What are your favorite Rome-screw scenarios?

Considering that the Romans somehow didn't surrender despite a colossal defeat at Cannae, and would also probably fight to the last man in a siege of Rome, i could see Hannibal and the Carthaginian armies losing their remorse and vowing to erase the city from the map once and for all. If they're not cockblocked by the treacherous politicians back in Carthage proper, that is.
Very late, but this isn't very well supported by the texts. Hanno's faction in Carthage were powerless to prevent the war, and never kept it from grinding on for the better part of two decades. The main theatre commands were held by members of Hannibal's own family, who received substantial reinforcements, and most later appointments were also Barcids. The Carthaginians kept fighting through over a dozen devastating defeats, even to the doorstep of their own city, until it was Hannibal himself who convinced them not to raise a new army to fight the Romans. Now, trying to negotiate with the Romans, the Carthaginians tried to claim they never really supported Hannibal, but this was obviously just covering their own asses.
 

oberdada

Gone Fishin'
2nd Punic War?

Nö, 1 one.

The only time the Senate could not agree on how the people should be advised to vote.
So probably the most democratic vote in Roman history.

Without the war against Carthage Rome would have stayed a regional land power, I guess.
 
Nö, 1 one.

The only time the Senate could not agree on how the people should be advised to vote.
So probably the most democratic vote in Roman history.

Without the war against Carthage Rome would have stayed a regional land power, I guess.

Sicily would have continued to be split between cities giving alliance to Carthage and those cleaving to whichever Greek city was in the ascendant, i.e. Syracuse

Rome hadn't been a naval power at all, but since that didn't stop them becoming one in a time of need it won't necessary stop them in any putative future

If Rome lets Sicily lie, then their energies are going to go into Transalpine Gaul or Illyriia

Whether Carthage does its Spanish expansion without losing to Rome and losing Sicily [and Sardinia] is an interesting question - if it does not, then where does it go?
 

oberdada

Gone Fishin'
Sicily would have continued to be split between cities giving alliance to Carthage and those cleaving to whichever Greek city was in the ascendant, i.e. Syracuse

Rome hadn't been a naval power at all, but since that didn't stop them becoming one in a time of need it won't necessary stop them in any putative future

If Rome lets Sicily lie, then their energies are going to go into Transalpine Gaul or Illyriia

Whether Carthage does its Spanish expansion without losing to Rome and losing Sicily [and Sardinia] is an interesting question - if it does not, then where does it go?

My idea was more in the direction that apparently the Roman ruling class was divided about going to war.
Once there was a war going on against the biggest country in that part of the world they had to stand together.
A war at the right time can do wonders to unite a people.
So if the vote is very close, and the pro-war faction does not accept the result, this could block the entire political process and the energies.

Carthage was perfectly content with what it had and would not conquer Spain, no need.


Edit: I am afraid I don't know that much more about that time in Roman history, so maybe it is totally ASB ...
 
Rome converts to one of the... more interesting forms of Gnosticism, castrated roman emperors don't really produce kids and eventually the empire collapses due to incessant civil wars.
 
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