Punic Wars factions
Following the discussion about Saguntum as an own faction in the Iberian factions thread I thought about other factions that should be in this game because of the Punic Wars. Judging from the first and only preview we have seen so far the Punic Wars will be one central topic of Rome TW II, so I suppose it's not too unrealistic to talk about the minor factions involved in this war.
Of course some of them will and should be included anyway (like Syrakus) while others (like Saguntum) might normally not in a game of Rome's size, but I propose them because of the Punic wars being in the center of the game.
The Insubrian tribes: Living in what is now Northern Italy, these Celtic tribes kept a part of the Roman army busy at Rome's northern borders during the wars. More importantly, Hannibal recruited Celtic warriors from them who became a notable part of his army.
City state of Massalia: A loyal ally of Rome, this Polis fought against both Celts and Carthaginians and fielded a decent fleet which became important in the Second Punic war. Nowadays it's the French city of Marseille.
The Numidians split into:
Kingdom of the Masaesyli: The western part of Numidia started as a loyal ally of Carthago, but turned to Rome in the Second Punic War. However, as soon as Hannibal invaded Italy, their king Syphax returned under the Carthaginian banner and continued to fight the Maesulian prince Masinissa and the Romans under Scipio after the Battle of Zama. Later on he was defeated and most of his territory came under Maesulian control.
Kingdom of the Maesulians: The eastern part of Numidia was an important ally of Carthago in the First Punic War and remained on Hannibal's side as well until 206 BC. Their cavalry and infantry strengthened the Carthaginian army.
However, in 206 prince Masinissa turned to the Roman cause and became one of Scipio's best and most reliable generals who decided the Battle of Zama when his cavalry returned to the battle. After the Second Punic War his kingdom was treated in a special way by Rome and dominated North Africa for a while.
The Mamertines: A band of desperados and mercenaries without a job, the Mamertines captured Messana in the early 3rd century BC. They hold the town in North East Sicily for well over 20 years and used it as a base for pirate raids. By demanding Roman protection against Carthago and Syracuse they initiated the Punic Wars, in which they were destroyed.
City state of Saguntum: Based on the eastern coast of the Iberian peninsula, Saguntum was a mighty Celtiberian settlement with strong Greek influence. By besieging Saguntum, Hannibal started the Second Punic War as Saguntum was loosely allied with the Roman Republic (although the Romans couldn't be arsed to help Saguntum).
Being south of the Ebro it had been excluded from the earlier Ebro treaty between Rome and Carthago, but this position eventually led to its downfall, as Hannibal conquered the town after a month long siege.
City state of Syrakus: The powerful Polis of Syrakus had been an enemy of Carthago for hundreds of years before the Romans first appeared on what we would call the ''international stage''. Its history is too rich to cover it here, but its important to point out that it changed sides in the Secind Punic War and had to endure a Roman siege from 215 BC on.
Despite having maybe the greatest fortifications in the world and the brilliant inventor Archimedes, Syrakus fell in 212 BC. It remained to be an important city in the Mediterrenean, though.
So what do you think? Which of those factions should be in Rome II?Or are there other important ones which I have forgotten?
Note: This is more about additional factions than about those being the only ones in the area. Apart from Rome and Carthago there should also be various Iberian tribes, for example, of course.
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Originally Posted by Samnite Soldier
