What were the Punic Wars?

The Punic Wars were a series of conflicts between Carthage and Rome between 264-146 BCE. Rome won all three wars.

What does "Punic" mean in The Punic Wars?

"Punic" comes from the Latin "Punicus" which was the Roman word for Phoenicians and the Carthaginians were considered Phoenicians. Since Roman authors wrote the history of the wars, they were called Punic Wars because they felt Carthage started them.

Who won the Punic Wars?

Rome won all three Punic Wars and, after the third, Carthage was destroyed.

What are the dates of the Punic Wars?

The First Punic War: 264-241 BCE; The Second Punic War: 218-201 BCE; The Third Punic War: 149-146 BCE.

What was the cause of the Punic Wars?

The Punic Wars were caused by the competing interests of Carthage and Rome. Carthage controlled the Mediterranean and Rome was expanding, bringing the two into conflict.

Punic Wars Timeline

Definition

The Punic Wars were a series of conflicts fought between Carthage and Rome between 264 BCE and 146 BCE. The name Punic comes from the word Phoenician (Phoinix in the Greek, Poenus from Punicus in Latin) as applied to the citizens of Carthage, who were of Phoenician ethnicity.

More about: Punic Wars

Timeline

264 BCE
The Mamertines at Messana on Sicily call for Carthaginian and then Roman help in defence against Syracuse, sparking the First Punic War.
264 BCE - 241 BCE
First Punic War. Carthage cedes Sicily to Rome.
c. 263 BCE
Antaros and 3000 Celts fight with Carthage in the First Punic War.
263 BCE
Segesta joins the Roman cause in the First Punic War.
262 BCE
Rome besieges and sacks Agrigento on Sicily in one of the first actions of the First Punic War.
260 BCE
First Roman naval victory against Carthage off Mylae in the First Punic War.
260 BCE
Rome builds a fleet of 120 ships in just 60 days to fight the First Punic War.
258 BCE
Rome wins a naval battle against Carthage at Sulcis during the First Punic War.
256 BCE
Roman naval victory against Carthage off Ecnomus during the First Punic War.
256 BCE
Rome lands an army of four legions on African soil at Clupea during the First Punic War.
255 BCE - 253 BCE
Roman fleets are wrecked by storms off Pachynus and Palinurus during the First Punic War.
255 BCE
Carthage sues for peace during the First Punic War but the Roman consul Regulus' excessive demands are rejected.
255 BCE
A Carthaginain army led by the mercenary Spartan commander Xanthippus defeats two Roman legions near Tunis during the First Punic War.
254 BCE
Romans capture Palermo during the First Punic War.
Jun 250 BCE
A Carthaginian army led by Hasdrubal is defeated by Roman consul Metellus near Palermo in the First Punic War.
249 BCE
Carthage defeats Rome in a naval battle at Drepanum during the First Punic War.
249 BCE
Antaros withdraws his support from Carthage.
247 BCE
Hamilcar Barca raids southern Italy and then lands on Sicily during the First Punic War.
244 BCE
Hamilcar Barca captures Eryx on Sicily during the First Punic War.
242 BCE
A Roman fleet besieges the Carthaginian stronghold of Drepana on Sicily during the First Punic War.
241 BCE
Roman naval victory off the Aegates Islands leads to victory over Carthage, ending the First Punic War.
237 BCE
Hamilcar Barca arrives in southern Spain to expand Carthage's interests there. He makes his base at Gades and founds Acra Leuce.
229 BCE
Hasdrubal takes command of Carthage's armies in Spain.
226 BCE
Hasdrubal signs an agreement with Rome not to cross the Ebro river in Spain.
221 BCE
Hannibal takes command of Carthage's armies in Spain.
219 BCE
Hannibal crosses the Ebro river in Spain and sacks the city of Saguntum, Rome's ally, sparking off the Second Punic War.
218 BCE - 201 BCE
Second Punic War.
Mar 218 BCE
Rome declares war on Carthage after Hannibal sacks Saguntum in Spain. The Second Punic War begins.
Apr 218 BCE - May 218 BCE
Hannibal leaves Spain to cross the Pyrenees and Alps into Italy.
Nov 218 BCE
Hannibal wins the battle of Ticinus.
Dec 218 BCE
Hannibal wins the battle of Trebia.
Jun 217 BCE
Hannibal wins the battle of Lake Trasimene.
216 BCE
Marcus Claudius Marcellus successfully defends Nola against attack from Hannibal during the Second Punic War.
216 BCE
"Hannibal ante portas." Hannibal directly threatens the city of Rome, but cannot advance due to lack of supplies and reinforcements.
Aug 216 BCE
Hannibal wins the battle of Cannae, the worst defeat in Roman history.
215 BCE
A Carthaginian army led by Hasdrubal is defeated at the battle of Ibera in Spain.
214 BCE
Syracuse joins the side of Carthage in the Second Punic War.
213 BCE - 212 BCE
Roman commander Marcus Claudius Marcellus lays seige to and ultimately sacks Syracuse.
212 BCE
A Carthaginian army is defeated in Sicily by a Roman army led by Marcellus. Syracuse falls to Rome who now control the island.
211 BCE
Marcus Claudius Marcellus is given a triumph for his capture of Syracuse and victories in Sicily.
211 BCE
Scipio Africanus lands an army for the second time at Empuries in northeastern Spain during the Second Punic War.
211 BCE
A Carthaginian army defeats two Roman consuls and their armies in the Tader valley, Spain.
210 BCE - 207 BCE
Scipio Africanus conquers Spain for Rome.
209 BCE
Tarentum comes under Roman control during the Second Punic War.
209 BCE
Scipio Africanus captures the Carthaginian base and treasury Carthago Nova in southern Spain.
208 BCE
Roman commander Marcus Claudius Marcellus is killed in an ambush in Venusia, southern Italy.
208 BCE
Scipio Africanus defeats a Carthaginian army led by Hasdrubal at Baecula in Spain.
207 BCE
Hannibal, harassed by Roman forces, is reduced to controlling only Bruttium in southern Italy.
c. 22 Jun 207 BCE
Rome defeats a Carthaginian army at the battle of Metaurus.
206 BCE - 205 BCE
The Romans conquer Gades. End of the Carthaginian presence on the Iberian Peninsula.
206 BCE
Scipio Africanus wins the battle of Ilipa in Spain.
204 BCE - 203 BCE
Scipio Africanus wins two battles and besieges Utica in North Africa.
204 BCE
Scipio Africanus sails to North Africa in the Second Punic War.
203 BCE
Carthaginian commander Mago is unable to join forces with Hannibal and his army is defeated in Cisalpine Gaul.
203 BCE
Scipio Africanus attacks the two camps of Syphax and Gisgo in North Africa and destroys their armies.
203 BCE
Scipio Africanus defeats a Carthaginian army led by Hasdrubal in North Africa.
203 BCE
Hannibal is recalled from Italy to defend Carthage against Scipio Africanus.
19 Oct 202 BCE
Battle of Zama: Scipio Africanus defeats Hannibal, ending the Second Punic War.
150 BCE
A Carthaginian army attacks Numidia, breaking the peace treaty agreed with Rome and sparking the Third Punic War.
149 BCE - 146 BCE
Third Punic War.
149 BCE
Rome sends an army of 80,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry to attack Carthage.
148 BCE
The Roman siege of Carthage, in its second year, remains unsuccessful.
147 BCE
Scipio Africanus the Younger takes over command of the siege of Carthage and builds a mole to block its harbour.
146 BCE
Scipio Africanus the Younger sacks Carthage and enslaves its population.