The Third Punic War is the last phase of a conflict which opposes during more than one century Rome and Carthage and which is balanced at the conclusion of a short campaign and a long seat by the destruction of the punic city.

Origins

This war is caused by Roman fears to have to again face the Carthaginians than by real threats (see celebrates it sentence Delenda Carthago is - It is necessary to destroy Carthage - of Caton). The true pretext to carry out this war is the attack of the Carthaginians on one their allies (Massinissa). The Romans reproach them for having violated the peace treaty of -202, which, prohibited in Carthage any military action without the downstream of Rome. Although Carthage found a certain economic prosperity between 200 and 149 av. J. - C., and that it completed in -151 to refund the war indemnities provided for in the treaty, it could reconstitute neither a fleet of war nor an army of importance.

In 150 av. J. - C. the king of the Numides Massinissa invades the territory of Carthage and puts the seat in front of the fortified town of Oroscopa. Carthage sends, without the permission of Rome, an army of 50  000 men who is crushed. The Roman Senate, seizing the occasion, claims satisfaction. Carthage asks for details, but does not receive an answer. A Roman army of 80  000 men concentrates in Sicily. Carthage relies on discretion of the Roman people and delivers hostages. The consuls declare that they will make known their intentions in Africa.

Unfolding

This war decided by the Roman Sénat thus consists of a short campaign intended to bring the Roman troops on-site for the seat of Carthage which lasts three years and is concluded by Publius Cornelius Scipio, which is worth the nickname of to him Second African (" Africanus minor "), the first being Scipion the African.

The Roman army passes the sea without resistance. Arrived at Utique in -149, the consuls launch their ultimatum: disarmament of Carthage, which is carried out, disappearance of the city as a maritime and commercial city. The Carthaginians will give up the city to settle inside grounds to carry out an agricultural life. The Carthaginians decide then with a desperate resistance. The city is put in a state of defense, while, under the command of Hasdrubal, an army of 80  000 men concentrates inside the country, with the camp of Néphéris. Control by unable Roman generals, the war lasts two years (-149/-147).

Carthage is insulated by the proconsul Scipion Émilien. The inhabitants try by all the means of releasing the city. The hair of the women is transformed into ropes, a fleet is built with the beams of the houses. It succeeds in leaving the port, but the incompetence of the admiral ruins it. The troops of Scipion Émilien invest the house city by house. The Carthaginians are cut off in the citadel from Byrsa and resist until spring 146 av. J. - C.. The citadel is invested, and Hasdrubal, its family and some combatants barricade themselves in the temple of Eshmoun, at the top of the hill. Hasdrubal will require secretly its thanks to Scipion. His wife, learning the news, goes up on the terrace of the temple and request in Scipion to punish her husband. She makes light one to rough-hew and throws herself in the flames with her children and the thousand of combatants remained with her.

Carthage is destroyed and burns during seventeen days. She is shaven the same year as Corinthe. Scipion Emilien of “devotes” the territory (creation of the province of Africa limited to the Fossa regia ). Its site is cursed and of the salt there would have been ritually poured (the complete salting of the site of Carthage, often professed, remains a legend: in addition to the prohibitory cost of such an operation, its implementation would have been very long).

Later resurrection of Carthage

As of the year -123, however, Caius Sempronius Gracchus proposed, for its loss, to establish 5  000 Roman colonists on the old site of Carthage. Begun again by César, the project was carried out by Auguste starting from -29. With the Carthage Roman founded (refondée) one of most brilliant was quoted of the empire, called to thrive until the invasions even Arab vandals. The Romans thus solved the disadvantage of having destroyed in -146 an essential link of the Mediterranean trade.

See too

• History of Carthage
• First Punic War
• Second Punic War
• List of the wars of the Roman Republic

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