Hannibal by Eve MacDonald

Author:Eve MacDonald
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780300152043
Publisher: Yale University Press

CHAPTER 11

HANNIBAL RETURNS

When they considered the worth of Hannibal and the greatness of his acts, it offended them to think that they had been so base as to make humble suit unto Rome for peace, whilst they had such a brave champion alive to maintain their cause by war. (Sir Walter Ralegh)1

THERE HAD BEEN A time when ‘Italy trembled’ at Hannibal as he brought ‘thundering war to Rome’ but increasingly he was a sideshow in a conflagration that had shifted its focus south to Sicily where preparations were being made to invade Africa (Justin 32.4). In the final years of the conflict Hannibal looked on as a spectator while the action relocated to Africa where Carthage and her most important allies, the Numidians, took centre stage. The Numidian cavalry that had fought with Hannibal to such devastating effect in his victories were the Carthaginian allies most frequently referred to by the Roman sources.2 Their leaders were tied to the Barcid generals and other elite Carthaginian families through bonds of loyalty and marriage.3 We have seen how the alliances of the Numidians shifted over the course of the war, with the Romans vying to entice allies away from Carthage. The approach taken by Scipio and the Romans in Africa was not dissimilar to that taken by Hannibal in Italy. Carthage, if isolated from her neighbours, would not have the resources to keep fighting.4 The earlier invasions of Agathocles, that of Regulus in the First Punic War and the Mercenary War had proven how vulnerable the city was in the face of an African revolt.

The background to the final stages of the war in Africa is closely connected to the dynastic struggle and inter-kingdom rivalries between the key allies: the Masaesylian king Syphax and Massylian king Masinissa. Through their alliance with the two competing superpowers the Numidian kings developed their own realms in this period. They used their positions as allies of Carthage and then Rome to gain advantage over each other.5 It was after the battle of Ilipa in Iberia that Masinissa chose to enter into discussions with the Romans about abandoning his alliance with Carthage (Livy 28.16.11).6 The reputation, personal prestige and victories of the Roman army under the younger Scipio may have influenced Masinissa into changing sides but practical considerations about his own role in politics at home must have driven his choice.7 Masinissa met secretly with one of Scipio’s deputies (and perhaps Scipio himself), agreed an alliance with Rome and encouraged the Romans to invade Africa. Carthage would not last long, Masinissa said flatteringly, if the Romans had Scipio as commander (Livy 28.35.11).8 He then dashed off to Africa where his father’s and uncle’s deaths had left his Massylian kingdom in turmoil.9

The alliance between Masinissa and the Romans would be of fundamental importance to the outcome of the war. However, in 205 BCE the reality of Masinissa’s situation was more complex. His father’s kingdom was now ruled by a distant relative who had made overtures to Carthage and King Syphax.

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