Rule Kartago

[Nikolai]

Preface​

Much can be said about Carthage prior to the aftermath of Alexander’s death and the aftermath of the revolution. Much has been said. Some small contribution has even been made by yours truly.

This is not that story. This is the story about Carthage as she cast off the shackles of the past and rose from prominence to dominance.

I will in the following chapters chronicle the various leaders of this magnificent republic, starting in 304 BCE.

I hope the story will be as captivating to read as it has been to write.

- Professor Nik O. Lai, Cambridge University​

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Suffete Maharbal Gerbalid and Co-Suffete Ahirom Bodona

(304 – 299 BCE)​

The reign of Suffete Maharbal Gerbalid and his co-ruler Ahirom Bodona marked the beginning of a new time. The republic had experienced a rocky road the last few years, and reform was needed. The reforms would stabilize Carthage and mark the resurgence of her power after the times of troubles but would also make Ahirom Bodona a scorned and bitter man.


It all began when the Suffete recruited a relative of the Co-Suffete, Bodo Bonona, as an agent of the 104. The 104 is the name history has given the mighty men behind the rise of the oligarchs that started in 304 BCE. Maharbal Gerbalid deeply believed that the republic needed to move away from the dual Suffete office with the Senate below it, to a stronger one-man Suffete office with a Senate dominated by the rich and powerful – the oligarchs of The 104.

The historical background of The 104.



With the help of Bodo Bodona, Maharbal Gerbalid moved quickly, and by 302 BCE the oligarchic republic was declared in the Senate. Ahirom Bodona was relegated to a regular Senator, fuming, but unable to do anything. The Suffete had complete control.


In addition to Bodo, Maharbal also employed a man name Carthalo Hannid to secure his new regime. Carthalo Hannid was an ex-revolutionary who had many valuable contacts from his time as a rebel. Lending his support to the Suffete, Carthalo made sure that the new regime had support in all cities in the Carthagian Empire – both along the coast and in the interior.

The ex-revolutionary turned invaluable asset.



His contacts also made sure that Carthage got the best prices when the need for hiring mercenaries came about. But the Suffete also wisely doubled the standing army, creating a new army unit consisting of heavy infantry, archers and supply trains.


And he would need it. For the Suffete had plans for expansion. In Corsica, he moved in settlers, peacefully annexing tribal lands. But in Sicily, where Carthage controlled the western half, he planned to expand by force. All while his spies worked to destabilize Syracuse and prepare the future war against her and her allies in the easternmost part of Sicily, casus belli were manufactured for war against the city states in the middle of the island.

The situation at the start of the war. Before the war ended, the enemies had actually managed to snatch half of Syracuse in a separate war.


In 300 BCE, the forces of Carthage marched into battle, as the Suffete declared war on Siculia and her allies Acragas, Tyndaria and Calactea. This war marked the start Carthage’s march to greatness – and the fall of Suffete Maharbal Gerbalid. His time in office were already coming to a close anyways, but he – a man who had enjoyed absolute control and high popularity, soon saw his friends and allies turn away when they saw him.


Battle after battle were lost, widows were made. The war did not go well. And everyone thought the Suffete and his eagerness to join battle before all troops had arrived in Sicily, was to blame. The Suffete not only went to war too early, he had done so by forcing the hand of the Senate, which were of the opinion to wait. His term ended in disgrace.

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Suffete Himilco Barca

(299 – 295 BCE)

Himilco Barca was not a particulary gifted individual.​

The reign of Suffete Himilco Barca started at a time where the ongoing war in Sicily was at an all time low. The armies of Carthage, divided and cornered by armies twice their size, were sent packing and one was even totally obliterated by the time the Suffete took office. His first action was thus to start recruitment of a new, 18.000 men strong, army in the heartlands, and sending all available armies to converge on the port of Lilibaya in westernmost Sicily.


He also decided to let the enemy take the border provinces, while Carthage’s feudatories assembled from overseas. Then, when the Carthagian strength were at its largest, he ordered the armies to march eastwards. Soon, the enemy armies were pressed back, beaten and no longer a threat. The sieges now started, and the waiting game. Slowly, the enemy lost city after city. By 296 BCE the enemy had nowhere to go. All cities were under Carthagian control. Including the vast areas taken by Siculia from Syracuse while Carthage were licking their wounds earlier in the war. The peace treaty was harsh; total annexation.

With the treaty of Siculia, most of Sicily was under Carthagian control.


While success was plentiful on the military field, at home things were worse. The Suffete struggled with handling Ahirom Borona, the old co-Suffete from before the electoral reforms. Borona was an angry and spiteful man, talking down the Suffete, the Senate, The 104 and everyone in power. In itself, this was no danger – the man was making things difficult for himself with all the accusations, making enemies of many. However, he was a powerful man in his own right, owning much land and slaves and he was a rich man – one of the richest in the country. He also was not alone in his resentment, more people sympathized with the once popular ex-co-Suffete. Something needed to be done with him, for the best of Carthage.

The murder of the Suffete shook Carthage to the core.


However, the Suffete never got the chance to do anything with this internal problem. Shortly after the victory in Sicily, he was found dead in his bedroom, his head smashed with a hammer, and a note saying “Death to the traitors” pinned to his chest. Everyone suspected Ahirom Boroma’s involvement, but nothing could be proven. Boroma himself, is said to have uttered, while smiling smugly at his nemesis’ death, that he was innocent, but could sympathize with the sentiment. While outrageous and tasteless, nothing was done with the matter and Boroma would continue to be a thorn in the side of his peers for a long time yet.

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Suffete Tabnit Barca

(295 – 290 BCE)

Tabnit Barca were a populist at heart, although a rather gifted populist by any account.
​

During the reign of Suffete Tabnit Barca – the second of a long list of Barcas in this office going forward – the focus of Carthage was strongly on Sicily. Syracuse and her allies had suffered greatly in the recent war against Siculia and her allies, and with these foes now under Carthagian control, Syracuse were weary. And rightly so. Syracuse were weak, and while Carthage had taken a beating early on in her war in Sicily, she was now quite strong.


Not only was the Carthagian navy quite strong, dominating the seas, but the previous Suffete’s new built army consisted of elite units of heavy infantry, archers and both light and heavy cavalry, giving the army a definitive punch in combat, especially compared to the old armies consisting mainly of light infantry, archers and the odd elephant unit.

Carthage could count on many allies in their feudatories.



Syracuse were allied to Locri, Rhegium, Gelas and Thrace and the latter were so far away that the Suffete did not count them as a likely opponent other than on paper. On their side, Carthage had several feudatories of smaller and middle size. There were few doubts where this were going. The war was mostly one sided and after the initial battles it was a question of sieging to victory. Two years went by, and at that point all of Sicily and the areas on the Magna Graecian mainland were under Carthagian control. Thracian forces were never seen. The war was, in short, over.

The whole of Sicily was now under Carthagian control.



Following the victory Sicily went into a golden age. The city of Beerot, the pride of Magna Graecia, was spared from looting and became a wealthy and important city in the Carthagian Empire. Punic migrants flooded the city, the Punic religion grew, and more and more inhabitants became naturalized inhabitants. Carthagian settlers and traders imported new farming methods, increasing the output of wine and grain manyfold. After many years of war, peace and prosperity now reigned the island.

Syracuse were quickly becoming Punic.



Back in the African heartland of Carthage, the Suffete started integration of the biggest feudatory of the Empire; Emporia. This was the first step in what would be a long running centralization movement for Carthage. One by one, the feudatories would be incorporated into Carthage proper. And Emporia was the first.


Suffete Tabnit Barca also ordered the contruction of the Academy of Carthago – which would later be renowned for its scholars. Starting small, and by the end of his term not yet finished, philosophers and scholars would soon flood the Academy, giving it a reputation that in time would rival even Plato’s. The finishing of the Academy’s first humble beginnings however would be done under Tabnit’s successor as Suffete and close relative, Metallo Barca.

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Suffete Metallo Barca

(290 – 285 BCE)

The new Suffete was a very religious man.​

Suffete Metallo Barca was a contentious candidate for Suffete. A previous outspoken critic of the government, the Senate was quite cool to his candidature and few had many good words to say about him. But Metallo Barca were a popular man among the electorate, and just popular enough to get voted into office.


His first true test came quite early in his tenure as Suffete. Having united Sicily under the Carthagian banner, the Senate were divided on how to proceed. Some vocal voices wanted to unite the whole island under one, big feudatory subject to Carthage. But Metallo would have none of it. He argued that such a feudatory would be too powerful and prone to rebellion the moment Carthage was showing any sign of weakness.

With Sicily united under Carthage, a decision had to be made.


He instead argued for annexing the two small feudatories Carthage had on the island, uniting the whole island under direct Carthagian rule. In the end, his side won, and the Senate voted for direct rule. While the Suffete’s arguments were sound and direct control probably was wiser in the long run, the rebellions he warned against would prove to come anyways, and not too far in the future either.


With the Sicilian question settled, Metallo turned his focus to Africa proper. The Berbers in the interior Africa were a constant headache for Carthage, with even the tributary Musulamia making the occasional problem for the Empire. In 289 BCE, the Suffete and the Senate sent a declaration of war against Massylia, the neighbouring Berber country. Massylia were in no position to rebuff the Punic armies and two years later, in 287 BCE, they had to give up and sign their entire country over to Carthagian control.

The victory over Massylia was total.



With Massylia subjugated, the question of Musulamia came into the light. Nominally a tributary under Carthage and having been a boon in the recent war against Massylia, the Suffete and the Senate wanted the country under direct control. The Musulamian elite did not want to integrate however, and with the Senate’s support the Suffete revoked their tributary status and invaded quickly after the war against Massylia. Less than a year later, in 286 BCE, Musulamia was no more.

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Suffete Bomical Bodona

(285 – 280 BCE)

Bomical Bodona was a blessed orator and military commander.​

By the ascension of Suffete Bomical Bodona, Ahirom Bodona had been a constant thorn in the side of the establishment for years, and even was suspected of murder of a Suffete. Even with the rise of one of his own, Ahirom Bodona did not shrink from his scheming. The Republic’s stability and security was at stake.


Beginning in 285 BCE, this neared its end. The Suffete began moving against his relative, undermining his powerbase and actively acting as a rival in every plausible way. In 283 BCE, Ahirom barely escaped an assassination attempt. Publicly accusing the Suffete of the attempt on his life, nothing could be proved. And then, in 281 BCE, he was found in his bathroom, bound with his throat slashed. No trace was found of his assassin, no proof could be found. But all suspected the Suffete was involved.


Other than these internal incidents, the reign of Bomical Bodona was peaceful. The Republic had a bad standing internationally and her foreign subjects were unruly. It was deemed a time best spent on internal development and consolidation. Only if attacked or threatened would Carthage go to war for the foreseeable future, the Senate decided.


In the recently annexed Musalmian territory, the Suffete officially gave his blessing for the funding of a new city in Tbessa, giving the new city tax reliefs for the next decade as a founding gift. He also continued the ongoing consolidation of the feudatories into provinces of the Republic, with the first steps of integrating Hadrametum, Leptis Minor, Thapsus and Achola started under Suffete Bodona.

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Suffete Bodo Barca

(280 – 275 BCE)

The new Suffete was an expert orator with outstanding charisma.​

For the longest time, Carthage had been a power to be reckoned with in the Western Mediterranean. The last decades, Rome – a once insignificant tribe on the Italian peninsula – had grown into a power. Not a match for Carthage yet, but some Senators thought they might become one and should be stopped. The last few Suffetes had taken over not only Sicily but also the southern tip of this peninsula. People expected a clash – soon.


It did not come under Suffete Bodo Barca. Instead, to secure Carthage in her time of uncertainty due to high perceived threat amongst her neighbours and unruly newly conquered areas, he allied Rome instead.


If he had expected it to be a peaceful time with Rome secured as an ally, however, he was rudely awakened. Within a month, Rome went to war against her southern neighbours, and called Carthage into the conflict. Bodo sent an 18.000 men strong army to the front, but fate was not with Carthage. Their first battle was won easily enough, and the fortress laid to siege. Then came two big armies, bigger than the Carthagian army. And the second battle was lost thoroughly. The commander of the army was captured by the enemy, the entire army was gone.

The port of Elea soon after the second army arrived to start the siege.


Lesser men would settle there and then, but Bodo Barca was not a small man. He promptly ordered the raising of an even bigger army – this time 22.000 men strong, including elephants. The army was once more sent to capture land to be gained before Rome steamrolled all opposition. This time, things went better, and the fortress was captured with ease. Rome on her side had by this time taken over most of the remaining land areas, and the Suffete had got intel that they did not plan to award Carthage with this key fortress deep into Magna Graecia. He therefore signed a separate peace agreement with the enemy, gaining Carthage a foothold deep into the soon Roman territory; the port of Elea.


Closing in on the end of his term, and shortly after Rome annexed the remaining areas, Rome again called in Carthage to war in Magna Greacia. In an ironic twist, the enemies were Messapia and Syracuse, the latter having reformed recently on the toe of Magna Greacia from a rebellion in one of the small states there. The remaining elite of the fallen Syracuse had taken control of the rebellion and reinstated the city state – without the actual Syracuse. A curious situation which were now facing an early end as Roman and Carthagian armies moved towards their new enemies.

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Suffete Tabnit Barca

(275 – 270 BCE)

The new Suffete was an allround talented guy, except in the fields of battle – unfortunate for the tasks at hand.
​

The new Suffete, predicably another Barca, inherited another war from his predecessor. The war was led by Rome, and Rome would decide the division of the spoils if not the war dragged out and a separate peace could be reached. But Roman legions were quickly swarming the enemy lands, so the outcome seemed to be decided fast this time. The Suffete sent Carthagian armies from Sicily over the straits, and some border settlements were quickly taken. The Roman would at the end of hostilities annex it all, however, without leaving anything for Carthage.


When the war was over Rome almost immediately went to war in the north of their peninsula, again asking Carthage to help out. The Suffete accepted the call to arms, but no armies or navies were sent north. During the last few years a disturbing development had been seen, with the newly conquered provinces slowly losing loyalty and becoming hotbeds of dissent and unrest. The Senate and Suffete both feared a civil war might be on the horizon, and no troops could be spared. Besides, the enemy was merely some Gallic tribes, hardly worth the trouble when Rome probably would annex them anyways within short time.

The biggest challenge for Carthage in a long time.


And so, the civil war ignited. On January 1st 271 BCE, Massylia, Corsica, Sicily and a lone city state on the coast between Africa and Iberia declared independence. Carthage was embroiled in a war bigger than any it had faced in decades. Suffete Tabnit Barca then deftly called on the help of Rome, who soon pressed the Sicilian and Italian rebels back. Meanwhile the Suffete concentrated on Massylia, soon slowly pressing the rebels back. By the time his term was at an end, Massylia was retaken, with Sicily and Italy being pressed back, while Corsica and the African city state for the moment untouched, but quaking.

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Suffete Eshmoniaton Gisgo

(270 – 266 BCE)

The Suffete was a rather unassuming man, only marked by his good oratory skills.​

The reign of Suffete Eshmoniaton Gisgo would prove to be a rather uneventful one. Carthage were on his ascension slowly winning the civil war. By November 268 BCE, all resistance is beaten except a small holdout in Corsica and a lone province in faraway Africa. However, by the time Suffete Gisgo died suddenly in February 266 BCE, the war was still not finished, as the last holdouts – while on the verge of falling – were still holding out. His reign is but a footnote in the history of Carthage.

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Suffete Bomical Bodona

(266 – 261 BCE)

Bomical Bodona was a gifted individual, although lacking a bit in finesse.​

The reign of Suffete Bomical Bodona could not have started better. Within a month of his ascension, the rebellion was finally over, with the last fortress falling in March 266 BCE. The leaders of the rebellion were all killed or banished, making an example to guard against future rebellions. Time would show this example was only partly successful.


Rome, however, did not go away from the fight unrewarded. The port of Elea in Lucania was annexed to the Roman Republic, ending the enclave’s Carthagian belonging. The Carthagian republic did not stop expanding, however. In Corsica colonization continued unabated, and Rome – never to rest on their laurels – not long after the rebellion’s end sent a request for Carthage to join in their war against Bruttia and Rhegium in Magna Graecia.

Carthage and her feudatories in green, Rome her ally in blue and her trading partners in yellow.


The war was not long, but it ended in a decisive victory for the Punic-Roman alliance. All of Bruttia and Rhegium was annexed, with Carthage gaining a small part of the tip of the Italian peninsula. Celebration was not lasting long though, as Rome again called Carthage into war – this time with Epirus and her allies along the Illyrian coast. Carthage would join nominally but did not send troops this time. Rome did not need much help, however. And by the end of Suffete Bomical Bodona’s reign the war was all but won.

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Suffete Gerimilki Barca

(261 – 256 BCE)

Gerimilki Barca was an incredibly talented orator.​

By the time Suffete Gerimilki Barca rose to office, dissent was again seeding in the provinces. Whispers about treason and rebellion was again on everyone’s mouths. The Suffete immediately set about reforming the administration of the republic and greatly increased loyalty gain for the disloyal provinces. Had he had a little more time, perhaps the second rebellion in a generation could have been avoided.

The rebellion this time included way less territory than last time.


But alas, he was too late. On August 1st 260 BCE the rebellion was a fact. However, it was considerably smaller than the last time, a testament to the Suffete’s work the first year of his tenure. He immediately called in Rome to Carthage’s defence, who diligently obliged and sent their troops towards Magna Graecia. The rebels never stood a chance, and one by one their strongholds and armies were beaten back. And less than three years later, on February 18th 257 BCE, the rebels surrendered. Carthage was once more at peace.

The mess that was the Middle East after the two most powerful diadochis’ collapse.


But not for long, as Rome – ever looking for places to subdue – called Carthage into war against their northern neighbors weeks later. Carthage again accepted the call but did not sent troops north. Meanwhile in the east, the Seleukids – the biggest and most powerful diadochi after Phrygia imploded – had collapsed and broken up into numerous states. With this, Egypt as the by far most powerful diadochi left, was approached for trade by Carthage, who wanted to keep peaceful relations with the heirs of the Pharaos.

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Suffete Hiram Barca

(256 – 251 BCE)

Hiram Barca was a…less than talented man.
​

As soon as Suffete Hiram Barca took office, he sent envoys to the Carthagian feudatories Tripolitania and Kerkouane, informing them that the process of incorporating them fully into the Carthagian Empire had started. This process would last through most of his term, with no hitches.


He did not rest on this though, as he soon after ordered the Carthagian troops to the border of Massaesylia in the west, declaring war with the intent to subdue the large neighboring kingdom. The war went well, with few battles, and those which happened easily won.


But Massaesylia underwent a civil war shortly after the declaration of war and split up into three different kingdoms; Massaesylia, Massaesylia (that is no typo, they did in fact name themselves the same!) and the small kingdom of Massylia.


In January 251 BCE, Massaesylia was annexed, and soon thereafter the invasion of the second Massaesylia commenced. The completion of this war would fall on the next Suffete, Juba Gisgo, however.

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Suffete Juba Gisgo

(251 – 246 BCE)

Juba Gisgo would see Carthage face a new potential threat.​

The reign of Suffete Juba Gisgo started poorly. A few months after him taking office, on August 15th 251 BCE, Rome broke their alliance with Carthage, throwing into turmoil the perceived security and peace on the Eastern front. It was now perceived as certain that war with Rome would come – sooner probably than later. In the Senate, Senators were heard discussing loudly how to meet this new threat. Should Carthage wait and secure their holdings, or go on the offensive?

Rome was now enemy #1.


The Suffete chose to continue the policy of his predecessor, ending the war with Massaesylia in their total annexation and war on the small entity called Massylia that had broken free from their masters during the early phase of the Massaesylian wars. It was soon annexed. He also started the integration process of Iol into Carthage proper, thus further consolidating Carthage’s hold of the African coast.


But he did not ignore the Roman threat. Both during these wars and for the rest of his tenure as Suffete, a huge military buildup was done. The fleet was approximately doubled in size, while several armies of at least 100.000 men were drafted. By the end of his reign, Carthage was ready.

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Suffete Barekbaal Gisgo

(246 – 241 BCE)

History has no surviving image of Barekbaak Gisgo​

Romans feared Carthage. Feared them so much they broke the alliance and planned to move against her. However, a new Consul in Rome diverted her attention north, letting Carthage prepare. Most of the reign of Suffete Barekbaak Gisgo was a continued buildup of the forces of the Republic and not much more can be said about his reign other than it being a pretty eventless one.


However, on May 20th 242 BCE, the Suffete sent the Carthagian armies and fleets east. Magna Graecia was swarmed by Carthagian men and beasts – there were some elephants involved – and Rome was not ready. By November much of Southern Italy was in Carthagian hands. All of Magna Graecia was under firm Carthagian control.

The war situation soon after the initial attack.



The Carthagian luck ran cold as her armies came to Rome, however. In January 241 BCE, Roman and Carthagian armies clashed outside the capital of the Roman Republic, and even though reinforcements came, the Carthagian armies were routed. Rome itself was spared, for now. This would repeat itself twice before the war was over. Roman armies camped in Latinum, with the defacto border between the two powers being between Latinum and Campania. Everything south was under Carthagian control. The Suffete sent peace feelers, but Rome did not want to agree to peace. And so, his term ended, with the war being in a stalemate.

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Suffete Gerimilki Barca

(241 – 236 BCE)

Gerimilki Barca saw the first Roman war to conclusion.​

The victory in the first Roman war was when the new Suffete came to power a foregone conclusion. Rome just had to accept it. For the longest time, the border between the provinces of Campania and Latinum had seen a stalemate between the two old allies, with Carthage unable to advance and Rome unable to send the Carthagians back.

Rome lost much land in the peace settlement.


In the end, Rome had to admit defeat. On April 1st 240 BCE, a peace was signed, where much of Roman Magna Graecia became Carthagian. Back in Carthage, the people and Senators celebrated. But the cost of war had been large. The manpower pool was depleted, the newly won countryside ravaged, the new subjects unruly.


It was time to rest and replenish the losses. The rest of the term of Suffete Gerimilki Barca was used doing just that, in addition to peacefully expand by colonizing the African coast.

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Suffete Baal Barca

(236 – 231 BCE)

The new Suffete was a contentious candidate.​

When one rise high, the fall is bigger than before. The reign of Suffete Baal Barca marked a low point after the glorious Roman war and victory under the two previous Suffetes. How Baal Barca could be elected in the first place is a mystery, possibly it involved a few gold coins. The new Suffete was despised by everyone, and upon his rise to power the Senate was close to riot.

Baal Barca was an unpopular and tyrannical leader.


Soon, Baal Barca showed what mettle he was made of. In response to the opposition, a series of tyrannical acts ensued. People died, disappeared – in best case got exiled. The capital was a place full of terror.


And the troubles did not stop there. In Tripolitania, several barbarian invasions coincided with his reign. Whole villages disappeared over night as the raiders enslaved the population, killed, ravaged, looted everything they came over. And it took some time to rebuff, as the stationed armies were too few and far in between. The first battles were lost, and first at the end of his reign did peace settle back to Tripolitania.


Back in the capital, the religious faction tried to take advantage of the turmoil and demanded changes in the laws to benefit themselves. The Suffete did not budge but rebuffed their demands and persecuted their numbers. The capital was close to riot, but thankfully for all the term of Baal Barca ended and he voluntarily stepped down as required by law. Carthage avoided what many feared was a civil war between the Senate and a would be dictator.

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Suffete Juba Gisgo

(231 – 226 BCE)

Juba GIsgo had lost his sight since his last tenure as Suffete.​

Suffete Juba Gisgo’s second tenure as Suffete was much less event filled than his first. After the reign of the previous Suffete, the country needed peace and quiet, and that is what it got. A new city, Verecunda, was founded by Gisgo, and he increased work on assimilation of culture in the realm. The hope was that people that identified with the Carthagian culture would not revolt as easily.

Western Mediterranean is dominated by Carthage and Rome. For now.


The Suffete also set his eyes on Iberia. Carthage had a presence there, but it was a wish to increase her foothold to something more. New armies were thus recruited in Carthagian Iberia during his reign. Meanwhile, in Italy, an uneasy peace was holding between Rome and her old ally, with Rome’s northern neighbours spying the country for weakness.

The Middle East was a mess.


In the Middle East, the old order was now gone. Of the diadochi, only Macedon and Egypt remained, with Phrygia in constant civil war and more and more broken up. The Seleukid Empire on their side was also all but gone, after a harsh civil war broke the country up into several successor states. Old states like Babylonia and Sumeria had surprisingly reappeared and situated in the middle of this was a growing Armenia snaking out into both fallen diadochi’s old territory.

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Philosir Hannid

(226 – 221 BCE)

Philosir Hannid was an indecisive leader. We also have no surviving portrait of him.​

Suffete Philosir Hannid was a contentious candidate. He started, as Baal Barca a decade before him, with threats and tyranny. His legacy was a different one though; he prepared for war, changed course, withdrew from committing. He was a true wobble Steve.

In his early reign, he prepared for war against Euburania and her allies. Troops were sent to Iberia, but then he changed his mind, as he discovered that Euburania had got a new ally to counter the Carthagian threat; Turdetania, who had more troops than even Rome.


Rome on their end had fallen into bad times after the first Punic-Roman War, and Suffete Philosir Hannid decided to war war on them instead, taking advantange of their weakness.


But when the movement of troops from Iberia to Magna Graecia was finished, scouts reported the Romans had suddenly recruited several legions, more than doubling their army size. He then got cold feet and called off the invasion.


The rest of his term was used building more Carthagian armies. More armies than the economy could support, and the treasury began to shrink. The Suffete defended this with the promise that looting Rome would pay for it all. But bankruptcy closed in. Carthage would have to act fast.

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Suffete Paltibaal Barca

(221 – 221 BCE)

Paltibaal Barca was a very religious man.​

By the time of Suffete Paltibaal Barca’s election, Carthage was close to bankruptcy. Her new armies were expensive, and the waiting and indecision of the previous Suffete had meant her spare funds had almost been spent. The Suffete therefore, after having asked the priests at home for their blessings, declared war on Rome and marched into Roman Magna Graecia.


Unfortunately, Paltibaal Barca was a headstrong and impulsive man. Being of poor martial mind, he should have kept away, but wanted to lead the Carthagians into victory. And he was easily tricked by his Roman counterparts in battle. He led his men into Apulia, on the place called Cannae. He died there in the battle that happened less than a month after his rise to power. Carthage was without her leader, her main army in retreat. Rome was on the offensive.

 

[Nikolai]

Reign of Suffete Bodashtart Gisgo

(221 – 216 BCE)

Suffete Bodashtart Gisgo had an unenviable task at hand.​

Carthage was in turmoil. Her newly elected Suffete dead, her armies in retreat, her economy in shambles. In an emergency session, Bodashtart Gisgo got elected to new Suffete, and he had his hands full from the get go. Within days, news spread of the defeat. All invading armies was sent in retreat one after one. Several got totally obliterated, as morale plummeted. In addition, creditors demanded their loans paid back, the treasury was empty, the military did not get paid, neither did the civil servants.


The state was, in short, bankrupt. Whole armies deserted on the sight of the enemy, refusing to make battle. This undermined the authority of the Suffete and his government. Suffete Gisgo ordered all surviving armies to board the navy and retreat to Africa. Magna Graecia and Sicily was left to their fate. He vowed to not let the war end here, however, but to return, soon – and with force.


This took most of his time in office. The armies regrouped, retrained, new armies were built. In 217 BCE, with one year left of the Suffete’s time in office, Carthage returned to Sicily. Half of the island was occupied, but soon the first victory of the war was gained for Carthage. Before the next election happened, Rome was beaten and in retreat. All of Sicily was in Carthagian control again, as well as much of Magna Graecia. Slowly, Carthage moved towards Roman owned land. The tides of war had finally turned.