The Punic Wars between Rome and

The Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage, 264-146 BC

Basic Chronology

Dr. John David Lewis

August 31, 2007

Basic Chronology of the Punic Wars

Background to the First Punic War

480 Battle of Himera, off Sicily.

Xerxes invasion of Greece

330 Alexander I of Epirus invades Italy

280-75 Pyrrhic Wars

280 Mamertines (Sicilian mercenaries) take Messana

275 Rome takes control of Tarentum

270 Rome restores Rhegium (from Campanian mercenaries)

264 Appius Claudius to Messana to support Mamertines against Hiero II of Syracuse

263 Hiero allies with Rome

262-241 First Punic War

262 f. Engagements begin on and around Sicily. Roman siege of Agrigentum

243 Roman Senate asks aristocracy to break deadlock (promised indemnity from Carthage)

241 Roman naval victory off Drepana; Carthage negotiates peace. Rome Annexes Sicily

Rome establishes office of Peregrine Praetor to govern Sicily

241-38 Truceless War of Carthaginian mercenaries. Rome takes Sardinia and Corsica

Background to Second Punic War: Carthaginians under Hamilcar begin to fortify Spain

237 Hamilcar moves into Spain

229 Hasdrubal succeeds in Spain; New Carthage (Kart Hadasht) founded at Mastia

226 Ebro River Treaty; Rome to remain north of Ebro River

221 Hasdrubal murdered; Hannibal acclaimed commander

220 Rome grants fides to Saguntum

219 Hannibal besieges Saguntum

218-201 2^nd Punic War

218 Rome issues ultimatum to Carthage. Hannibal marches on Italy

Romans routed at Ticinus and Trebia Rivers

Roman base established at Emporio, Spain.

Rome garrisons Tarentum and Thurii on Italy; hostages taken

217 Romans routed at Battle of Lake Trasimene; Quintus Fabius named dictator

216 Romans slaughtered at Cannae. Capua defects from Rome

215-05 1^st Macedonian War. Philip V allies with Hannibal

215 Heironymus succeeds at Syracuse. Murdered in 214; Hippocrates succeeds

Spain: Scipiones beat Hasdrubal at Ibera; Revolt of Numidians vs. Carthage

214 Rome repels invasion by Philip V of Macedonia

213 Rome besieges Syracuse; falls in 211

212 Tarentum, Herakleia, Metapontum, Thurii defect to Hannibal. Roman siege of Capua

211 Hannibal fails to relieve Capua; feint march on Rome

Two Scipiones killed in Spain; Rome holds Ebro River line

210 P. Cornelius Scipio given procunsular imperium of Spain. Winters in Tarracco

209 Rome recovers Tarentum. Spain: Scipio takes New Carthage

207 Battle of Metaurus River, Hasdrubal dies failing to reinforce brother Hannibal.

Spain: Battle of Baecula; Hasdrubal loses half his cavalry

206 Scipio victorious at Battle of Ilipa

205 Scipio debates Fabius in Rome; as consul Scipio moves to Sicily

End of Macedonian war; Rome withdraws from Greece

204 Scipio lands in Africa. Carthage allies with Syphax of Numidia; Scipio with Masinissa

Battle of Tower of Agathocles: Carthage ambushed

203 Siege of Utica renewed, Battle of the Great Plains. Hannibal recalled.

Syphax captured; Masinissa given the reunited Numidian kingdom

202 Battle of Zama destroys Hannibal

200-197 2^nd Macedonian War. Romans defeat Greeks at Cynoscephalae

196 Hannibal leaves Carthage for Tyre, and court of Antiochus III

183 Deaths of Scipio Africanus and Hannibal

172-68 3^rd Macedonian War; Macedonia made a Province

Background to Third Punic War

172 Carthaginians complain about African intrusions

154-51 Spain: 2^nd Celtiberian War (The “Fiery War”)

152 Rome sides with Numidians; Carthage re-arms. Cato vs. Scipio Nasica on the war

150 Numidians massacre Hasdrubal’s army at Oroscopa

Carthage crucifies Hasdrubal, envoys to Rome

149 Rome declares war against Carthage

150-48 4^th Macedonian War. Annexation of Macedonia

149-46 3^rd Punic War

149 Carthage surrounded by Africans, Romans, and private army of Hasdrubal

148-46 Achean War: Rome vs. Corinth (under Critolaos)

146 Destruction of Carthage and Corinth

This page updated: 10/10/07