|
BC
|
Carthage & Rome: Treaties, Punic Wars, Hannibal |
Rome |
Other Events |
| 814 |
The traditional date for the founding of Carthage by Elissa (Dido), sister of the King of Tyre. |
|
|
| 800? |
First Phoenician presence on Sardinia. |
|
|
| 770 |
Founding of Gadir, gateway to Spanish silver. |
|
|
| 753 |
|
Traditional date for the founding of Rome by Romulus. |
|
| 750 |
Carthaginian domination of the Western seas. |
|
|
| c734 |
Syracuse settled by Cornithians led by the aristocrat Archias. |
|
|
| 654 |
Carthage founds colony in the Balearic Islands at Ibiza. |
|
|
| 600 |
Carthage fails to prevent Phocaean Greek colony at Massilia (Marseilles). |
|
|
| c581 |
Acragas (Agrigentum) founded by Greek colonists from Gela |
|
|
| 580 |
First attempt by Greeks to drive Phoenicians out of Sicily. |
|
|
| 574 |
Tyre falls to Nebuchadnessar. Carthage rises to prominence among the Phoenician cities in the West |
|
|
| 550 |
Magonid dynasty founded
in Carthage. Carthage allies with the Etruscans against the Greeks.
Carthaginian force led by Malchus defeats the Greeks in Sicily, but is
vanquished in Sardinia. Malchus banished, marches on Carthage, is
caught and executed. |
|
Carthaginian colonies formed along coast of Africa, Algeria, Hadrumetum, Leptis. |
| 540 |
The Carthaginians prevent a Greek attempt to land in Corsica. |
Etruscan-Carthaginian
coalition against the Phocaeans of Corsica - naval battle of the
Sardinian Sea - in consequence, Etruscans establish control of Corsica,
and Carthage takes first steps towards conquest of Sardinia |
|
| 539 |
Asian Phoenicia falls to Cyrus the Great of Persia |
|
|
| 535 |
Carthage, with Etruscans, destroys Phocaean colony in Corsica and closes Sardinia-Corsica off to the Greeks. |
|
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| 510 |
Dorieus, a Spartan prince, is expelled from Tripolitania |
Expulsion of the last
Tarquinian king, Tarquinius Superbus. Brutus liberates Rome.
Establishment of a Republich headed by two magistrates (later called
consuls) elected annually. |
|
| c504 |
|
Sardinia conquered by the Carthaginians: the campaigns of the Magonids |
|
| 509 |
The first treaty between Carthage and Rome |
|
|
| 479-450 |
Carthage conquers most of Tunisia. Colonies in North Africa founded or strengthened. Mago's expedition across the Sahara. |
|
|
| 498 |
Hippocrates and Theron seize control in Syracuse and attempt to throw Phoenicians off western part of the island. |
|
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| 491 |
Battle of Halorus: Syracuse and Carthage fighting. |
|
|
| 485 |
Gelon ruler of Syracuse (485-478) |
|
|
| 480 |
Alliance with Persia
(Xerxes) failes to destroy Greeks, military defeat in Sicily as fleet
is cut off by superior Athenian forces. Decisive battle of Himera in
Sicily between Greeks led by Gelon and Carthage (at the same time as
Thermopylae) - Hamilcar is defeated and commits suicide on the
battlefield. Hamilcar's son, Hanno 'the Navigator' continues dynasty. |
|
Second Persian war: battles of Thermopylae and Salamis; followed by battles of Plataea and Mykale (479), which conclude the war |
| 449 or 446 |
|
Defeat of the Latins at the battle of Lake Regillus |
|
| 454-453 |
|
|
Periclean age in Athens
(447-432). Athens, on the initiative of Pericles, attempts to establish
a footing in Southern Italy and Sicily |
| 431-421 |
|
First phase of the Peloponnesian war between Athens and Sparta (Archidamian war) |
Plato is born (429) |
| 415-413 |
Syracusans survived a
long siege by the Athenians that took place during the Peloponnesian
War, ultimately destroying the Athenian invasion force in Sicily and
weakening Athenian power in Greece itself. |
|
|
| 410 |
Hannibal (son of Gisco
and grandson of Hamilcar) is the 'king' of Carthage. Phoenicians in
Spain join with Celtiberians to secede from Carthage, denying the state
important silver and copper revenues. Overland tin trade cut off.
Himilco's expeditions in the Atlantic. Hanno's expeditions to Morocco
and Senegal. The Sicilian city of Segesta asks for Carthaginian aid
against the Greek city of Selinius |
|
|
| 409 |
Hannibal initiates
attempts to conquer Sicily. Hannibal, takes the fortified towns of
Selinus (ally of Syracuse) and Himera by use of siege towers. |
|
|
| 406 |
City of Agrigentum, in southern Sicily, falls in December to Hannibal the Elder and is ravaged. |
Romans at war with the Veii |
|
|
Hannibal and hundreds of
troops die in epidemic outside fortified town of Acragas. Himilco, his
cousin, takes over command, is defeated by a force out of Syracuse, and
has supply disrupted in naval action. Syracusan forces strengthen
garrison. Carthaginian squadron breaks through Greek blockade -- the
besieged escape under cover of night, Punic forces collect spoils.
Himilco takes town of Gela, defeating Syracusan force, then takes town
of Camarina. |
|
Dionysius takes power in Syracuse. |
| 405 |
Himilco marches on Syracuse.
Peace treaty between Carthage and Syracuse is signed after Carthaginian
troops are ravaged by plague and cannot conquer Syracuse. Syracuse
grants control of most of Sicily and must pay tribute to Carthage.
Treaty confirms Dionysius I as dictator (tyrannos) of Syracuse. First
Sicilian War concluded. |
|
|
| 413-404 |
|
|
Last phase of Peloponnesian war and final defeat of Athens by the Spartans and Persians |
| 398 |
Dionysius breaks the
treaty and sacks Motya -- Carthaginians permanently relocate main
Sicilian base to fortified town of Lilybaeum. |
|
Death of Socrates (399) |
| 397 |
Himilco drives Dionysius
back to Syracuse and resumes siege. In naval action, sinks or boards
100 Syracusan naval vessels and takes 20,000 prisoners. |
|
|
| 396 |
Epidemic lays Punic
forces low for a third time in Sicily. Dionysius capitalizes and
defeats Himilco in pitched battle. He survives, but upon return to
Carthage in disgrace, starves himself to death. Fighting continues
under his successor Mago, nephew of Himilco, |
Romans take and destroy Veii. |
|
| 393 |
Carthaginian force under Mago defeated trying to re-take Messana. |
|
|
| 392 |
Mago defeated a second time. Truce signed. |
|
|
| 390 |
|
Camillus (Dictator). Capture of Rome by the Gauls |
Gallic incursions in central Italy and along the Adriatic coast |
| 367 |
Dionysius attacks Carthaginian base at Lilybaeum -- stopped when fleet defeated by warships under Hanno the Great.
Dionysius I dies (401-367), still at war with Carthage. Dionysius I had
turned Syracuse into a very powerful militarized state confronting the
Carthaginians. Carthage and the Etruscans make a pact to counter
Syracuse and Tarentum. Accession of Dionysius II and start of phase of
anarchy in Syracuse and Sicily
|
First Plebeian elected Consul. |
|
| 350s ? |
Hanno the Great crucified following unsuccessful attempt to usurp power from the Council of Elders. |
|
356 Philip of Macedon begins expansionist policy in Greece |
| 348 |
Carthage is the leading Western power. |
Rome agrees to second treaty with Carthage. |
|
| 345 |
Mago sails to Syracuse to
drive out the usurper. Greeks receive support from Timoleon in Corinth
who drives the Carthaginians out. The Carthaginian commander Mago
commits suicide in order to avoid court martial upon his return. |
|
|
| 343 |
Hasdrubal and Hamilcar make a second attempt, losing a battle at Segesta (Battle of Crimisus). Hasdrubal is executed.
Gisco, son of Hanno the Great, is recalled from exile and authorized to
make peace -- Sicily divided along Halycus River. 2nd Sicilian War
ends.
|
Adhesion of Capua to
Rome. In the face of agression by the Bruttian League Tarentum appealed
for aid against the barbarian to its mother city Sparta. |
Samnites attack Sidicni and Campanians. First Samnite War begins (343-341). |
| 341 |
Carthaginian embassy to Rome. |
|
Sidicini and Campanians ally with Latins and Volsci. First Samnite War ends - Romans occupy northern Campania |
| 340 |
Power struggle in Syracuse ends with Timoleon of Corinth victorious. |
Rome confiscates Latin and Privernate land and ager Falernus. |
Latin War (340-338) begins. |
| 339 |
Timoleon wins in battle with Carthaginians at Krimisos |
|
|
| 338 |
|
Capua is granted civitas
sine suffragio. responded and King Archidamus of Sparta headed an
expedition to southern Italy that fails disastrously: the king is
killed in battle with the Lucanians. |
Latin War ends - Latin League dissolved.
Battle of Chaeronea and imposition of Macedonian dominion on Greece |
| 336 |
|
|
Death of Philip and accession of Alexander the Great |
| 334 |
Carthage makes peace with the Greek empire and with the Lagos monarchy in Egypt. |
Cales is the first Latin
colony founded by Rome. Alexander the Great's uncle Alexander 'the
Molossian' of Epirus answered the call of the western Greeks in
southern Italy. |
Alexander the Great of Macedon begins his eastward campaign to conquer the Eastern World. (334-323) |
| c. 333-330 |
|
Campaigns of Alexander of Molossia in southern Italy |
|
| 330 |
Agathocles comes to power in Syracuse. |
Alexander ' the Molossian' is assassinated. |
|
| 328 |
|
Foundation of Fregellae |
|
| 327 |
|
|
Second Samnite Was (327-304) begins. Appeal of Neapolis to Rome |
| 323 |
Alexander the Great dies. |
|
|
| 321 |
|
|
Battle of the Caudine Forks; Roman army forced to surrender to the Samnites. |
| 315 |
Agathocles of Syracuse takes Messana. |
315-314 Acrotatus of Sparta's Sicilian expedition |
Rome suffer a crushing defeat at Lautulae. |
| 312 |
|
Censorship of Appius
Claudius/ Construction begins on the via Appia and the aqua Appia
(Rome's first aqueduct). First issue of silver coinage by Rome |
|
| 311 |
Agathocles, Syracuse's
latest tyrant, lays siege to Acragas and crosses the Halcyus, violating
the peace treaty. Gisco's son Hamilcar defeats Agathocles at Ecnomus |
Etruscan Wars (311-308) |
|
| 310 |
Carthaginian force under Hamilcar, grandson of Hanno the Great defeats Greek force at Himera. Siege of Syracuse begins. |
|
|
| 309 |
Agathocles, rather than
stay in Syracuse to fend off a Carthaginian siege, invades North Africa
(but has to abandon his army there in 307). Carthage meets Agathocles'
force of 14,000 with 40,000 foot, 1000 cavalry and 2000 chariots under
Bomilcar and Hanno. Greeks are victorious, Carthage losing 3000 on the
battlefield, but city is impregnable. Siege of Syracuse continues. |
|
|
| 308 |
Carthage reverted partly
back to its old ways, sacrificing 300 children of noble birth. Bomilcar
tries to make himself dictator in Carthage. Is defeated and tortured to
death. |
Greeks form local allies -- Egypt contributes 10,000. Greeks control Tunisian province and fighting continues. |
|
| 307 |
While Agathocles oversees
events in Syracuse, Carthage defeats the Greek and allied forces.
Despite Syracusan reinforcement, Greek cause in Africa is doomed.
Greeks desert to Carthaginian commanders Hanno and Himilco in vast
numbers. Treaty favorable to Carthage concluded. Greek victory outside
Syracuse. Hamilcar captured and killed. |
|
|
| 306 |
Treaty between Carthage and Rome to counter pact between Etruscans and Syracuse. |
|
|
| 304 |
|
|
Second Samnite War ends. |
| 303-302 |
|
Cleonymus of Sparta's southern Italian expedition: he makes an alliance with Tarenturn against the Lucanians |
|
| 302 |
|
Roman intervention to prevent the unrest at Arretium in Etruria and Carseoli
amnog the Aequi |
|
| 300 |
Agathocles intervenes in
southern Italy: takes Corcyra, forces alliance with Bruttii, then
defeated by them. Pytheas explores the Atlantic, Euthymenes the coasts
of Africa. |
Lex Ogulnia: plebeians admitted to priestly offices
|
|
| 299 |
|
Conquest of Narnia |
Gallic raid on Etruria |
| 298 |
|
|
Third Samnite War (298-290) begins. Rome captures Bovanium Vetus and Aufidena |
| 296 |
|
Bronze statue of Romulus and Remus set up. |
|
| 295 |
Agathocles secures Croton, alliances with Iapygians and Peucetians. |
|
Roman victory over
Samnites, Etruscians, Gauls and Umbrians at Sentinum; Decius Mus, a
Roman general, commits devotio (sacrifice oneself to help your army).
The other Roman general present was Fabius Rullianus.
Major defeat of Sulla at Camerinum by the Samnites and Gauls |
| 294 |
|
|
Samnite victory near Luceria |
| 293 |
|
Cult of Aesculapius brought to Rome |
Roman victory over Samnites in Aquilona. |
| 292 |
|
|
Falerii conquered Temple of Aesculapius dedicated on the Tiber Island in Rome on January 1. |
| 291 |
|
|
Venusia conquered |
| 290 |
|
|
Rome defeats the
Samnites, ending the 3rd Samnite War - Sabines granted limited Roman
citizenship - Roman domination of central Italy is complete. |
| 289 |
Death of Agathocles. Pre-war division of Sicily resumes. 3rd Sicilian war ends. |
Mint and triumviri monetales established. |
|
| 288? |
Mamertines settle in Messana. |
|
|
| 287 |
|
|
Archimedes, Greek mathematician, physicist and inventor. 287-212BC |
| c.285 |
|
|
|
| 284 |
Agathocles' Campanian mercenaries found the state of the Mamertines at Messina |
|
Revolt of Vulci, Volsinii, Samnites and Lucanians. |
| 283 |
Leg. C. Fabricius Luscinus sent to allies on news of Tarentine hostility, arrested. |
|
Boii defeated at Lake Vadimo |
| 282 |
Fabricius campaign in south:
Defeats Samnites, Bruttians, Lucanians, relieves Thurii, triumphs.
Supplies Rhegium with garrison of Campanians.
Roman garrisons installed at Thurii and Locri. |
Rome conquers territory still held by the Gauls along the Adriatic |
Thurii, located on the
Gulf of Taranto, asked for help from Rome after having been attacked by
Lucania. Roman Fleet attacked by Tarentum. L. Postumius Megellus
dispatched to Tarentum, insulted. Tarentines force withdrawal of Romans
from Thurii. |
| 281 |
|
|
Aemilius campaigns in
Samnium, invades Tarentine territory. Aemilius offers negotiations with
Tarentines, who appeal to Pyrrhus of Epirus , relative of Alexander the
Great. |
| 280 |
|
Achaean League reconstituted.
Decius uses his Campanian troops to take Rhegium. |
Invasion of Italy by
Pyrrhus on behalf of Greek city-states. Defeats Romans at the Battle of
Heraclea but with great loss to his own troops. This is the first time
elephants are used in Italy as instruments of war.
|
| 279 |
Carthaginians were besieging Syracuse, which invites Pyrrhus of Epirus to lead war against Carthage. |
|
Romans defeated by Pyrrhus at the Battle of Asculum. Real 'Pyrrhic victory' (costly win).
Pyrrhus' offer of a truce is rejected by Rome. Pyrrhus tires of his
agreement to assist Tarantum and leaves to answer invitation from
Sicily, to come and fight there. |
| 278 |
Fourth (?) treaty between Rome and Carthage (against Pyrrhus).
Pyrrhus invades Sicily, defeats Carthaginians, leaving Lilybaeum as the only remaining stronghold. |
|
|
| 277 |
277? Carthage sinks 70 of Pyrrhus' 110 ships and Pyrrhus gives up the war in Sicily. |
|
Consuls suffer defeat at M. Cranita in Samnium.
Rufinus captures Croton and Locri. |
| 276 |
|
|
Fabis celebrates triumph over Samnites, Lucanians, Bruttians. - Pyrrhus returns to Italy. |
| 275 |
Hieron II (Hiero) becomes tyrant of Syracuse.
Hiero defeated by Mamertines of Messana - Pyrrhus's old enemies (275/4 or 270/69?). |
Q. Fabius Maximus born; nicknamed Verrucosus and Ovicula |
Pyrrhus is defeated near
Malventum (original name, changed to Beneventum). Romans led by M.
Curius Dentatus. Pyrrhus leaves Italy for good & return to Epirus
in Greece.
Beginning this year and over the next five years, Rome campaigns to take over all of Magna Grecia in southern Italy.
|
| 274 |
|
|
The remaining troops which Pyrrhus left at the Tarentum garrison now leave to return home to Epirus. |
| 273 |
|
Embassy of amity by the Macedonian king of Egypt in Rome. |
The Romans and their allies conquer the Etruscan city of Caere |
| 272 |
Carthaginian fleet appears of Tarentum |
Pyrrhus is killed in a
fight in the streets of Argos (south of Corinth in Greece) and he is
killed when he is hit in the head by a roof-tile before he can begin
his second invasion of Sicily. |
The Magna Grecia cities
of Velia, Heraclea, Thurii & Metapontum all become Rome’s
allies this year. Locri & Croton may have become allied this year
or shortly before now. The dates are uncertain.
Tarentum surrenders this year, as a Roman army approaches its boundaries to take it over. |
| 271 |
|
Genucius probaby begins operations against Rhegium. |
|
| 270 |
Hiero of Syracuse defeats Mamertines at Longanus (270?). |
M' Curius Dentatus dies |
In Rhegium a group of
tribal mercenaries had taken over the town, posing one more threat to
the completion of the Magna Grecia campaigns. Rome retakes Rhegium. |
| 269 |
|
First silver coinage minted in Rome |
|
| 268 |
|
|
Picentes conquered and granted limited citizenship |
| 267 |
|
|
War with Sallentini. Capture of Brunidisium |
| 266 |
|
|
Conquest of Italy to the Rubicon River completed Apulia and Messapia reduced to alliance. |
| 265 |
Hiero proclaimed king of Syracuse. Carthage installs garrison at Messana at request of Mamertines. |
265-264 Roman intervention to suppress unrest at Volsinii, the last free Etruscan city. The city is destroyed. |
|
| 264-241 |
First Punic War (264-241) |
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First Punic War | Between the First and Second Punic Wars | Second Punic War | Between the Second and Third Punic Wars | The Third Punic War and after (until the death of Scipio Aemilianus) |
