Revolt of the Mercenaries – “Truceless War”
Mercenaries returning from Sicily had demanded payment of reward promised to them by Hamilcar
Carthage refused
Mercenaries mutinied and joined Libyans and several subject Phoenician cities
Subject peoples (overtaxed in the war) – joined uprising
Women of Libya sold jewels to finance revolution
20,000 rebels and mercenaries -- led by Matho, a Libyan freeman and Spendius, a Campanian slave – laid siege to Carthage
Declared an independent state
Issued a wide range of separatist coins
Hamilcar organized an army of 10,000 Carthaginians – defeated the mercenaries – retreating mercenaries on their way to the mountains cut off the hands and feet of the Carthaginian general Gesco, and broke the legs of 700 other prisoners – threw victims into indiscriminate grave [R.B. Smith, Carthage, 151]
Rome sent aid to Carthage – regarded rebels as an international danger – threatened to unleash general anarchy
Hamilcar – maneuvered 40,000 rebels into a defile and blocked all exits – starvation
Ate remaining captives
Sent Spendius to beg for peace – crucified by Hamilcar
Ordered hundreds of prisoners trampled to death under elephants’ feet
Mercenaries tried to make a breakthrough – cut to pieces
Matho captured and made to run through the streets of Carthage – citizens beat him with thongs and tortured him till he died
War lasted 40 months (241-237) – “was by far the most bloody and impious war in history” [Polybius]
Sardinia rebelled against Carthage – appealed to Rome (238) – Rome sent troops to the southwestern coast and helped the rebels seize control of Carthaginian fortresses
Rome annexed Sardinia and Corsica – opportunistic gesture – not justified on economic grounds (some use for Sardinian grain) – little done to develop mineral resources for many years – islands made into a single Roman province – paid tithe – Took Rome a century to pacify the mountainous interior of Sardinia
Political change in Carthage – Popular party had called on Hamilcar to replace the oligarchs’ generals – success of Hamilcar – power of oligarchs in Carthage broken – henceforth civil government headed by popularly elected magistrates which remained on friendly terms with Hamilcar and allowed him to command large armies for extended periods [Gilbrt Charles Picad and Collete Picard. The Life and Death of Carthage. Translated by Dojminque Collon (London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1968).
One year after the end of the 1st Punic War, 20,000 mercenary troops who had been brought back to North Africa broke into violent muting because their pay was in arrears. Then this polyglot mass of warriors, from more than half a dozen different peoples, proceeded to declare themselves an independent state, issuing a wide range of separatist coins; and they marched inland upon Carthage itself. Moreover, the subject races of the African hinterland likewise seized the chance to take up arms against their oppressors. Only after three years of savage fighting was this Mercenary (“Truceless”) War brought to a close.
Romans helped Carthaginians suppress the revolt – considered mercenaries an international danger threatening to unleash general anarchy
When Carthage won, Roman attitude changed
When Sardinian garrison of Carthage rebelled in 239 and asked for Roman help – Rome sent troops –“The Romans about the same time, on the invitation of the mercenaries who had deserted to them from Sardinia, undertook an expedition to that island. When the Carthaginians objected on the ground that the sovereignty of Sardinia was rather their own than Rome’s, and began preparations for punishing those who were the cause of the revolt of the island, the Romans made this the pretext for declaring war on them, alleging that the preparations were not against Sardinia, but against themselves. The Carthaginians who had barely escaped destruction in the last war, were in every respect ill-fitted at this moment to resume hostilities with Rome. Yielding therefore to circumstances, they not only gave up Sardinia, but agreed to pay a further sum of 1,200 talents to the Romans to avoid going to war for the present.” [Polybius, Histories, I. lxxxviii. 8-12; from LCL in Lewis and Rinehold, I, p. 162.]
Carthage protested and sent a force to suppress the mutiny
Romans interpreted Carthaginian expedition as an act of war
Romans prevailed
Carthage had to pay 1,200 talents
Carthage ceded Corsica and Sardinia
“’The Carthaginians are to evacuate Sardinia and pay a further sum o 1,200 talents.’”