First Punic War. Rome finally won the long war with a naval victory at the Aegates Islands in 241. In the Peace of Lutatius that ended the war Carthage lost Sicily and had to pay an enormous indemnity, but retained control of Sardinia and Corsica. The Rape of Sardinia The end of the First Punic War brought no relief to Carthage. Hard on the heels of this war came the revolt of the mercenaries, the Truceless War, 240-238 (featured in C3i Nr. 7). While this brutal war raged in Africa, the contagion of rebellion spread to Carthage's mercenary garrison on Sardinia in 239. These soldiers of fortune rose up, and slew their Carthaginian commander Bostar and his officers. In response, Carthage sent an expedition under (another) Hanno to punish the rebels, but his troops deserted and joined the mutineers. The rebels crucified Hanno, then ran rampant over the island, slaying all the Carthaginian settlers. Once the Rome Threatens Sardinia against Corsica and Sardinia .He had euphoria of the initial uprising had in the First Punic War some success against the garrisons, worn off, these mercenaries began to 'The First Punic War began in 264 as a before being driven off by a reinforc - dread retribution from Carthage. So contest between Rome, Syracuse and ing fleet Under H annibal, son of they sent an offer to Rome to surren- Carthage for control of eastern Sicily. Gisgo. In the following year, the der Sardinia to them. Rome defeated Syracuse early on, consul Gaius Sulpicious Palerculus and the war expanded as a clash campaigned with a Roman fleet in The Roman Senate refused the offer. between the Carthaginian and Roman Sardinian waters, defeating Hannibal The senators decided to honor the empires. However, as long as Rome and capturing or destroying all his terms of the Peace of Lutatius, which lacked a fleet, she could threaten only ships. Hannibal was crucified by his expressly forbid taking as an ally any Sicily. Sardinia, and Africa, were safe own officers for his repeated failures. ally of the other power. Meanwhile, behind the patrols of the Another Punic Fleet under Hanno on Sardinia the mutinous mercenaries Carthaginian navy. Punic raids were arrived to restore the situation, and turned on the local populace. Their launched from Sardinia against the the Romans departed. Italian coast, while the Punic navy depredations at length drove the native tribes to rise up and attack brought support to beleaguered cities As the long war dragged on, Roman them. The mercenaries were expelled on the Sicilian coast. Within the interest in Sardinia waned. The from the island in 238, and Sardinia Roman Senate, the realization came immediate objective of ending naval was briefly independent. Carthage, that this war could never be won raids on Italy had been accomplished. as soon as the rebel mercenaries in unless Carthage was challenged at Rome turned to a more direct Africa had been suppressed, began sea. So, in 260 Rome built her first strategy of invading Africa. When preparing an expedition to battle fleet, and with ingenious this effort was foiled by disaster on re-conquer the island. boarding ramps (the corvus) defeated land (the Battle of the Bagradas the Punic navy at Mvlae. featured in SPQR) and sea (256-55), In Rome, however, there was a Rome reverted to a strategy of change of heart. The senate reversed In 259 the consul Lucius Cornelius attrition on Sicily. Sardinia was itself and proclaimed the annexation Scipio led the first Roman expedition never again threatened during the of Sardinia and Corsica, in flagrant Finding the administration of Punic War Sardinia was a province disregard of the Treaty of Lutatius. overseas provinces a burden on the barely pacified. A generation of When Carthage complained, Rome limited officers of the Roman govern- Roman commanders and legionnaires threatened war and increased the ment, the number of praetors was had their chief battle experience from indemnity Carthage had to pay to expanded from two to four in 227. campaigns on this island. keep the peace. This aggression The first praetor of Sardinia in that became known as the Rape of Sardinia. year was Gains Flaminius, destined The Second Punic War Rome may have gained a valuable to meet his end at Hannibal's hands Sardinia did not figure prominently province, but she also earned the by Lake Trasimene. In 225 the consul in the opening campaigns of the undying hatred of Hamilcar Barca Gaius Atilius Regulus was dispatched Second Punic War. The island was and his sons (Hannibal, Hasdrubal with his arm' to quell another held for Rome only by a garrison of and Mago), a matter of no small uprising on Sardinia. His colleague, allied troops, probably no more than consequence. Lucius Anielius Papus remained in 5,000 men. Hannibal's surprise Italy to guard against an expected crossing of the Alps, and his first The Roman Province Celtic invasion. Atilius Regulus major victory at Trebbia, convinced Victory in the First Punic War suppressed the Sardinian revolt and the Romans that this war would be brought Rome her first two overseas returned to Italy in tine to take part neither easy nor short. The Roman provinces, Sicily and Sardinia. The in the Battle of Telamon (featured in senators knew that Carthage would highly civilized island of Sicily C3i Nr. 6). On the eve of the Second attempt to regain Sardinia at the first became a profitable and peaceful opportunity. Therefore, early in 217 possession. Wild, untamed Sardinia the praetor Aulus Cornelius was another story. Carthage had Mammula was sent to reinforce the never conquered the entire island, island's garrison with Legion V, a content with coastal enclaves and full-strength double legion with some diplomatic, commercial and cultural 1),000 foot and 800 horse. Cornelius domination of the island. Roman Mammula maintained a tenuous ways were different. A series of control of Sardinia over the next two expeditions were sent to the island to years, as Hannibal's continuing string pacify it completely. Both consuls of victories over Rome excited the fought on the island in 238, and after anti-Roman passions of the native a brief interlude consular armies were tribes. The praetor had to exact ever dispatched every year for five years, increasing taxes and tribute from his from 235 -231. The first of these province to support the war, which expeditions was led by the consul contributed greatly to the rising Titus Manlius Torquatus, of whom discontent. more will be heard anon. The council in Carthage also took more direct action to break Sardinia away from Rome's grasp. A general, legions completely destroyed so far in Carthaginian horse. There was also Hanno, infiltrated onto the island as the war. The senate had reluctantly available a force of 13,850 Iberian an agent provocateur, to foment concluded in early 216 that no infantry and 1,200 cavalry from the rebellion. Hanno soon made conl additional forces could be raised, and Thersitae, Mastiani, Oretes and 111011 cause with Hallipsicora, tile that the Litani ambush must go un - Olcades tribes. ']'his unit had been leading Sardinian chieftain, to avenged for now. It was in this posted to Africa in 218 by Hannibal, prepare a massive island -wide situation that Cornelius Mammula in keeping with his policy of defend- insurrection. Cornelius Mammlula, made his plea for reinforcements. ing Spain with African troops and however, was a wary and circum - Despite their many difficulties, the Africa with Iberians. Probably about spect govern or. Even after the Battle senate ordered a levy to be raised. six thousand of these Iberian foot, of Cannae, when much of southern Somehow, the urban praetor, Quintus with supporting cavalry were Italy rebelled, Hanno and Fulvius Flaccus, managed to scrape assigned to the Sardinia bound army. Hampsicora bided their time. They up a reinforced Roman legion, the This Iberian contingent was by now awaited a more favorable moment to XIV. Its strength was 5,000 foot and well drilled, after three years of raise the cry of 'freedom from Rome!'. 400 horse. It was most likely com garrison duty in Africa. posed of teen-agers, old men and The opportunity they sought came those earlier rejected as unfit for The Commanders soon enough. At the end of 216, the service. But Legion XIV would have So both Carthage and Rome prepared propraetor Cornelius Mammula was to do. expeditions for Sardinia in the spring recalled to Rome, pending the arrival of 215. But these armies needed of his successor. The praetor Quintus Hanno's message met an entirely commanders, and this posed a Mucius Scaevola arrived early in 215, different response in Carthage, The problem for both empires. The and immediately came down with a way had been paved by Mago Barca's Roman Senate habitually turned to serious, incapacitating illness. mission to the council following experienced consulares (former Cannae in the autumn of 216. Mago consuls) to lead her armies in Cornelius Mammula, alarmed by the had poured a bushel basket of gold emergencies of this nature, however, turn of events, hurried back to Rome rings cut from the fingers of dead few were available. Fives consulares to make his report. Leaderless, the Roman nobles and knights onto the had already been slain in the first Roman garrison was unable to react council chamber floor. Mago's three years of this war: Gaius as Hanno and Hampsicora now request for 20,000 infantry and 4,000 Flaminius (Trasimene); Lucius unleashed the long simmering cavalry was readily approved. When Aemilius Paullus, Marcus Minucius rebellion. The insurrection quickly Hanno s emergency dispatch arrived, and Gnaeus Servilius Geminus spread across the island.