Hello everyone and welcome to UCMUN XXII !!

My name is Justin Rastinejad and I am currently a junior studying chemical engineering. You may be wondering, what is this engineer doing in a political science environment? I believe it is important to be well-rounded and open to new perspectives. I participated in Model UN during my 4 years in high school, and 3 years in college. I attended the NHSMUN conference 3 of those high school years and have served as an assistant director for JCC and director for UNDP at UCMUN. I also participate in an outreach club called Engineering Ambassadors where we perform engineering demonstrations and presentations in front of K-12 students to inspire future engineers, specifically in demographics that are underrepresented, such as people of color and women. Additionally, I am in ChemE Car Club, in which we create a shoebox-sized car that runs and stops based on a chemical reaction we design and test in a lab. I also work in an undergraduate research laboratory where we are turning cooking waste (free fatty acids and triglycerides) into biofuels.

I will be your director for JCC1, where we will be deciding the correct course of action to ensure a Carthaginian Victory in the 2nd Punic War, in 214 BCE. For those that do not know, Rome was not always the strongest empire in the Mediteranean. Before Rome gained its dominance, they fought three major wars, spanning over 100 years with a city named Carthage who resided on the northern shore of Africa. Back in high school, I did not hear anything about these wars until senior year, when my Latin teacher mentioned a story of elephants, snowy mountains, and military genius. These wars are unique to any modern war because neither side possessed a significant technological advantage; battles were only won through superior military tactics. The ingenuity and attention to detail of these military generals is truly fascinating and I’m excited to see what course of action this committee decides to take.

This conference, much like the rest of 2020, will be very different to years past. Sadly, our conference will be entirely virtual in order to secure the safety of our delegates, staff, and their contacts. Please be accommodating as this whole transition is new to our staff as well.

Introduction

The year is 214 BCE. The Great Carthaginian Empire, led by the mighty Hannibal, is at war with the vile Roman Republic yet again. Carthage had always been the dominant naval threat in the vast Mediteranean, leading an era of economic prosperity. Carthage focused its efforts on emphasizing trade, while sacrificing its own local military. This had never been an issue, as Carthage was always wealthy enough to pay mercenaries to do their bidding and

Carthage had their own dominant navy. However, this was all upended when the treacherous

Romans violated past traditions of peace and mutual respect by invading the Carthaginian island of Sicily. This sudden invasion caught the Carthaginians off guard and the mercenaries could not be adequately assembled and trained for the battle. Despite having the upper hand, Rome did not easily take the island and this led to a long and taxing war. Rome forced Carthage to pay reparations, economically crippling Carthage. Carthage also had to pay the mercenaries, who had a small revolt before it was squelched soon after. An angered Carthage, led by Hannibal went on a suicide mission through the Iberian Peninsula (modern day Spain) and crossed the Alps during winter to surprise the Romans and are continuing to wreak havoc on the state.

Figure 1.1 shows the Mediteranean Sea before the Punic wars. Carthage has a dominant control

of the sea, and the oceans of the area. Rome has total control of the Italian Peninsula. The

rebellious city of Syracuse in Sicily is not controlled by either Carthage or Rome, and its

existence causes the first Punic War. . Image taken from :

http://explorethemed.com/Punic1.asp?c=1

This would be a great place to include a map

History of the Issue

Carthage was a port city on the northern shore of Africa located in what is modern day

Tunisia. It was originally founded as a Phonecian colony governed by Tyre (Punic Carthage).

The Carthaginians took a hostile approach to the natives and either enslaved them or drove them away from their native lands in quick fashion (Carthage). However, they made agreements and traded with the native Namibians and some Namibidians even joined the Carthaginian cavalry

(Carthage). After Tyre fell in 332 BC, Carthage quickly expanded to miles across and attracted and created some of the richest aristocrats in that era (Carthage). Thus, the main focus of

Carthage was to create and maintain that wealth.

Figure 1.2 shows a common depiction of Carthage before the Punic wars. This drawing shows one of the two great ports of the city, which was a trade center for all of the Mediteranean. Many of the homes were

owned by aristocrats who profited off the immense naval trade. Image taken from :

http://earlyworldhistory.blogspot.com/2012/04/carthage.html

Most of the trade was done across the Mediteranean, so Carthage built the strongest navy in the world to protect their trade ships. The lack of rebellious tribes around Carthage allowed them to quickly expand, however it also removed the need for a centralized military. For any mild skirmish that occurred, Carthage always relied on hiring part time mercenaries, which took time to assemble. This was much cheaper than having a full time military, however it was much less safe. Conversely, Rome had been fighting off rival tribes since their founding, slowing down their expansion but accruing military experience and demanding a need for a large army.

Additionally, Rome learned from the tribes they conquered, borrowing much of Greek religion and Etruscan trade (Ancient Rome). During Carthage’s dominance and Rome’s upbringing, the two nations were peaceful allies, partaking in much trade. The weaker Rome agreed to not partake in trade in the western Mediteranean as to not disturb Carthaginian influence (Punic

Wars History). This amicable alliance was flipped on its head in 264 BCE when the two powers declared war on each other in the 1st Punic War (Punic Wars).

Figure 1.3 show's the region of control for both Carthage and Rome. Before the 1st Punic War. Carthage controlled

much more land than Rome. Their control of a wider land and many islands is attributed to their strong naval

presence in the Mediterranean. Information from: Muir, Ramsay; Treharne R. F.; Fullard, Harold (1969). Muir's

Historical Atlas. London: George Philip and Son. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Punic_War ​

Sicily is a large island between Rome and Carthage. The island was primarily under the control of Messina but there were some rebellious groups of Syracuse (Punic Wars). Messina was allies with both Carthage and Rome as the two powers were friendly. Syracuse laid on the southwestern region closer to Carthage while Messina lay on the eastern side closer to Rome.

When a Syracuse rebellion broke out and threatened the Messinians, the Messinians asked

Carthage for help first (Punic Wars). However, Carthage’s mercenary military takes some time to assemble, so Messina also asked the Romans for help (Punic Wars). This greatly angered the

Carthaginians, enough to make the Carthaginians switch sides and support Syracuse (Punic

Wars).

The military powers of Rome and Carthage differed vastly based on the environment. In order to protect their sea trade, Carthage had the best navy led by one of the smartest captains,

Hamilcar Barca; in Punic, Barca means lightning and he was given this surname because he could attack so quickly and precisely (Punic Wars). However, Carthage had a small standing army and relied heavily on mercenaries to fight for them (Carthage). Additionally, Carthage was controlled by aristocrats who only wanted to accrue wealth. Conversely, fighting and conquering were engraved in Rome’s culture. In it’s upbringing, Rome fought rival cities only on land, thus they did not have a single war ship (Punic Wars). However, their army was one of the toughest and smartest, and they planned to use that to their advantage during the war. War was officially declared in 264 BCE (Punic Wars). Rome wasted no time and built an entire fleet of 330 ships equipped with ramps to grab onto enemy vessels and overrun them with land soldiers (Carthage). Additionally, they sent many troops into Sicily to support Messina.

Meanwhile Carthage assembled a group of mercenaries and sent them into Sicily to support

Syracuse, but did not send an adequate amount because the mercenaries were expensive and the

Carthaginian government was arrogant. Luckily, Carthage’s navy, led by Hamilcar Barca, was devastating the western coast of Italy, destroying outposts and cutting supply lines, despite being under equipped with men and never having adequate supplies (Punic Wars). Many mercenaries refused to fight because they had not seen their money (Punic Wars). The Carthaginian government did not view the Romans as a real threat and focused priorities on conquering Spain, who was rich in silver (Punic Wars). Conversely Rome fought with all of their might and legions of volunteer citizens would flock to battle. Everyone in Rome was contributing to the war, by signing up for battle or building ships or farming food for the soldiers. Thus, despite being a much weaker empire, Rome’s focus and determination created a series of victories that ultimately led to a Carthaginian defeat in 241 BCE (Punic Wars). Ultimately, the war lasted 23 years, hundreds of thousands of lives were lost, and thousands of ships destroyed (Punic Wars).

There were many negative consequences for Carthage. As the winners of the war, Rome demanded Carthage pay war reparations and cede control of Sicily, now Rome’s first naval province. Carthage struggled to pay Rome the amount of money, crippling their economy and making it impossible to pay their mercenaries. In fact, there was a large, 4 year rebellion of the mercenaries, who laid siege to Carthage and demanded their money (Punic Wars). Hamilcar

Barca was forced to quell this rebellion, fighting against the men he previously commanded (Punic Wars). During this conflict, Rome occupied the Carthaginian colonies of Sardinia and

Corsica (Punic Wars). The angered Carthage could do nothing as their military was rebelling and they did not have the resources ready. Instead, Carthage focused their efforts on conquering parts of Spain, in hopes of finding silver they could use for trade. The two empires signed a treaty in

226 BCE in which they agreed Rome was to hold Spanish territory north of the Ebro River while

Carthage had claim to south of the river (Punic Wars).

Figure 1.4 is a common depiction of a young Hannibal swearing an oath to destroy Rome for all of the

harm they brought onto Carthage during the 1st Punic War. Hannibal’s father, Hamilcar was a great naval leader

during the 1st Punic War. The image was found:

https://www.penfield.edu/webpages/jgiotto/onlinetextbook.cfm?subpage=1479806

This humiliating defeat angered the Carthaginians, but none more so than Hamilcar Barca and his son, Hannibal. An old fable claims that the father dipped Hannibal’s hand in sacrificial blood and forced him to swear an oath to destroy Rome (Hannibal). Hamilcar died in 229 BCE and his son in law, Hasdrubal the Fair, took over the Carthaginian Army and appointed Hannibal to command of Spain (Hannibal). Once Hasdrubal was assassinated in 221 BCE, a 26 year old

Hannibal was unanimously selected to lead the army (Hannibal). Hannibal focused the

Carthaginian army onto Spain and the conquering of land South of the Ebro River, following the treaty made with Rome (Hannibal). One rebellious city, Saguntum, was located South of the

Ebro River and had proven hostile towards Carthaginian settlements (Hannibal Biography).

However, this city was a friend of Rome (Hannibal Biography). Hannibal led an army and laid an 8 month siege that greatly angered the Romans. Rome called for Hannibal’s head and sent envoys to Carthage demanding the siege stop, but did not send military aid to Saguntum

(Hannibal). Ultimately, Hannibal’s army conquered Saguntum and Rome declared war

(Hannibal).

Current Status

Carthage’s plan to attack Rome was unorthodox to say the least. Attacking from the ​ South meant going through Sicily which was heavily occupied by the Romans. Launching a naval attack directly on Rome was also impossible because Rome seized control of Sardinia and

Corsica during the Carthaginian Rebellions, meaning Carthage has now lost all naval presence in the Mediteranean. Thus, Hannibal decided his army would march through modern day France and through the Alps into Northern Italy and leave his brother Hasdrubal to defend modern day

Spain.

Figure 1.5 shows the territories owned by Carthage and Rome at the start of the 2nd Punic War. This map also depicts the movement of the Carthaginian Army which took a journey that spanned over 1000 miles and 6 months.

This image was found at http://dcc.dickinson.edu/nepos-hannibal/second-punic-war ​

In order to explain the significance of Hannibal's next step, the geography of Northern

Italy must be explained. Italy and the rest of continental Europe are separated by the Alps, the largest mountain range on the continent. These mountain ranges are at a very high elevation and some parts of the journey exceeded 2000 meters above sea level (Hannibal’s Route). Even in the summer, these mountains are covered in snow. Men were observed freezing to death or falling off cliffs on the narrow paths (Hannibal’s Route). There were little local villages to raid for a significant amount of food, so all the necessary supplies needed to be carried from Spain

(Hannibal’s Route). However, many of the paths through the Alps were muddy or covered in snow so extra time was needed to construct makeshift roads (Hannibal’s Route). Additionally, there were also small, local tribes who knew the land and constantly pestered the Carthaginian

Army and raided their supplies. In order to carry his supplies and give the Carthaginians the advantage in battle, Hannibal brought 37 war elephants on his journey (Hannibal). As shown in figure 1.5, these beasts were equipped with armor and an outpost on top for Carthaginian archers to attack ground troops.

While most people in the 21st century have at least seen an image of an elephant, the average

Roman infantryman had not left Italy. They may have heard rumors of the beast, but Elephants are not native to Italy. The most dangerous animal near Italy was the lion, which is not too much larger than a human. African bush elephants are double or triple the height of humans, weigh thousands of pounds, and have very thick skin. These mighty beasts have a long snout and two sharp tusks that have not been seen on any other animal. The average Roman fighter was equipped with a sword and a shield. The sword could not do much more than anger an elephant without a coordinated attack and the shield could not protect against the mighty tusks or the immense weight of the beast.

Figure 1.6 shows a war elephant in battle. Equipped with armor and archers on top, these beasts strike fear into the

enemy. Image taken from https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/punic-wars ​

Hannibal’s plan was a suicide mission. Even still, Hannibal launched the journey in the spring of 218 BCE and arrived in the Po Valley in Northern Italy 6 months later (2nd Punic

War). It has been estimated that Hannibal began the journey with 90,000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry ​ and 37 war elephants (Hannibal). By the end of the journey, Hannibal’s army consisted of ​ roughly 25,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry and a fraction of the elephants (2nd Punic War). Much of ​ ​ the remaining army was low on morale after surviving such a grueling journey. Hannibal needed a quick win to boost motivation and complete the oath he swore to his father.

In December of that year, Hannibal found that win against the Romans at the Battle of the

Trebbia River (Battle of the Trebbia River). Carthage’s 25,000 soldiers were up against roughly

40,000 Roman soldiers (Battle of the Trebbia River). Still, the ever resourceful Hannibal knew the Roman army was being ordered by two consuls, the experienced Scipio and the impulsive

Sempronius (Battle of the Trebbia River). As Roman tradition, the two consuls alternated days of ​ command. On the day Sempronius was in charge, Hannibal sent cavalry towards Sempronius’ camp and the cavalry personally insulted the impulsive consul with vulgar language right before sunrise (Battle of the Trebbia River). These cavalry then retreated across the Trebbia River while

Sempronius ordered his recently awoken army to follow before even eating breakfast (Battle of the Trebbia River). As the Romans crossed the freezing river, Hannibal’s Baeleric slingers launched rocks onto the Romans (Battle of the Trebbia River). Meanwhile Hannibal sent an army, commanded by his brother Mago, to attack Sempronius’ forces from behind (Battle of the

Trebbia River). The tired and cold Romans stood no match as they were enclosed by the

Carthaginian forces. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Hannibal’s army was able to kill

15,000 Romans, take another 10-15,000 as prisoners, while only sustaining 5,000 of their own losses (Battle of the Trebbia River). This battle boosted the Carthaginian morale and even convinced many tribes of Northern Italy to join forces to defeat the mighty Romans (Battle of the

Trebbia River).

Figure 1.7 shows a map of the Battle of Trebbia River. At the start of the battle, the Roman forces cross the frigid river and engage the Carthaginian forces. As the Roman forces realize they are ill-prepared to fight, Mago’s

forces ambush the Romans and cut off their escape. The image was taken from:

http://www.emersonkent.com/map_archive

Both parties did not engage in war during the winter. At the start of the new year, the

Romans elected two new consuls to command their armies (Battle of Trasimene) one of whom was the arrogant Gaius Flaminius. Hannibal knew how to take advantage of his overconfidence. ​ ​ He wreaked havoc on Roman villages in order to get the Roman attention and force Flaminius to chase (Battle of Trasimene). This pursuit lasted days until Hannibal found the ideal location to attack. Right as dusk approached, Hannibal led the chasing Roman army onto a thin pathway between a mountain range and Lake Trasimene (Battle of Trasimene). As shown in Figure 1.7,

Hannibal hid his men behind the mountain and waited for the Romans to enter the narrow valley.

Hannibal also lit fires on distant hills to give the illusion his army was resting far away (Battle of

Trasimene).

Figure 1.8 shows a map of the Battle of lake Trasimene. The brown parts of the map represent the

mountains. The blue troops are the Carthaginians while the red troops are the Romans. Hannibal’s brilliant use of geography and trickery are used to win otherwise unfavorable battles. Image taken from:

https://www.ancient.eu/the-battle-of-lake-trasimene/

The inexperienced Flaminius did not send scouts and marched his troops through the narrow passage (Battle of Lake Trasimene). Once the Roman army was inside, Hannibal sent a small skirmish force to draw away the experienced vanguard troops. After the Roman army was split, the Carthaginian army emerged from the mountains, with Gauls and cavalry attacking from behind to block the Roman escape (Battle of Trasimene). The surprised Romans did not have time to assemble and their most experienced vanguards were engaged elsewhere. In total, of

30,000 Romans who crossed the narrow passage, 15,000 were killed, 11,000 were captured and

4,000 escaped (Battle of Trasimene). Carthage only suffered 2,500 casualties (Battle of

Trasimene). Additionally, Rome sent 4,000 more troops to reinforce the Romans, but this army was intercepted and destroyed by Hannibal's army (Battle of Trasimene).

In distress over these two losses, the Romans enact a 6-month dictator, Fabius (2nd Punic

War). While the populus of Rome wanted to engage in direct war with the smaller Carthaginian army, Fabius recognized the mistakes of his peers. He knew Hannibal could not hold out forever, so he employed the “Fabian tactics”, in which he chased Hannibal, but never engaged in direct contact (2nd Punic War). This ensured Hannibal could not create a central base, but also stopped

Hannibal from performing more trickery. However, Roman dictators only lasted 6 months, so after Fabius surrendered his command, the two new consuls, Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Gaius ​ Terentius Varro assumed command of the army. These two consuls did not take the same ​ position as Fabius, and wanted to create the largest Roman army and march onto the

Carthaginians. In the summer of 216 BCE, 80,000 Roman men, many of whom were inexperienced, were assembled and marched onto Cannae, the resting grounds for the

Carthaginians.

The Battle of Cannae is considered one of the best uses of military tactics in human history and exemplifies the genius of Hannibal. Hannibal chose a flat plain for his battle against the incoming Romans. His 40,000 men were greatly outnumbered by the 80,000 Romans (Battle of Cannae). He positioned his men on the South of the plain, forcing the Romans to look at the sun and face the hot wind which blew dust and dirt into their faces (Battle of Cannae). The

Romans, knowing they had a significant numbers advantage, did not care about the conditions and rushed into battle so Hannibal could not escape. Hannibal arranged his men in a crescent formation as shown in figure 1.7, with the weakest in the middle and the most experienced on the edges (Battle of Cannae). This arrangement was never done before and the Romans condensed their men to expose this weakness and break through the middle (Battle of Cannae).

Figure 1.9 shows the map of the two armies at the start of the Battle of Cannae. Hannibal’s most experienced men

were at the top and bottom of this formation, with the most inexperienced men in the center (Battle of Cannae).

However, Hannibal stood behind the weak center to ensure the men he was with them (Battle of Cannae). This

image was found at https://www.ancient.eu/Battle_of_Cannae/ ​

However, the Carthaginian center never broke. As the strong Roman army condensed into the center, the Carthaginians just slowly backed up. The strong Carthaginian flanks however, did not get pushed back (Battle of Cannae). The Carthaginian Army was then formed into what is known as the reverse crescent formation as shown in Figure 1.8.

Figure 1.10 shows the reverse crescent formation of the Carthaginian Army. This is how Carthage’s 40,000 men

were able to surround and destroy an army of 80,000. This image was taken from

https://www.ancient.eu/Battle_of_Cannae/

The condensed Roman army pushed forward and managed to push back the Carthiginian center, but did break through (Battle of Cannae). The Romans were soon surrounded by the

Carthaginians. The Carthaginian Cavalry then attacked from the rear and wreaked havoc on the

Romans. It is said that the Romans were so condensed that they could not even lift their arms to swing their swords (Battle of Cannae). Celtic Tribesmen, who fought for Carthage, had no issue as they prepared themselves with short daggers. It was a massacre. Of the 80,000 Romans,

14,000 escaped, 10,000 were taken prisoner, and 56,000 were killed (Battle of Cannae). Carthage only suffered 6,000 casualties (Battle of Cannae). It was estimated that this singular battle killed

20% of all Romans between 18 and 50 (Battle of Cannae).

Despite having three, consecutive and overwhelming victories, Hannibal decided to not march on Rome. Every victory had been fought on certain geography and at times specifically chosen by Hannibal. Rome was heavily guarded and Hannibal did not think he had enough men to besiege the capital. Additionally, many south Italian cities began seceding from Rome after the battle of Cannae, most notably the city of Capua (2nd Punic War). Capua is the 2nd largest city in Italy and was used as a camp for Hannibal during the winter months. Instead of attacking,

Hannibal spent time convincing the cities to join his side and sent men to guard the converted cities. Also during this time, Carthage sent more men to assist Hannibal. In Iberia (Spain),

Hannibal’s brother, Hasdrubal recently lost a battle to a Roman Army (2nd Punic War).

The year is now 214 BCE and there is indecision in what Carthage’s next step should be.

It has been 2 years since the great battle of Cannae. Rome has reimplemented Fabian Tactics and has been pestering Hannibal’s troops but never taking an engagement. Slowly Rome was rebuilding its strength and Hannibal’s army was losing resources. Should Hannibal’s army keep trying to acquire Italian Allies? Should Hannibal request more soldiers from Iberia and Carthage despite losing a battle in Iberia? Should Hannibal’s army attack Rome directly and finally make the Romans repay the damages from the 1st Punic War?

Bloc Positions Italian Front

Hannibal and much of the Carthaginian Army is currently fighting inside Italy. The army is taking rest inside of Capua after three decisive victories. However, the last major battle, the battle of Cannae, occurred almost 2 years ago. Since then, Rome has implemented Fabian

Tactics and is refusing to engage in another large battle. Instead, they are disrupting supply lines and pestering the Carthaginian army and playing a war of attrition. This strategy has been proving highly effective. Every passing day is lowering Carthaginian morale and giving Rome more time to train and grow their military. However, the great Hannibal does not think the army should march on Rome. As his advisors and generals, you must help him decide the next course of action.

There are three options that need to be considered: (1) Attack Rome immediately in a surprise attack. This is very risky as Rome is heavily fortified and we do not have weapons to siege the city. A loss would mean a total Carthaginian Surrender. (2) Ask Iberia and Carthage for additional troops and overwhelm the city. This would take time and leave those regions completely exposed to attack from the Romans. (3) Pillage or convert more Roman cities and wait. Meanwhile, use Hannibal’s spies to intercept a potential Roman advance and force a battle.

Iberian Front

Out in Iberia, Hasdrubal Barca, brother of Hannibal, is in charge of the Carthaginian

Army. Their mighty Capital, Carthago Nova is a heavily fortified city surrounded by water.

Hasdrubal is in command of ___ Troops and is tasked with defending the region while also ​ ​ expanding the reign of control. Spain is home to many resources such as silver, which can be sold and help pay for the war. Spain is a stronghold that cannot be lost. Additionally, Iberia is home to many tribes. Gaining their trust will drastically improve Carthaginian control over the region, and their men could be recruited to the Carthaginian Army. If they were to defect to

Rome, it would drastically hurt Carthage’s chances of winning the war.

Carthaginian Front

As of now in 214 BCE, no major battles have taken place on the Carthaginian Front.

Sicily, the island fought over during the 1st Punic War, provides significant tactical benefits for both sides. Roman control of Sicily allows for a much easier invasion of Carthage due to the island’s close proximity. Carthaginian control prevents this, and also bridges Carthage and

Hannibal, who now resides South of Rome. This allows for additional troops and supply lines to be sent to Hannibal so he can confidently march on Rome. However, Rome currently has a stronger hold onto Sicily, and the island will be very difficult to take. Rome understands its importance and will send endless troops to defend the island. If Carthage over commits to taking this island, other regions will be vulnerable to an attack.

Committee Mission/Questions

Questions

1.) How can Carthage ensure a victory over Rome?

2.) Should Hannibal and his army march on Rome?

3.) Should Hannibal spend more time attempting to convert Roman cities to join his fight?

4.) Should Hannibal send part of his army to conquer Sicily, and in doing so, make himself

vulnerable to a Roman attack?

5.) Should Hasdrubal in Iberia send troops to Italy to assist Hannibal, and in doing so, make Iberia more vulnerable.

6.) How can the Carthaginian army take advantage of the geography and various conditions

in the Mediteranean to crush the Romans?

7.) Right now the Romans are using Fabian Tactics, how can we overcome this if we are

never able to fight them?

8.) After Carthage wins, how can we adequately punish Rome for their wrongdoings?

Annotated Bibliography

(Hannibal’s Route) Ball, Phillip. “The Truth about Hannibal's Route across the Alps.” The ​ Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 3 Apr. 2016, ​ www.theguardian.com/science/2016/apr/03/where-muck-hannibals-elephants-alps-italy-bill-mah aney-york-university-toronto. ​

The Guardian is an American news outlet. It has covered many important topics and is a largely reputable source. The article quotes ancient historians such as Polybius and Livy and interprets their direct quotes about Hannibal’s march. The article also quotes a professor at the University of York in Toronto.

(Battle of Trasimene) “The Battle of Lake Trasimene.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient ​ ​ History Encyclopedia, 26 Apr. 2012, www.ancient.eu/image/166/the-battle-of-lake-trasimene/. ​ ​

The Ancient History Encyclopedia is a EU-web award winning website that provides in-depth and easy to understand information regarding ancient history. The site has been recommended by many renown institutions such as Oxford University and achieved over 25 million unique visitors in 2019. This specific article used information taken from the United States Military Academy’s Department of History which was last updated in 2012.

(Hannibal Biography) Culican, William, and Patrick Hunt. “Hannibal.” Encyclopædia ​ Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 23 Apr. 2020, ​ www.britannica.com/biography/Hannibal-Carthaginian-general-247-183-BC. ​

The Encyclopedia Britannica is a British Encyclopedia service that has existed since 1768. The site is used by professionals around the world and is one of the most trusted sources of information. William Culican is an author of many historical books. Patrick Hunt has a PhD in archaeology and has been teaching at Stanford since 1993. This article was primarily written by Hunt. Additionally, this article was updated very recently (April 2020).

(2nd Punic War) The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Second Punic War (218–201 Bce).”

Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 3 Dec. 2019, ​ www.britannica.com/event/Punic-Wars/Second-Punic-War-218-201-bce. ​

The Encyclopaedia Britannica is a British Encyclopedia service that has existed since 1768. The site is used by professionals around the world and is one of the most trusted sources of information. This article was written by the Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, meaning it has been carefully written and the editors consulted with experts in the field.

(Hannibal) History.com Editors. “Hannibal.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. ​ ​ 2009, www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/hannibal. ​ ​

The History Channel was once a very reliable source of information regarding History, however it has recently taken a more mythical and narrative driven route. However, this article regarding Hannibal still remains accurate as it uses information from Polybius and Livy, and the information stated in this article is repeated in more reputable sources such as The Encyclopaedia

Britannica.

(Punic Wars History) History.com Editors. “Punic Wars.” History.com, A&E Television ​ ​ Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/punic-wars. ​ ​

The History Channel was once a very reliable source of information regarding History, however it has recently taken a more mythical and narrative driven route. However, this article regarding the Punic Wars still remains accurate as it uses information from Polybius and Livy, and the information stated in this article is repeated in more reputable sources such as The

Encyclopaedia Britannica.

(Battle of Cannae) Hunt, Patrick. “Battle of Cannae.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia ​ ​ Britannica, Inc., 27 Sept. 2018, www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Cannae. ​ ​

The Encyclopedia Britannica is a British Encyclopedia service that has existed since 1768. The site is used by professionals around the world and is one of the most trusted sources of information. Patrick Hunt has a PhD in archaeology and has been teaching at Stanford since 1993. Additionally, this article was updated very recently (September 2018).

(Battle of Trebia River) Hunt, Patrick. “Battle of the Trebbia River.” Encyclopædia Britannica, ​ ​ ​ Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 10 Nov. 2014, www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-the-Trebbia-River. ​

The Encyclopedia Britannica is a British Encyclopedia service that has existed since 1768. The site is used by professionals around the world and is one of the most trusted sources of information. Patrick Hunt has a PhD in archaeology and has been teaching at Stanford since 1993. He has authored 15 books including Alpine Archaeology (2007), Ten Discoveries That ​ ​ ​ ​ Rewrote History (2007), and Hannibal (2017). ​ ​ ​

(Ancient Rome) Mark, Joshua J. “Ancient Rome.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient ​ ​ History Encyclopedia, 2 Sept. 2009, www.ancient.eu/Rome/. ​ ​

The Ancient History Encyclopedia is a EU-web award winning website that provides in-depth and easy to understand information regarding ancient history. The site has been recommended by many renown institutions such as Oxford University and achieved over 25 million unique visitors in 2019. The author is co-founder, editor, and a director of Ancient ​ History Encyclopedia and is a professor at Marist College. (Carthage) Mark, Joshua J. “Carthage.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient History ​ ​ Encyclopedia, 14 May 2018, www.ancient.eu/carthage/. ​ ​

The Ancient History Encyclopedia is a EU-web award winning website that provides in-depth and easy to understand information regarding ancient history. The site has been recommended by many renown institutions such as Oxford University and achieved over 25 million unique visitors in 2019. The author is co-founder, editor, and a director of Ancient ​ History Encyclopedia and is a professor at Marist College.

(Punic Wars) Mark, Joshua J. “Punic Wars.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient History ​ ​ Encyclopedia, 18 Apr. 2018, www.ancient.eu/Punic_Wars. ​ ​

The Ancient History Encyclopedia is a EU-web award winning website that provides in-depth and easy to understand information regarding ancient history. The site has been recommended by many renown institutions such as Oxford University and achieved over 25 million unique visitors in 2019. The author is co-founder, editor, and a director of Ancient ​ History Encyclopedia and is a professor at Marist College.

(Punic Carthage) “Punic Carthage.” Livius, Jona Lendering, 2004, ​ ​ www.livius.org/articles/place/carthage/. ​

Livius is a nonprofit website on ancient history written and maintained since 1996 by the Dutch historian Jona Lendering. Livius is best known for the courses on history, religion, culture and ​ ​ ​ literature. This article used information primarily from Livy and Polybius. It was last updated in

April 2020

Hello Delegates,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to UCMUN XXII! My name is Maya Thattacherry and I’ll be one of your directors this year, of JCC2, the Romans and their allies. I am currently a junior studying Physiology and Neurobiology while minoring in psychology and neuroscience. When not in the library studying for my next exam, I like to spend my time playing instruments, watching old cartoons, and trying new recipes in my kitchen. This is my third conference with UCMUN, having previously served as the Topic Specialist for the CCPCJ and an assistant director for the JCC and my seventh year of MUN. During high school, I fell in love with JCCs and am very excited to be to direct one today! Deciding a topic for this JCC was not an easy task, but my co-director and I decided to go historical and have selected the Second Punic War as the theatre for this debate. We will be starting in the year 214 BC, in the middle of the war, but as you all know, any events happening after that are welcome to change. At this time, Rome is beginning to turn the tide of the war with the implementation of Fabian tactics, and it is your duty to keep the momentum swung in our direction. Carthage will be looking to regain their advantages in the early stages of the war, and it is imperative that you defeat them so soundly, that they will never be able to rise up and seek control of the Mediterranean again. The background guide below is meant to be a starting point into your research of the topic. I hope you will use the information provided and expand your knowledge of the geopolitical landscape, military tactics, and important historical figures of the mid Roman Republic. If at any point during your research you have any questions, feel free to contact me at my email address below. Good luck, have fun, and let’s crush Carthage!

Sincerely, Maya Thattacherry Director of JCC2 [email protected]

Introduction

Following their surrender in the First Punic War in 241 BC, under a peace treaty negotiated by C. Lutatius Catulus, Carthage was forced to forfeit strategic naval bases in Sicily,

Corsica, Sardinia, and the Lipari Islands. They also ceded Scily and the Lipari Islands to Rome and were forced to pay an indemnity of 1,000 talents immediately with an additional 2,200 to be paid over the course of 10 years (History.com). Carthage was immediately plagued with war again. Following their surrender, they were embroiled in a bitter war against mercenaries of their own employ that ultimately lost them all control they had over Sardinia. When they attempted to resume possession of Sardinia after the war, Rome forced Carthage to not only cede the island to them by threatening war, but also pay an additional indemnity of 1,2000 talents. In 237 BC,

Hamilcar Barca, Carthage's most successful commander, was appointed general. He then went on to conquer regions of Spain in the valley of Guadalquivir and along the east coast of the country.

The war had caused catastrophic consequences for both militaries. However, with

Rome’s excessive resources, unlike Carthage, it possessed the ability to renew its large naval fleet. This ultimately led to Carthage being unable to keep up with the emerging Mediterranean superpower. Rome was able to prove their naval superiority, and if Carthage wished to reclaim the lands they had lost, they would be forced to take the battle to land and obtain the vast funds required to wage war (Cartwright).

Figure 1.1: Roman navy ships. Image from:

https://www.unrv.com/military/roman-navy.php

Carthage,with a vastly depleted naval fleet and having lost strategically located fortresses in Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia, turned to Spain, where they had long held old Phoenician colonies who were rich with silver. Hamilcar Barca, in 237 BC, was dispatched through Spain to expand Carthaginian territory, building a base at Gades (now called Cádiz) in the Andalucia region of southwestern Spain and establishing a new city called Acra Leuce or Lucentum (now called Alicante) along the Costa Blanca. He augmented his own armies with local recruits amassing a 50,000 strong force with 100 war elephants (Rich).

Following Hamilcar Barca’s death by drowning in 229 BC, the armies of Carthage were taken over by Hasdrubal the Fair who supplemented their existing forces with 10,000 infantry,

8,000 cavalry and 100 war elephants. Carthage, at this point, controlled half of the Iberian

Peninsula. Rome did not enter Spain until 225 BC, when they signed a treaty with Hasdrubal, stating that Carthage would not cross the River Ebro for war (The Second Punic War). Over the ​ ​ course of the next five years, Rome began forming connections with the Iberian town of

Saguntum, located nearly 150 km south of the River Ebro. After hearing the appeals from the citizens of Saguntum, Rome dispatched an embassy to Carthage, warning Hasdrubal to respect their treaty and not cross the Ebro (Rich). However, in 219 BC, Hannibal Barca, son of Hamilcar

Barca and commander in the Carthagian army, ignoring the lines of the treaty, proceeded to attack Saguntum and after the long eight month siege, the city fell. Rome, although not having sent troops to Saguntum to break the siege, hearing news of the city falling, sent an embassy to

Carthage. The embassy presented the Carthaginian senate with terms outlining possible future actions, giving Carthage the ability to choose between surrendering Hannibal and his advisors, and war. Carthage chose war (The Second Punic War). Hannibal had spent the winter months of ​ ​ the year preparing for war and as news of the rejection of the Roman ultimatum reached him, he was setting out from New Carthage on his march to Italy (Rich).

Figure 1.2: Hannibal’s route through Spain, across the Alps, and into Italy during the

Second Punic War. Image from:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannibal%27s_crossing_of_the_Alps

History and Description of the Issue

The story of the founding of Rome is a common one, ingrained in culture. Twin sons,

Romulus and Remus, of Mars, the Roman god of war, were left to drown in a basket by the King of neighboring Alba Longa and were rescued and raised by the she-wolf Lupa. The twins lived to defeat the king and founded their new city on the banks of the river in which they were to die.

Romulus became the first king of Rome, the city that was then named for him, after killing his brother. Following the death of Rome's monarchy in 509 BC, the powers of the monarch passed to two consuls who were elected annually who also served as commanders in chief of the Roman army. During the early republic, the military strength of Rome grew exponentially. Rome had been fighting wars with the Gauls since its inception and although their battle with tribes across western Europe slowed their expansion, it was rewarding as they learned valuable military techniques and gathered large forces in their armies (Ancient Rome). Conversely, according to legend, Carthage was founded by Queen Elissa of Phoenicia in 814 BC as a Phoenician colony governed by the city of Tyre. The Carthaginians were ruthless in their takeover of tribes in modern day Tunisia, either driving them from their lands or enslaving them. With the fall of

Tyre, Carthage experienced a rapid expansion and soon became very wealthy. Most trade was done by Carthage across the Mediterranean so Carthage built what was, at the time, the world’s strongest navy to protect their wealth to and from mainland Europe. While the lack of rebellion allowed Carthage to expand rapidly unlike their future enemies to the north, it also meant that they relied on hiring part time mercenaries for defense as it was cheaper than having a full military on retainer (Mark).

The First Punic War spanned from 264 BC to 241 BC and was fought to establish control over the islands of Corsica and Sicily, strategic islands in the Mediterranean Sea for either empire to hold due to the locations for possible military bases and the ability to grow a large number of crops. Relations between Rome and Carthage had been peaceful for centuries before the war, with peace treaties being signed in 509 BC, 348 BC, 306 BC, and 279 BC. These treaties successfully outlined the spheres of influence for each empire. However, as time went on, Rome became more and more ambitious in their efforts to influence and seize more control in Magna Graecia, the coastal areas of southern Italy, which led Carthage to defend its interests in the region (Burton). There was particular contention around the region of Sicily, as it was a strategically important island the Carthage had long disputed with Greek city states for control over and that was now garnering the attention of Rome (Cartwright). When Rome took control over the Sicilian cities of Messana and Rhegium who sought protection from the threats of both

Carthage and Hieron II (the tyrannical ruler of Syracuse, another city in Sicily), relations between the Mediterranean superpowers soured, as each was wary of the other and eager to establish themselves as the dominant force in the Mediterranean (Burton).

Figure 2.1: Map of the Western Mediterranean in 264 BC, the beginning of the First Punic War

Image from: Platek, Jon. The Western Mediterranean 264 BC. ​ https://www.ancient.eu/image/237/the-western-mediterranean-264-bce/

Messana was occupied by the Mamertines, a group of mercenaries from Campania, Italy in 288 BC. In 264 BC, after losing a battle against the city of Syracuse, Messana turned to

Carthage for protection. However, they also viewed Rome as a powerful potential ally who would be able to guarantee their independence, and when Rome extended an olive branch and promised protection, the people of Messana removed Carthaginian troops from their garrison.

Rome sent the consul Appius Claudius Caudex and two legions to Messana while Carthage crucified the garrison commander who had been expelled from Messana and formed alliances with cities Akragas (now called Agrigento) and Syracuse. Carthage then sent their fleet to Sicily and upon arriving, joined forces with the armies of Heiron II and laid siege to Messana and waited to intercept the Roman fleet. Rome, not expecting such a response, offered a peace deal, but that was rejected by the Carthaginian commander (Cartwright). The Roman fleet and its accompanying 16,000 troops under the command of Claudius were not deterred and reached

Messana to break the siege laid upon the city. Manius Valerius Maximus, a new Roman commander, assumed leadership of the forces in Sicily following Claudius’ victory over both the

Carthaginian and Syracusan armies, and attacked the city of Syracuse itself. Hieron II surrendered before the Carthaginian fleet could offer help and remained in power because he agreed to become an ally of Rome. The loss of their ally did not deter Carthage and the withdrawal of half of the Roman forces back to Italy prompted them to send another army to

Sicily in 262 BC (Editors).

The beginning of the Punic War was largely dominated by decisive Roman victories. The

Roman army began the war by attacking Akragas with 4 legions commanded by consuls L.

Postumius Megellus and Q. Mamilius Vitulus in 262 BC. Carthage, being allied with Akragas, attempted to defend the city but their combined forces were defeated and the city was sacked by the Romans. The carnage at Akragas served as a reminder to the Sicilian city states of what

Rome was capable of. Spurred by what they saw, the city of Segesta allied themselves to the

Roman cause dealing a blow to Carthage (Cartwright). For the next year, several small scale engagements broke out between the two sides without any decisive outcomes. Akragas was sacked for a second time and all 50,000 of its inhabitants enslaved and sent to Italy. By 261 BC, it became clear to Rome that if they wished to defeat Carthage, prevent reinforcements from arriving from Africa, and control Sicily, it would have to build a formidable naval force (First ​ Punic War). ​

Figure 2.2: The Roman Fleet stands victorious following a naval battle with Carthage at

Economus. Image from: Jacques de Saint-Aubin, Gabriel. The Roman Fleet Victorious over the ​ Carthaginians at the Battle of Cape Ecnomus. 1763. J. Paul Getty Museum. Los Angeles http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/artists/646/gabriel-jacques-de-saint-aubin-french-1724-1780/

In 260 BC, in a mere 60 days, Rome built itself a fleet of 20 triremes and 100 quinquereme warships. At this point, Rome had very little experience in naval warfare.

Therefore, they merely copied the designs of Carthaginian vessels that they had captured while also improving on the original designs. They added a corvus, a rotating platform with a giant holding spike that could be attached to another vessel allowing an infantry unit to board them.

The corvus successfully negated the Carthaginians superior seamanship and made combat on the seas more like battle on land which the Romans were vastly more familiar with (Dickinson). In

260 BC, during the battle of Mylae (now called Milazzo), the Romans achieved a decisive victory when their 145 ship strong fleet either captured or destroyed the 130 ship Carthaginian fleet. The next two years were a relative stalemate, during which the Romans led periodical raids on the Carthage occupied islands of Corsica and Sardinia (Cartwright). Then in 258 BC, the

Romans won another large naval battle at Sulcis followed afterwards when a large Roman fleet, composed of 330 ships, won another important victory at the battle of Ecnomus (now called

Licata) in 256 BC. In the past four years, Carthage had been unable to counter the Roman’s corvus tactic (Burton). ​ ​

Figure 2.3: Model of a Trireme (Matthias Kebel for Ancient History Encyclopedia). Image from: ​ ​ Kabel, Matthias. Greek Trireme. Deutsches Museum. Germany

https://www.ancient.eu/image/154/greek-trireme-illustration/

Following their naval victories, the consul Marcus Regulus Atilius landed with an army of four legions at Clupea (also known as Aspis) in an attempt to launch an attack on Carthaginian soil. Rome, at this point, decided to recall half the army and the fleet as the Roman Senate believed an attack on Carthage would have to wait till after the upcoming winter had passed

(Editors). This still left Regulus with 15,000 infantry and 500 cavalry and he won an important land battle south of Tunis against three Carthaginian commanders who were not helped by the rough terrain which prevented them from deploying their war elephants. Regulus proceeded to occupy the city and although peace talk began in 255 BC, they collapsed when the Romans made what were believed to be excessive demands, including but not limited to Carthage removing its interests from Sicily all together (First Punic War). Things looked bleak for Carthage until their mercenary Spartan commander Xanthippus, with an army of 12,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry, prepared to face the Romans. Xanthippus, a brilliant military mind, seamlessly combined his cavalry and Carthage’s war elephants, decimating the Roman force and capturing the Roman commander. During the battle 12,000 Roman lives were lost in comparison to 800 Carthaginians.

The remains of Regulus’ army escaped and regrouped with a newly dispatched Roman fleet at

Clupea. However, many of the ships were destroyed in a storm seeing the loss of 100,000 Roman lives (Cartwright).

Figure 2.4: Carthaginian Forces atop war elephants attacking the Roman legions (Peter Dennis

for New Vanguard #150). Image from: Nossov, Konstantin, and Peter Dennis. War Elephants. ​ https://www.historynet.com/carthaginian-war-elephant.htm/mh_hardware_hannibalelephants_96

0x640

In 254 BC, having failed to continue their early success in Africa, the Roman troops returned to Sicily where they secured a victory by capturing the city of Panormus (now called

Palermo) and enslaving its 70,000 citizens. The Carthaginians meanwhile, attacked Akragas and razed it. However, this victory was short-lived as it only left Carthage which had a narrow strip of the coast under their control (INEZ). Carthage was once again saved by the elements, when a storm destroyed a 150 ship strong fleet travelling back to Italy after raiding the Carthaginian coast in Africa.

Following this disaster for the Romans, Carthage focused their efforts closer to home, ensuring they still had control of their African territories before dispatching another army to

Sicily in 251 BC. This effort though, was a failure, as the army, commanded by Hasdrubal the

Fair, was defeated by two legions led by the consul Lucius Caucilius Metellus in 250 BC.

Caecilius, to deal a blow to Carthage, captured their war elephants and sent them to Rome to entertain the Roman citizens (Cartwright). Following this victory, Regulus, back with Rome, and consul L. Manius Vulso proceeded to lay a lengthy and unsuccessful siege of Lilybaeum (now called Marsala).

Figure 2.5: Artist’s interpretation of a Roman fleet laying siege upon Carthage (The Creative

Assembly for Ancient History Encyclopedia). Image from: Assembly, The Creative. Roman ​ Naval Attack on Carthage

https://www.ancient.eu/image/5178/roman-naval-attack-on-carthage/

The war at this point remained at a stalemate, as Carthage continuously lost battles on land and Rome lost on the sea. This however changed in 249 BC when the Carthaginian fleet, commanded by Adherbal defeated the Roman fleet at Drepana (now known as Trapani) where they captured 93 of the 120 ships in the Roman fleet (Burton). This was immediately followed by Rome’s third loss to the elements, when a large fleet, composed of 800 supply ships was sunk by a storm in the Bay of Gela (Cartwright). This defeat did not prevent Rome from taking the city of Eryx (now called Erice) but the war was now taking a large toll on both sides as both empire’s finances were running dry and they were both at a stalemate until 247 BC when they received more funding for their armies. Carthage then appointed Hamilcar Barca to command its fleet. Hamilcar launched his first raid on the Italian coast in 247 BC when he landed in Sicily at Heircte (Burton). His positioning allowed Hamilcar to attack the rear of the Roman forces who were attacking Drepana and Lilybaeum, the last of Carthage’s occupied cities in Sicily. Hamilcar found success by sticking to quick guerrilla tactics as Carthage no longer had the funds to maintain a large army and captured Eryx in 244 BC from Rome, making it his base in Sicily. The Carthaginian commander also launched attacks on the Italian mainland, but without significant forces at his disposal, his efforts were wholly unsuccessful (Cartwright). During this time, Hanno the Great extended Carthage’s empire in Libya, providing them with increased funds they used to expand their forces. In 242 BC, Rome emerged with a new 200 ship fleet, led by consul Gaius Lutatius

Catulus and funded by the private citizens of Rome. Upon gaining control of his fleet, Lutatius

th immediately besieged Drepana. On March 10 ,​ 241 BC, the Roman forces defeated a ​ Carthaginian fleet led by Hanno the Navigator that was sent to relieve the city of the Aegates

Islands (Isole Egadi). While the loss was not catastrophic, after decades of war, Carthage simply did not have the funds to remain at war with Rome, and sought out peace terms (Dickinson).

Current Status

Hannibal, beginning his march in 219 BC, descended upon Saguntum (now known as

Sagunto) just north of Valencia on the Iberian Peninsula. He attacked and captured the city, angering Rome, as Saguntum was Rome’s long time ally. Hannibal was acting under the authority of the Carthaginian government but this attack would soon be one too many for the Romans, who, having finally squandered the Gauls to the north, demanded from Carthage that

Hannibal be surrendered to them. Carthage refused and Rome declared war in 218 BC.

Hannibal began the war by tricking the Roman forces. He expected Rome to attack on the

Spanish front, and indeed they did, as a Roman army was sent there with 60 quinqueremes controlled by P. Cornelius Scipio while another sailed to Sicily for their protection. Hannibal however, made no move to defend his holdings in Spain, surprising Rome by attacking Italy.

Carthage had realized, through the events of the First Punic War, that Rome would only be defeated by stirring up rebellions on Roman soil; forcing the growing empire to defend itself from within (Cartwright).

Hasdrubal Barca was left to defend Carthage’s holdings in Spain while Hannibal, and the majority of Carthage’s forces, crossed the Alps, taking only 15 days. He had departed Spain with

90,000 soldiers and 12,000 cavalry, however, due to battles with Gallic tribes, desertions, and losses to the elements, Hannibal’s troops had reduced to 20,000 men and 6,000 cavalry. These numbers were then supplemented by Gauls in northern Italy and the Carthaginian forces pressed into Italy (The Second Punic War). ​ ​

Figure 3.1: Hannibal, sitting on top of a war elephant, crosses the Alps along with the soldiers

and cavalry of Carthage Image from: Ripanda, Jacopo. “Hannibal crossing the Alps.” 1510. ​ Capitoline Museum. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannibal

Hannibal began his reputation of near invincibility when he won a battle at the Ticinus

River near Pavia, at the Trebia River in 218 BCE and again near Lake Trasimene in 217 BCE where Roman troops were hit with heavy losses; 15,000 lost on the battlefield and 10,000 captured. Hannibal, in an attempt to win favor with the Italians in the countryside freed the

Italian prisoners while torturing the Roman captives, in an attempt to convince local communities that they were welcome to join him (History.com). In 216 BC, Hannibal, marching closer and closer to Southern Italy, won an important battle, defeating an army of 80,000 men at Cannae in Apulia (known called Puglia). The

Carthaginians continued their strategy of using the terrain to their advantage. By putting his

50,000 troops near the River Aufidus, he confined the eight Roman legions along the river and constricted their ability to move and mitigated their large numbers. Hannibal then implemented his usual tactics of attacking with high mobility on the field with cavalry attacking from the rear

(Editors). These tactics led to a sweeping Carthaginian victory, with nearly 50,000 Roman lives lost to 7,500 soldiers in Hannibal’s army, most of whom were Guals (The Second Punic War). ​ ​ To the people, Hannibal seemed unstoppable. This campaign was invaluable to Carthage. Most city-states of southern Italy defected to the Carthaginian cause, most notably Italy’s most important city, Capua. Luckily, the Latin colonies and central Italy remained true to Rome, ensuring that Hannibal’s Italian acquisitions had to be constantly defended. Cathaginian leaders expected a Gaul uprising and the seemingly inevitable break up of Roman colonies and land holdings. However, this did not occur and Hannibal was left on his own, as Hasdrubal was unable to support him from Spain of Carthage. Hannibal decided not to attack Rome itself, as this would be a Herculean task without reinforcements and it was not his desire to annihilate

Rome, but rather to force Rome to recognize Carthage’s claim on its empire (Cartwright). Figure 3.1: The initial positions of both forces in the Battle of Cannae; Roman forces in red and

Carthaginian in blue. Image from: Van Der Crabben, Jan. “Battle of Cannae- Initial

Deployment.” Department of History United States Military Academy.

https://www.ancient.eu/image/552/battle-of-cannae---initial-deployment/

Recognizing the tastics they were employing were not working, Rome began to avoid

Hannibal in direct battle, engaging only with his allies, beginning the use of the “Fabian

Strategy” (named for Fabius Maximus Verrucosus). Fabius, after analyzing the Roman defeat at

Cannae, discovered that while Hannibal may be able to win direct confrontations, his forces would also be quickly worn out by blocking the routes of his supplies from sea and trapping him inside Italy (History.com). To counter this, Hannibal began to desperately attempt to conquer port cities, notably Neapolis (Naples) and Tarentum( Taranto). However, all attempts failed. While Hannibal was able to defeat individual Roman armies, in the act of defeating Rome itself,

Carthage, much like in the first Punic War, continued to be unsuccessful (The Second Punic ​ War). ​ Despite defeats in individual battles, Rome continued to reject all offers of a peace deal from Carthage. In 216 BC, a Roman army was defeated in Gaul. However, after this defeat, the tide for the Roman’s began to change. An army of 13,500 men and a corps of elephants travelling to re-enforce Hannibal in Italy were redirected by Carthage to Spain. An army of equal size was sent to Sardinia to take it back for Carthage but the attempt was unsuccessful (Editors).

Figure 3.3: Carthagian soldiers stand victorious over Rome at Cannae; their most important

victory of the war. Image from:

https://www.historyhit.com/216-bc-cannae-hannibals-greatest-victory/

The year is now 214 BC and the tide of the war is turning. Rome has suffered many defeats at the hands of Hannibal and Carthage but the implementation of the Fabian strategy has allowed Rome to slowly weaken Hannibal and his forces. As Rome grows stronger and Carthage grows weaker, action must be taken to ensure that the tide is not turned again in Carthage’s favor. Should Rome continue its execution of the Fabian Strategy? If so, at what point and where should she meet Hannibal and his forces in open combat? What should Rome do to end the war with her the victor and ensure that Carthage is no longer able to rise up and challenge her position as the ultimate superpower of the Mediterraenian?

Bloc Positions

Italian Front:

The majority of Carthage and it’s armies are currently stationed in Italy. While Carthage has succeeded in many successful victories, it’s last major triumph was at the Battle of Cannae nearly two long years ago. In an attempt to turn the tide of the war, Rome has begun the implementation of the Fabian Strategy. We are not engaging in large battles and are instead destroying Carthagian supply lines, leaving them trapped in Italy with dwindling resources. This current strategy is proving highly effective, and is giving Rome time to grow our already sizable military force. The coward Hannibal does not have the faith now the tenacity to march on Rome, giving us the power to dictate the timeline of our attacks. However, General Publius Cornelius ​ Scipio Africanus is asking you, his trusted general and advisors, to help him take the next course of action and defeat Carthage once and for all. Potential courses of action we can take:

1) Continue the implementation of the Fabian Strategy: Hannibal and his forces refuse to

march on Rome knowing that Rome is heavily fortified and a loss in that battle will wipe

out the Carthaginian force and result in a complete surrender. By continuing the Fabian

Strategy we slowly chip away at Carthage’s existing forces and strength and lower their

morale while also adding to our own armies. However, while a good short term plan,

eventually we will be forced to meet in open battle

2) Reinforce Italian cities loyal to Rome: Carthage has seen victory over the course of this

war by engaging in open battle with Rome due to Hannibal’s brilliance as a military

commander. With their forces slowly weakening, they may look to attack cities loyal to

Rome both in an attempt to draw the Roman armies out into battle and to replenish their

dwindling stocks of resources

3) Transferring Troops to Iberia or Carthage: A way to permanently cripple Carthage and

force their surrender would be to take the Iberian capital of Carthago Nova or the ​ Carthagian capital of Carthage. Without power in Iberia, Hannibal would be forced to

attack and take Rome, which he is currently not in a position to be able to do, or

surrender to us. And by taking Carthage’s capital city, it’s leaders would be in no place to

continue to wage a war. Launching an attack on either or both cities however, would not

be an easy task. A sizable force would be necessary and it is essential that we ensure we

have an adequate force to defend our holdings in Italy while we conquer the Carthagian

empire.

Iberian Front: While Rome has her main strongholds in Italy, Carthage has it’s in Iberia. Their capitol,

Carthago Nova, is heavily fortified with troops and artillery and surrounded by water. Their holdings in Iberia are very valuable to Carthage as not only does the region provide them with men, but it is very rich in resources, particularly silver, which Carthage sells to fund it’s war.

Potential courses of action we can take:

1) Transferring Troops to Iberia: As mentioned above, if Rome were to take the city of

Carthago Nova, to have any remaining foothold in the war, Carthage would be forced to

take Rome. The concerns with such a move at this stage have also been mentioned as if

we were to spread our forces too thin, we would be met with defeat on all fronts.

2) Turning the Tribes: Carthage has seen success in turning the tribes of Gaul for their

cause; using the men and resources of the region to reinforce their armies. Iberia as well

is home to many tribes, if Rome were to recruit them, it would not only decrease

Carthage’s control over the region, but we would be able to recruit their men, and have

access to their resources. While this would be beneficial to us, it is more important the

Carthage will not have access to those resources, as they are sorely in need of them.

Sicilian Front:

The Sicilian front, may be the most important place of battle in this war. It was fought over in the 1st Punic War and provides both sides with significant tactical benefits. Rome must maintain our control of Sicily as it will allow us an easier invasion of Carthage due to their proximity. Carthage must maintain their control of Sicily, as it is the only thing preventing Rome from having a direct line to the heart of Carthage and is their main supply line to Hannibal and his forces, who currently reside south of Rome. Rome has more control over the island making it easier for us to defend. We continually send troops to the region to defend the island and must prevent Carthage from gaining control of it, as that would effectively cut off our main pipeline in

Carthage and give them a strong supply route and a branching point for them to take our strongholds in Italy.

Potential courses of action we can take:

1) Sending more troops to Sicily: It is imperative that we continue to supply Sicily with

troops to defend the region, as it would be catastrophic for us if we were to lose Sicily.

However, there is the opportunity to take the region completely for ourselves, crippling

Carthage. This would be a massive undertaking, as Carthage will not let the region slip

from their grasp easily, but could potentially end the war in our favor.

Questions to Consider

1) How can Rome ensure victory over Carthage? And one that will prevent Carthage from

rising again against us?

2) How will we defend Rome should Hannibal march on it?

3) Hannibal’s forces have proven that they are not equipped to handle the conditions of

Europe. How can we use our greater knowledge of the geographical conditions of the

upper Mediterranian to defeat Hannibal and his forces?

4) Should we spend time and resources recruiting the tribes of Iberia?

5) Should we divert more troops to Sicily to conquer it, in turn weakening us in Italy or

Iberia?

6) Should we divert troops to attack the Carthagianian capitals in Iberia and Carthage, in

turn weakening us in Italy?

7) How can we defend cities and towns in Italy who are loyal to us?

8) Should we attempt to take back cities and towns who are loyal to Carthage; crippling

their forces further?

9) How long should we continue to employ the Fabian Strategy?

10) After we crush Carthage, how should we cripple them and ensure that they are never able

to rise up against us again?

Timeline

Annotated Bibliography:

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