586. Book XXlV- XXV. Livy, The War With Hannibal. Translation by Aubrey De Selincourt.
Bruttians (near heel of Italy) join Hannibal. The Greeks in southern Italy continue to support Rome. This area was politically and socially complex. Carthage wanted to use Bruttians against Rome but to do so the Carthaginians had to find a way to allow Bruttians to sack Greek cities in southern Italy. Most of these were allied with Rome but Hannibal hoped to get these on his side too. Hard to do if he is helping Bruttians sack Greek cities. Plus these cities appear at this time to still be separate entities. Any concept of common culture and purpose seems to have eluded them at this point. Hannibal could use ports in southern Italy. At the moment these were allies of Rome.
Hiero, king of Syracuse, dies. His son becomes an ally of Hannibal. Sicily is a must hold for the Romans. Sicily supplies grain in large amounts and is strategic for keeping Carthaginians from crossing directly from Carthage to Italy.
Romans hold elections. Consuls elected. One had a poor record. Quintus Fabius Maximus, as presiding officer, asks the centuries to vote again. Marcellus and Fabius are elected. It is clear that Fabius was an ambitious politician but it is also clear that he did not want another Cannae.
Hannibal needs Tarentum and its port to allows supplies and troops from Philip. The Romans manage to prevent the loss of Tarentum. Marcellus defeats Hannibal at Nola. Fabius was busy besieging Casilinum. Fabius wants to lift siege since Casilinum is not that strategic. Marcellus agrees about its lack of strategic importance but suggests that dropping the siege would send wrong message to too many people. Casilinum falls. War is expected soon in Sicily. Marcellus prepares.
Marcellus arrives at Syracuse at height of political unrest. There is hot competition for the throne. Marcellus offers renewal of old treaty. Syracuse refuses. Marcellus begins the siege. Marcellus skillfully nullifies Carthaginian forces in Sicily and at the same time continues working of Syracuse.
214 BC. War with Philip. Marcus Valerius Laevinus at Brundisium (port faces northern Greece) learns that Philip is attacking Oricum which he will use a base for departure to Italy. Laevinus stops Philip.
In Spain matters heat up. The Scipios have been penetrating further and further into Spain. The two brothers worked well together. Once Gnaeus was wounded in the thigh. In the next battle he was carried into battle on a stretcher. One tough fellow. Reminds me of my buddy Stonewall Jackson. Carthaginian reinforcements are defeated. Rome finally recovers Saguntum fours years after the war began.
Elections are held. Rome now maintains armies in Spain, Sicily, Macedonia, Italy.
Scipios success in Spain gains Syphax as an ally. Soon Syphax is defeated by new ally of Carthage, Masinissa. Romans employ their first mercenaries, the Celitberians. It must have seemed like a never ending struggle for Rome with no end in sight.
Book XXV.
As the war dragged on, people began to look to other forms of religious rites for dealing with crisis. In the elections of 212, the Romans did the same thing to adjust to an unusual situation, they assigned one Praetor to handle all court cases and the other was assigned to command an army. As of this year the Romans had 23 legions in the field. They were having trouble meeting recruit requirements, so they lowered the age requirement.
Certain business people concocted a plan to bilk the government of money while of course filling their own. They would take a worthless ship load it with worthless material but on the ledger it was full of valuables. Then they would take it out to sea, sink it and then claim the loss.
The loyalty of the Campanian district was suspect at best. Some kept Hannibal informed of troop movements. The Senate sponsored an army with their own cash. It was formed by a centurion. The army was caught, mauled and cut to pieces by Hannibal. Hannibal lured a Roman commander into a trap and killed 16,000 Roman soldiers.
Consuls carry on conflict around Capua. Hannibal works to take Beneventum- fails, tries Tarentum- fails. Capua asked Hannibal for assistance, Hannibal refuses as he is tied up in southern Italy. I do not know if this was by intent by the Romans or a windfall which gave a sigh of relief.
Marcellus is busy in Sicily. Syracuse must be taken. Syracuse is the key to Sicily. Tarentum, Beneventum must be held to keep Philip out of Italy. Capua must be punished. It was once a loyal ally, and its nearness to Rome makes the punishment of the city paramount.
Chance tipped the scales in Syracuse. An envoy from Syracuse to Philip was caught by the Romans. Negotiations take place for his exchange. A Roman who was part of the exchange process had the presence of mind to count the bricks which composed the wall. Romans built ladders to match, waited for a festival to take place and broke into the city. Soon Marcellus led the entire army in. Marcellus designs the assault to help reduce destruction of property. While all of this is in progress, reinforcements arrive from Carthage. Marcellus defeats these too. But a plague breaks out which affects both armies. Marcellus contends with this too. More reinforcements arrive and Marcellus defeats these too. A Carthaginian fleet arrives, when they see the situation in Syracuse, they proceed to Tarentum. The city was plundered. The royal treasury was protected. During the course of the sack Archimedes was killed. Marcellus grieved. He made sure that Marcellus was given proper burial.
In Spain after success, the Scipio brothers decide that it is time to take the offensive, since their goal had been achieved- keep Hasdrubal out of Italy. Now they decide it is time to end Carthaginian presence in Spain. Brothers split the Roman army. But in separate battles both armies are defeated and both die in battle.
At this point it appeared that all which had been gained in Spain was lost. However Lucius Marcius formed an army from the remnants and joined Fonteius who had been left in main camp. Both cross the Ebro and take up position. Carthaginians come to finish them off. Marcius beats them off. But cleverly prevents Romans from pursuit. Carthaginians figure the Romans are exhausted and afraid. Thus the Carthaginians return to their camp in disorder. Marcius’ plan was to attack this army before two Carthaginian armies arrive to support. Marcius overruns both camps. Clear victory. Carthaginians abandon plan to cross the Ebro. All historians agree that Marcius performed great service during tis crisis.
Marcellus removed to Rome numerous paintings, statues. Marcellus clears Sicily of Carthaginians. He is victorious.
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