Mêlée à Trois: Rome vs Carthage vs Persia

  • Thread starter Deleted member 67076
  • Start date

Deleted member 67076

Suppose the Second Punic war ends in a draw. Both powers in turn expand eastward in the coming decades while the Selucids manage to prevent the rise of the Parthian dynasty and enter a renewal period.

The Romans manage to conquer Illycurim and much of the Balkans while Carthage expands into much of the Ptolemic Kingdom of Egypt. Eventually, war breaks out among all three with no two allying against the third.

Who wins this conflict?

Antebellum territories:

Rome vs Carthage vs Persia.png
 
Is Rome going to have serious food shortages - don't they rely on African/Egyptian grain to feed the city? That was always my impression but I am no expert on the era.
 
The Seleucids don't have the resources to actually crush both other enemies but Carthage is probably best-placed to win.
 
I've got to say that seems like a Carthage wank to me.

Ptolemaic Egypt was a top-tier power in this period. This was a state capable of going toe to toe with the Seleucids and winning or drawing. Also, given the boundaries, there also seems to have been a Seleucid victory against the Ptolemies that didn't happen OTL, otherwise Cyprus and much of the Levant should be Ptolemaic.

Also, I don't think that Carthage could have had the manpower, after such a devastating 2nd Punic War, to simultaneously maintain control in Iberia, Numidia, Mauretania and Cyrenaica. That seems incredulous if I'm honest, given how Carthaginian control was mostly confined to coastal north Africa and how many different powers they seem to have steamrolled in order to do that.

Also, why have the Seleucids allowed the Romans that much of a foothold in the Greek world? There is a reason that Seleucid foreign policy tried to keep them out, even if it failed OTL. I don't see how a resurgent Seleucids wouldn't have already smacked them around their chops, particularly with their potential for enormous fleets and manpower to make even Rome green with envy.
 

Deleted member 67076

I was not aware of the Seluecid naval dominance.

Well, assume for this scenario, the Ptolomies have had a long string of bad luck and the Seluecids aren't as fully strong as they used to be.

As for the Roman expansion, excellent generals have been able to secure parts of the Balkans and the Seluecids can't do anything about it. Until the war, of course.

For Carthage, say the war ends early with a draw for some reason.
 
Top