian Senate and state had to be stopped at all cost if they ever hoped to reunite both Phoenicians states and all their former land under one senate and Shophet ever again.

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 14: Battles over Massylii

Mago and Massinissa knew that Hanno the Great had the better trained troops and the bigger army. But Mago suggested to Massinissa that the defense of Massylii could best be mastered in relying on their strongest qualities, a nomadic life style and their strong cavalry. The Carthaginian offensive on Sufetula, Mactaris, Theveste, Madaurus, and Cirta was soon attacked at their march trough the mountains and deserts of Numidia, well known to the Massylii Numidians, but the end of the known world for Carthage. Sure they had trade with these cities, but the terrain, the routes and their knowledge was restricted to those known surroundings. The numidian troops under Mago and their Carthago Novanian backup used roads and paths unknown to the Carthagians and raided their depots, supply lines and isolated garrisons that where supposed to guard these. The knowledge Mago gained from these skirmishes and battles, would later benefit Hannibal and Massinissa in their war against between Massylii and the Carthaginian ally of Masaesyli as well as Hanno in Carthage himself. Mago adopter some sort of guerrilla warfare and even if Carthaginian could conquer Cirta their advance on Mactaris wasn't only stopped but the Carthagian army without supplies and reinforcements was nearly annihilated at the Battle of Mactaris (also called the Numidian Mountain Battle). The first major setback for Hanno the Great in his plans to reconquer all lost Carthaginian lands in Africa, the same plans Hannibal had, but without the Tyrann Hanno as the Leader of his people.

Battle of Tingis

The Battle of Tingis was the first really main confrontation between Carthago Nova and Carthage in Africa and a turning point in the Iberian War. Maharbals new trained army and mercenaries where shocked at Hannibals crossing of the Pillars of Hercules and advance towards Tingis caused fears in the population.

But Hannibals army was weakened from the recent Battle against Maharbal but he has gotten reinforcements by allied and confederate tribes in Iberia. With his new organized army of 20.000 soldiers, 10.000 cavalry and 26 war elephants Hannibal had tried to cross the Pillars of Hercules. His recent losses in Iberia where 16.000 killed or injured and Hannibal lost another 3.000 from Gades to Tingis most of them at the crossing of the Pillars of Hercules.

One of the first things he did, when he was in Africa had been to seek trade for supply and mercenaries from the local mauric tribes. Not all where willing to aid him, but some where open to trade and nearly every tribe that knew or heard of his victories and army size was against any further aid for Maharbal and Carthage and preferred to stay neutral till the fighting between the Phoenician was over.

Maharbals new army was recruited mostly from Phoenician and Carthage, or Liby-Phoenicians because of the disaster with African tribes warriors and mercenaries in his last battle against Hasdrubal. Again he had raised an army of 40.000 infantry (mostly Hoplites, half Carthaginian, half mercenaries and some tribal warriors), 10.000 cavalry and 32 war elephants. Hannibals army was as improvised, because he had trained his soldiers to be Falcatesair, getting rid of the long Hoplite pikes and the more modernized Hoplon. His army of 19.000 (mostly improvised Falcatesair), 8.000 cavalry and 17 war elephants.

Maharbal hoped in crushing the center with his hoplites and war elephants, while flanking Hannibal with his cavalry. Hannibal on the other side hat a similar tactic, by using his Falcatesair and war elephants in the center he wanted to surround his enemy by his battle-tested Carthago Novan, Numidian and Iberian cavalry. At first Maharbals troops where in the offensive, but as his Hoplites and war elephants reached the lines of Hannibal he was in for a nasty surprise. While Hannibals Falcatesair threw their spears to thin out the phalanx of Maharbal and then engage the disordered troops in short combat with their Felcata, Hannibals war elephants, still equipped with the longer pikes of the Hoplites fought Maharbals war elephants from a greater distance to kill them one by one or to cause them to too flee and to overrun their own troops. Just as planned Hannibals stronger armored, better equipped and battle-tested cavalry won the battles at the flanks and then cased Maharbals fleeing cavalry before they turned around and crushed the flanks and the back of Maharbals troops. While Hannibal lost 4.000 to 5.000 infantry as well as some cavalry and some elephants, Maharbal lost 28.000 infantry, over 6.000 cavalry and nearly all of his elephants.

After returning to Tingis, Maharbl was arrested, because Hannibal had conspired with the pro-Carthago Novan faction of the city to overwhelm the garrison and to open the gates for Hannibals troops if he was victorious. Soon after Hannibal controlled all Carthaginian cities in Mauretania, from Tingis to Rusadir and up to Lixus and Sala. This defeat caused a strong opposition in the Senate of Carthage to rise against Hanno after these two defeats against Massylii and Carthago Nova. But Hanno the Great hoped for a turning point thanks to his ally Masaesyli, who was now attacking Massylii from behind and preparing to raid the cities and tribes in Mauretania that had allied themselves with Hannibal.

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 15: Gymnasium Anníbas Bárkas (Education Hannibal Barca)

Maharbals defeat and Magos victory in Africa were a dream and a nightmare all at once. The victory for Hannibal was great but he saw the problems of a future for Carthage in Libya (Africa) if such wars and tactics occurred more often. The same way Carthago Nova and his citizens where a minority in Hesperia, the same way the Carthagians where a minority in Africa. Hannibal already planned to ally himself with some tribe and to integrate them into his state but beyond the mountains there was desert and he couldn't afford to concentrate all his power to Africa alone with European states like Rome and Messilia as future rivals, even if he could integrate local tribes and grow the infrastructure and agricultural land even further and secure the new boarderland with walls and fortifications.

He needed a greater base for a population majority in his state, much more than the Phoenicians, Greek, Helleni-Phoenicians (Greek-Phoenicians), Ibero-Phoenicians, Liby-Phoenicians and some Libyan, Mauritanian and Numidian tribes could offer him. Sure a increasing birth rate could help but Hannibal had another solution. Like Alexander that had tried to Hellenize the people of his Empire he aimed for the same goal. With the trade roads, traders, garrisons and new founded cities he also build Gymnasium in Hesperia. Institutions for educational and sporting that had one major purpose. While his economy and his coins already ruled most of Hesperia at the moment, Hannibal wanted to rule it in another way. These Gymnasiums should teach about the Helleni-Phoenicians culture, their faith and other education. Always build as monumental buildings next to great temples for local or own gods and chiefs they should show the local population the might, power and greatness of Carthago Nova, (and also Carthage/ Phoenicians and Greeks in general) and the cultural benefits that came with these culture, religion and way of living.

At the same time Hannibal ordered to search the young slaves and hostages send to Carthago Nova for promising individuals. These chosen ones should become more than Confederate, Metic or Paroikoi and have the right to some day gain full citizen rights. Not Phoenicians, Greek, Helleni-Phoenicians (Greek-Phoenicians), Ibero-Phoenicians, Liby-Phoenicians or Libyan, Mauritanian and Numidian by blood they should become so by mind Hannibal hoped. New citizen, educated to live, embrace and love the way of live as a Helleni-Phoenician in mind, state, culture and religion. When grown-up they whould return to their people and by doing so spread the Helleni-Phoenician influrence to these tribes, cities, states and people.

Hasdrubal the Navigator:

While Hannibal and Mago waged the war against Hanno the Great in Lybia/Africa the government of Hasdrubal was ready for action in Hesperia. He used the riches of his state to finish the navy in Carthago Nova that Mago had begun to secure the own coast against Messilia and Carthage and prepared this fleet and one of his armies for a invasion of the Baleares. More important was his order for two expeditions on the west coast. One int the north had the order to expand the trade with Britain and to found new trade ports and cities on the coast of Gaul and south and southwest Britain as well as explore the rest of the coast in the north of Gaul/Britain/Europa as far as possible. The other expedition should benefit from the defend of the western Carthaginian fleet in the same way, but turn south. Trade with the conquered cities and allied or friendly tribes in Mauretania as well as own colonies was just one goal. These fleet should follow the route of Hanno the Navigator and establish new trade ports further south in the west coast of Libya in search of new trade partners, land or resources as far as possible. These new trade routes should one day be ruled by a reunited Carthage Hasdrubal hoped and making the greatest city ever seen by mankind even wealthier, and bigger than ever before.

(Encounters with the native population)

(Hanno the Navigators first trip in western Libya)

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 16: In Libya/Africa

The war wasn't going in Hannos favor, news spread of Hannibals victory and if his army and fleet could conquer any more lands of Carthage on the Coast or from Masaesyli the Senate, already angry for him at weakening Carthages influence in Iberia and losing the western African cities, could openly revolt against him. But Hanno the Great had a plan, he would order his fleet and army to attack Libya and once again be victorious. With new victories in Africa over Libya or Massylii he would once again be the Shophet nobody dared to question. So he send a delegation to the Garamantes to coordinate their attacks and discuss the terms of the new boarders in Africa. He clearly claimed that he could turn the war around, but than Hannibals offer for peace came, Hannibal demanded the same terms as before but now argued that the cities in Mauritania up to Rusadir should be handed to Carthago Nova and Mauretania should become a client territory for Carthago Nova, but once again offered free trade to Carthage for Mauretania, Numidia, Africa and Hesperia (Iberia). Hannibal refused to even answer such demands, called them an outrage against Carthage.

"This is an outrage, never, never as long as I'm Shophet we will negotiate with these Barcid bastard Hannibal and his traitorous clan that stepped a knife in our back in the Libyan War!" Hanno the Great proclaimed, but he wasn't great anymore and his supporters in the Senate of Carthage have becoming a minority since the last losses in Africa. The Massylii under Mago had begun to push his troops out of some captured towns and cities and Hannibal was marching onto the Carthaginian enclaves on the Libyan coast and the territories of the Masaesyli, his last victory well known and his strategic genius feared thanks to that. Some even started to call him Hannibal the Great or Hannibal the Conqueror.

It was then in his Palace where it happened as a few Senators had meat to discuss Hannibals last peace tread once again with Hanno, but he just insulted them for doing so, for questioning the Shophet and his plans in Africa. The words "for Carthago" and "down with the monarchy" where the last Hanno heard before the Senators revealed knifes hidden in their tunics and stabbed him multiple times till he died on the ground. His nearby Guards didn't stop them but instead turned against him too. It was a cold night in Carthage and Hanno died alone on the Ground of his Palace after the Senators and his Guards had long left. At last the Senate had feared his plans for expanding the war in Africa. In the middle of the night the Senate elected a new Shophet and arrested many Hannoides and supporters of his Monarchy, but some escaped to the Masaesyli. The new Shophet was open for Hannibals peace offer and two weeks later a great parade was held in Carthage to celebrate the re-unification with Carthago Nova under the new Shophet and Shophet Hannibal together.

The Romans send a delegation to protest against this new great power in the western Mediterranean and Hannibal knew that the war with the Masaesyli wasn't over yet. His brother Hasdrubal even reported from rebellions of tribes and people in Hesperia Megalos as the two Shophets divided Africa into the new Megalos (great Provinces) of Carthage, Numidia and Mauretania as well as the at the moment lost Megalos of Lybia. Messilia was absorbed as a autonomous confederate province and the Carthaginian Armies now sided with Massylii in their fight against Masaesyli, that was still the enemy of both. Masaesyli, Libya and the Iberian League on the other hand were bribed by Rome to withstand any further expansion of the re-united Carthage in Africa and Iberia.

To celebrate the new re-united state of Carthage and to react to the recent Roman activities against his home land once again Hannibal ordered the building of two temples with great statues of Melqart/Hercules in Carthage (golden one) and Carthago Nova (silver one) with a great celebration, that showed the Hellenistic world his Empire as the Republic of Carthage was one of them, united against the growing influence, hegemony, politics and conquests of Rome, from Hesperia, to southern Gaul, Italy, Sizily, and even Hellas himself. Hannibal adopted his modern administration from Hesperia to all of the re-united Carthage, including Massylii and Mauretania, as well as offering them to become Polis or even Metic/Paroikoi if they decided to do so. His triumph parade in Carthago was the greatest ever in the history of the city, but the Iberian War and the African War had just started and the Alliances Rome seek with Masaesyli, Libya, Messilia and the Iberian League threatened to expand the Iberian War, African War and the Hegemony War of Macedonia to a combined ancient World War. Hannibal ensured the Roman he would not have any further campaigns in Iberia, at least not outside his state against the Iberian League. He once again needed time for his campaigns against Masaesyli and Libya, before he could think about engaging the roman allied Iberian League, Messilia or even Rome itself.

(Hannibals triumph in Carthage)

Newest Map:

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 17: Carthage's new Shophet

Shophet Hannibal knew that the coming winter of 219/218 BC would leave him at a disadvantage. Carthage tried to ally itself with the Garamantes to gain riches from the trans-Saharan all the way to the trade with Britain. The war with Masaesyli and the Roman dominated alliance between Masaesyli, Libya, Messilia and the Iberian League could only mean accepting the Roman demands of once again splitting Carthage into two States, each under his own Shophet in Hesperia and Libya (Africa) or to engage in a open out war with Rome and it's allies. Hannibal believed that the new Roman War over dominance in the Western Mediterranean with Rome would come any way and that each day his enemy grew stronger. So he planned on Mago and Massinissa to fight the war against Masaesyli and gained a first victory in convincing the state of Libya to rejoin his empire as a province thanks to pressure from the Garamantes and the Ptolemaic Empire. Hasdrubal should help him with his defense of Hesperia and conquering the Iberian League to secure the peninsula once and for all. New roads in Africa should help reinforce Massinissa the numidian king of the Massylii in his war against Masaesyli and to finally annex them and re-unite his Numidians as well alongside his Carthaginian allies. These new roads in Libya also should help the land and sea trade with the eastern Ptolemaic Empire, splitting Africa between it and Carthage. Knewing the manpower of Rome and his search for allies against him, Hannibal knew that time was not on his side and he had ti bring the war to Italy to secure Hesperia and Libya (Africa). So he ordered new fleets to be build in Hesperia, Carthago and the Baleares for his plans of operations. The Roman fleet was still larger and had well trained soldiers, so he intended to let the Second Roman War be fought mainly on land and to use his fleets to supply the troops fighting there. The Roman quest for hegemony would only stop if Rome could be stripped of his network of alliances, federate cities and tribes in Italy and limited to the territory before the Samnite War with guaranteed boarders and Carthaginian free trade in all of Italy for the freed people, states and tribes in Italy after the war, that Hannibal believed. So his plan included a offensive on Italy instead of just fighting Roman allies in Hesperia and Libya and then try to secure those lands. The war had to be brought to Rome and he had to ally himself with other Hellenic Kingdoms and Empires in the east, to himself split Romans troops and supplies to other regions instead of them just concentrate their power on him and Carthage. Phillip V of Macedon seamed a plausible ally, as well as the Selucide Empire in an Alliance against Rome, smaller States and the Ptolemaic Empire. That of course meant a full scale war in all the Mediterranean and to archive that Hannibal expanded his fleet even further. While his brothers secured Hesperia and Libya by defeating their enemies there, Hannibal planned his Fleet to land troops to Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica, especially the last two that were stolen so dishonorable by Rome after the last war. With this Invasions and attempts to reconquer the lost Islands in the Mediterranean Roman troops should be kept out of Hesperia and Africa as well as distracted enough to let him and his enemy attack on a rout no one would ever think of, by crossing the Alps in the spring/summer of the next year. Hannibal knew that his main Army from Iberia had to defeat the Iberian League together with his brother and than cross the Pyrenees and Alps before the next winter arrived to bring the war to Italy and Rome itself.

(the Western Mediterranea at the beginning of the Second Punic War or the Second Roman War as the Carthaginian and most Hellenes called it, green= boarders to the Ptolemaic Empire, blue circles = Roman allies)

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 18: Carthage, Libya

"Brother what is worrying you?" Mago Barca asked his Hannibal that was looking over a mosaic of the known world, with Phoenicia in the middle of it. Once Alexander the Great had conquered a big part of the world and was clearly willing to conquer the rest of the world I he hadn't died.

"The Romans are surrounding us with a network of alliances and are supporting them with advisers ad trainers for their troops. They even demand to split Carthage again between a African and Hesperian state. All their actions are acts of war, but with winter so close we can't make the necessary first step to push a offensive to Italy to secure Libya and Hesperia from most of the Roman armies!" Hannibal announced, sure that his strategy was the only one to deal with the Romans on a long term and on a long costly war.

"Don't be so negative Hannibal the canal and new farm land Hanno the Great stated to cultivate the Livyan coast inland to irrigate the land are working out. The salt basin we build outside the city will soon help us getting more independent from the sub-Saharan salt trade and the roads and ports under construction as well as the new taxes will enrich our treasury." Mago tried to lift his brothers mood.

"All true but the new taxes on the great land owners in Libya isn't popular." Hannibal knew all to well.

"Same goes for the term limitation Gerousiastís as our Senator of one year, but you called it a necessary move to weaken the Hannoides and our other enemies in the Senate." a understanding Mago reminded his brother. And there was the growing Hellenism, or at least Helleni-Phoenicianism that made Hannibals Carthage popular among some former enemies in the Hellenistic world but also was feared by some Carthaginians. And since it didn't made him a Diadoch, it teared him and some Carthaginian nobles and citizen further apart, while in the same time attracting more Greek, or Hellenistic Metic to travel and settle to his empire.

"At least the trade is increasing, as well as our trade and war fleet. The ports and streets I build are as much for economical reason as for military one Mago. But like the new administration and the training of the Falcatesair they took time. Time the Romans will use as well against us." Hannibal feared from their last actions and plans.

"Just look at what we have accomplished in the months after the re-unification Hannibal. The monarchy ended, the Republic under two Shophets restored. A free trade agreement in the southern Mediterranean along the Libyan coast as well a boarder frontier agreement with the Ptolemaic Kingdom to accept each others sphere of influence." a happy Mago reminded, pleased with these diplomatic results.

"A treaty Ptolemy IV Philopator just accepted, because of his ongoing Fourth Syrian War with Antiochus III, the Great leader of the Selucid Empire. As soon as Antiochos victory in Syria is stopped by Ptolemy he could turn his eyes once again after our Libyan coast and territories on the whole Libyan continent. He's known to be not very loyal an corrupt and even his own Egyptian people are rioting against his week leadership. Worst of all it is no alliance, just a trade and boarder treaty, same as with the Macedon Kingdom. Maybe Antiocus will win the war, that could give us the opportunity to encircle Rome in the Mediterranean if we ally with him and Macedon. That way we could grab land in the Cyrenaica if he annexed Egypt!" Hannibal reminded his bother that unlike Rome he had no strong alliance in the Mediterranean outside his own Republic, but was open for plans and chances.

"That may be true, but Hasrubal has just raised fresh troops to increase his army to 60,000 infantry and 6,000 cavalry in Hesperia. And the Marriage of Hasrubal Gicos beautiful daughter Sophonisba with Massinissa, the king of the Massylii integrated his tribal province further into our state. This alliance alone gives us a force of 80,000 infantry and 13,000 cavalry against Syphax the king of Masaesyli, not to mention our Mauri and Libyan mercenaries and tribal allies." Mago knew since he was assigned with the war in Libya against Masaesyli as well as having bean a guest at the wedding between Sophonisba and Massinissa together with Hannibal. Now he was planning the next move against Masaesyli together with Adhebal, who commander the forces on the Mauritanian western territories of Carthago and his allies for a second front against Masaesyli.

"Troops we will need to defend Hesperia and Libya against revolting tribes and enemy invasions, as well as securing our new founded colonial towns. Our administration must get better, our coastal lighthouses, the Fires of Baal from the Capital Carthagee to Carthago Nova must get finished just like the roads there for secured trade and faster communication." and while saying it Hannibal hoped they could do so in time.

"Yes, but our traders, scouts and spies are gathering information of your planned route trough Gaul as well as from the Iberian League, Messilia and Rome. From routes, over fortifications, to armies and fleets. We even have stockpiled some supplies and foot along the route in depots and will be well prepared once the winter is over! " Mago was hoping.

"As will be Rome!" Hannibal warned, once again looking down on the mosaic map of the Mediterranean to his foot.

 

[CountofDooku]

Chapter 19: Italy, Rome

"He could have stopped at Iberia, but he will not stop at all!" Lucius Aemilius Paullus feared talking about Hannibal Barca and from his point of view he was right. Hannibal a good tactician and strategist could have stopped there, defending his Iberian kingdom. But he crossed the Pillars of Hercules, conquered Tingis and took the Carthagian cities in Libya. Thanks to that Rome had all reason to be alarmed. Maybe Hannibal wanted to reconquer the lost islands of Sicily, or even Corsica and Sardinia, that Rome had stolen after the war was over. With a man like Hannibal there was nothing sure Lucius feared and so the Consul had an easy way to further convince the Iberian Leage that Hannibal wanted war with them and that they just like Masaesyli and Messilia would be better of in a threat of protection with Rome. But Lucies wasn't sure if that would be enough to hold Hannibals ambitions and to convince him to split up Carthage and Carthago Nova once again, for the sake of peace in the Mediterranean. Clearly Rome couldn't stand by and watch any longer with powers like Carthage and Macedon rising on both sides of the own state.

"He should have, but he hasn't. I think our preparations are wisely to train new armies and to gather our troops in Lilibaeum on Sicily, to prepare for a immediate invasion of Malta with 10.000 Legionaries and after that prepare to land in Africa itself while protecting Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia, especially last as an important grain exporter, vital for our Roman Republic!" Consul Tiberius Sempronius Longus answered, assured that this tactic, together with supporting the Iberian League with another army and fleet from each, Rome and Messilia should be enough to win the fight against Carthage fast and easily as soon as it would break out in open warfare. Over 160 quinqueremes where planned just for the operation against the Carthaginian islands from Sicily over to Africa, where Rome planned to help out his ally Masaesyli and crush Hannibal between his forces and their own. With the end of the coming winter, war would be sure in the year of 218 BC, but Rome also had to worry about Philip V. of Macedon and his ambitions to conquer all of Hellas and the Iberian coast like a new Alexander. So not all of the new armies where destination to fight in Iberia, Africa, Italy, Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia, some where destined to protect the roman territories and colonies on the coast of Iberia and Hellas against any attempt of Philip to conquer them. Other preparations had to deal with garrisons in the Po Valley against Celtic and Gallic tribes, or on the islands of Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia, where pro-Carthaginian and pro-Greek (Syracuse) rebels had rioted against Rome started a right out open Rebellion against Roman rule over the years.