Thanks, Welsh Dragon, Quintus, Tigellinus, mad orc and Caillagh! Yes, the situation of Carthage's capital does look bleak and the Seleucids are dangerous. Caullagh mentioned the importance of treating your allies well; as the next chapter shows, Carthage is luckier in this respect than, perhaps, they deserve....
Chapter 6: As Loyal as a Libyan
Some historians argue that the complete change in Carthage’s military strategy in the early 2nd century BC was caused by a change of mind – others say it was a change of heart. During the previous century, Carthage’s largest armies had gone east. Their commanders had become wealthy by conquering Egypt and the African kingdoms of Blemmyes and Meroe. Carthage had many enemies in the west; only the most loyal and least ambitious generals remained there.
The Treaty of Alexandria is widely seen as the turning point in Carthage’s strategy. The western lands of Carthage were falling. Enemy armies encroached closer and closer to the capital. These events could explain a change of mind among Carthage’s leaders: they realised that they could not defeat powerful enemies in the west and east simultaneously. At Alexandria, Carthage welcomed an ambassador from the Seleucid Empire with gifts of gold from Aksum and jewellery displaying the enamel-work of the craftsmen of Meroe. Carthage and the Seleucids had fought a common enemy – Egypt. Now, they needed to fight other foes, not each other. The representatives of the Seleucids and Carthage swore oaths to their gods that their nations would remain at peace.
This treaty meant that Carthage’s eastern border was secure. Her armies could begin to march westwards, to regain the lands which had been lost. They marched from Meroe which is far – too far – from the city of Carthage. When a large army from Syracuse arrived on the African coast south of Carthage, the people of Carthage’s capital – the Faithless City - expected defeat.
It was not a Carthaginian army which saved the capital. The kingdom of Libya, a client state of Carthage, had developed a sophisticated army. When Carthage’s armies marched through Libya, Libya offered them levy troops. Before, they had offered javelin-men. Now, they offered hoplites and horsemen. Libya’s army could not win against the invaders, but they fought bravely, inflicting heavy losses on the invaders before falling back. After this battle, the army from Syracuse was not strong enough to capture Carthage’s capital. The invaders turned south, threatening the Libyan kingdom.
Before, the Carthaginian people had seen their Libyan client kingdom as a useful ally, nothing more. Now, the Carthaginians had a change of heart; the Libyan kingdom were the saviours of the Faithless City. After this brave action, Carthaginians used a new proverb to describe those who had saved their capital – ‘as loyal as a Libyan’.
The first of Carthage’s armies to reach Libya on their westward march was called Dido’s Faithful, named after the first queen of Carthage. When their scouts found the invading army, the general saw his chance to repay the loyal Libyans for saving Carthage’s capital. But two Libyan cities were in danger. Lepcis was in the path of the army from Syracuse, while Macomades was threatened by a horde of escaped slaves. The Carthaginian army could reach one city in time, but not both.