Cato the Elder was the Roman senator that said,"Carthage must be destroyed."
Rome and Carthage were allies, especially against King Pyrrhis of Epirus' intervention in Italy and Sicily supporting the Greek cities in therein. Rome had expanded south to the heel of Italy. Carthage had occupied western Sicily. Some landless Italian mercenaries (Mamertines) seized the city of Messana in northern Sicily. They were attacked by the Greek city of Syracuse. The Mamertines tried to ally themselves with both Carthage and Rome. The resultant manoeuverings set Rome against Carthage and war ensued between these former uneasy allies.
The king of Carthage during the First Punic War was Hamilcar Barca. He was one of Carthage's most prominent military leaders and a skilled strategist. Hamilcar Barca led Carthaginian forces in Sicily and established a strong presence on the island during the war.
Rome against Carthage, on the island of Sicily
Hannibal Barca. He led a Carthaginian army, not Carthage which was a city in North Africa. He crossed both the Pyrenees and the Alps to attack Italy in 218 BC at the beginning of the Second Punic War.
The excuse that Rome used to declare war was the fact that Carthage raised an army to defend herself against territorial encroachments by the Numidians, their next door neighbours, without consulting Rome. Under the terms of the peace treaty Carthage was demilitarised and she was not allowed to raise an army without Rome's consent. Carthage thought that when she finished paying a 50-year war indemnity to Rome she had fulfilled the peace treaty and was free form it. There was a political faction in Rome which wanted to destroy Carthage to eliminate this rival because she had recovered economically after the second war. They were worried about Carthage's economic resurgence.
Rome and Carthage were both trying to spread their influence in Sicily.
A general who led an invasion of Italy in the Second Punic War.
Rome and Carthage were allies, especially against King Pyrrhis of Epirus' intervention in Italy and Sicily supporting the Greek cities in therein. Rome had expanded south to the heel of Italy. Carthage had occupied western Sicily. Some landless Italian mercenaries (Mamertines) seized the city of Messana in northern Sicily. They were attacked by the Greek city of Syracuse. The Mamertines tried to ally themselves with both Carthage and Rome. The resultant manoeuverings set Rome against Carthage and war ensued between these former uneasy allies.
The king of Carthage during the First Punic War was Hamilcar Barca. He was one of Carthage's most prominent military leaders and a skilled strategist. Hamilcar Barca led Carthaginian forces in Sicily and established a strong presence on the island during the war.
Hannibal
He led Rome to victory over Carthage at the end of the Second Punic War.
Rome against Carthage, on the island of Sicily
He was a member of the Barca family who became a war leader against Rome in the Second Punic War.
Hannibal Barca. He led a Carthaginian army, not Carthage which was a city in North Africa. He crossed both the Pyrenees and the Alps to attack Italy in 218 BC at the beginning of the Second Punic War.
There was actually only one great general from Carthage, and that was Hannibal Barca who led Carthage in the second Punic war. The first Punic war saw the leadership of Hannibal's father towards the end of the conflict. The Barcas were a military family, with a brother or brother-in-law, Hasdrubal, being active in Spain.
The excuse that Rome used to declare war was the fact that Carthage raised an army to defend herself against territorial encroachments by the Numidians, their next door neighbours, without consulting Rome. Under the terms of the peace treaty Carthage was demilitarised and she was not allowed to raise an army without Rome's consent. Carthage thought that when she finished paying a 50-year war indemnity to Rome she had fulfilled the peace treaty and was free form it. There was a political faction in Rome which wanted to destroy Carthage to eliminate this rival because she had recovered economically after the second war. They were worried about Carthage's economic resurgence.
Hannibal Barca.