Siege of Saguntum
Encyclopedia
The Siege of Saguntum was a battle which took place between 219 BC
and 218 BC
between the Carthaginians and the Saguntines. The battle is mainly remembered today because it triggered one of the most important wars of antiquity, the Second Punic War
.
(221 BC
) at the age of just 26, he spent two years maturing his plans and completing his preparations to secure power in the Mediterranean. The Romans did nothing though they received ample warning of Hannibal's preparations. They were yet to learn of the talent and determination of the man with whom they had to deal. The Romans thought that they could strike down this Carthaginian youth whenever they pleased, and no special effort would be required. The Romans even went so far as ignoring Hannibal by turning their attentions to the Illyrians who had begun to revolt. Because of this, the Romans could not react when news reached them that Hannibal was besieging Saguntum in south-east Iberia. They were disgruntled that Hannibal had broken the treaty set after the First Punic War
. Here Hannibal showed a side that is not all too different from that of the Roman Republic
, as Rome had recently annexed Sardinia despite a treaty which had explicitly forbidden them from doing so. The capture of Saguntum was essential to Hannibal in his overall plan. The city was one of the most fortified in the area and it would be a poor move to leave such a city in the hands of his enemy. Hannibal also looked for plunder to keep his army happy (mostly mercenaries from North Africa
, Iberian Peninsula
and Gaul
). The money from the city could also be spent on keeping any political opponents down back in Carthage.
.
. The Senate (controlled by a relatively pro-Roman faction led by Hanno the Great
) often did not agree with Hannibal's aggressive means of warfare, and never gave complete and unconditional support to him, even when he was on the verge of absolute victory only five miles from Rome. In this episode however, Hannibal was able to gain limited support which permitted him to move to Carthaginio Nova where he gathered his men and informed them of his ambitious intentions. Hannibal briefly undertook a religious pilgrimage before beginning his march toward the Pyrenees
, the Alps
, and Rome
itself. The next phase of the war was marked by extraordinary Carthaginian victories at Trebia
, Lake Trasimene
, and perhaps most notably, at the Battle of Cannae
.
219 BC
Year 219 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Paullus and Salinator...
and 218 BC
218 BC
Year 218 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Scipio and Longus...
between the Carthaginians and the Saguntines. The battle is mainly remembered today because it triggered one of the most important wars of antiquity, the Second Punic War
Second Punic War
The Second Punic War, also referred to as The Hannibalic War and The War Against Hannibal, lasted from 218 to 201 BC and involved combatants in the western and eastern Mediterranean. This was the second major war between Carthage and the Roman Republic, with the participation of the Berbers on...
.
Hannibal's plans
After Hannibal was made supreme commander of IberiaIberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
(221 BC
221 BC
Year 221 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Asina and Rufus/Lepidus...
) at the age of just 26, he spent two years maturing his plans and completing his preparations to secure power in the Mediterranean. The Romans did nothing though they received ample warning of Hannibal's preparations. They were yet to learn of the talent and determination of the man with whom they had to deal. The Romans thought that they could strike down this Carthaginian youth whenever they pleased, and no special effort would be required. The Romans even went so far as ignoring Hannibal by turning their attentions to the Illyrians who had begun to revolt. Because of this, the Romans could not react when news reached them that Hannibal was besieging Saguntum in south-east Iberia. They were disgruntled that Hannibal had broken the treaty set after the First Punic War
First Punic War
The First Punic War was the first of three wars fought between Ancient Carthage and the Roman Republic. For 23 years, the two powers struggled for supremacy in the western Mediterranean Sea, primarily on the Mediterranean island of Sicily and its surrounding waters but also to a lesser extent in...
. Here Hannibal showed a side that is not all too different from that of the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
, as Rome had recently annexed Sardinia despite a treaty which had explicitly forbidden them from doing so. The capture of Saguntum was essential to Hannibal in his overall plan. The city was one of the most fortified in the area and it would be a poor move to leave such a city in the hands of his enemy. Hannibal also looked for plunder to keep his army happy (mostly mercenaries from North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
and Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
). The money from the city could also be spent on keeping any political opponents down back in Carthage.
The Siege
During Hannibal's assault on Saguntum he suffered some losses due to the extensive fortifications and the tenacity of the defending Saguntines, but his troops stormed and destroyed the city's defenses one at a time. The Saguntines turned to Rome for aid, but none was sent. In 218 BC after eight months of siege the Saguntines' last defences were finally overrun. This marked the beginning of the Second Punic War. Hannibal now had a base from which he could supply his forces with food and extra troops. This was one of the first blunders the Romans made in the Second Punic War: If they had come to the aid of Saguntum against Hannibal instead of fighting Illyrian revolts, they could have fortified the city and stopped Hannibal from crossing the PyreneesPyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
.
Aftermath
After the siege, Hannibal attempted to gain the support of the Carthaginian SenateSenate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature or parliament. There have been many such bodies in history, since senate means the assembly of the eldest and wiser members of the society and ruling class...
. The Senate (controlled by a relatively pro-Roman faction led by Hanno the Great
Hanno the Great
There were three leaders of ancient Carthage who were known as Hanno the Great, according to two historians . These figures they call for convenience: Hanno I the Great, Hanno II the Great, and Hanno III the Great...
) often did not agree with Hannibal's aggressive means of warfare, and never gave complete and unconditional support to him, even when he was on the verge of absolute victory only five miles from Rome. In this episode however, Hannibal was able to gain limited support which permitted him to move to Carthaginio Nova where he gathered his men and informed them of his ambitious intentions. Hannibal briefly undertook a religious pilgrimage before beginning his march toward the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
, the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
, and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
itself. The next phase of the war was marked by extraordinary Carthaginian victories at Trebia
Battle of the Trebia
The Battle of the Trebia was the first major battle of the Second Punic War, fought between the Carthaginian forces of Hannibal and the Roman Republic in December of 218 BC, on or around the winter solstice...
, Lake Trasimene
Battle of Lake Trasimene
The Battle of Lake Trasimene was a Roman defeat in the Second Punic War between the Carthaginians under Hannibal and the Romans under the consul Gaius Flaminius...
, and perhaps most notably, at the Battle of Cannae
Battle of Cannae
The Battle of Cannae was a major battle of the Second Punic War, which took place on August 2, 216 BC near the town of Cannae in Apulia in southeast Italy. The army of Carthage under Hannibal decisively defeated a numerically superior army of the Roman Republic under command of the consuls Lucius...
.