George Philip Baker
Ed. Dall'Oglio
pp. 332
Mediterranean! The Mare Nostrum of the Romans. Ancient cities sprang up along its coasts at different times. Among these Utica, which in Phoenician means "old city", but also Kart Hadasht, new city, which the Romans called Carthage.
The history of Carthage is linked to that of Syracuse, Rome and the Punic wars and to that of a family: the Barca.
Amilcare, Hannibal's father, had been commander of the Carthaginian troops in Sicily, where for some years there had been clashes between Rome and Carthage, from time to time called for war to conquer hegemony over the Mediterranean.
Hannibal was born in Carthage at this time, in the 247 BC
After the end of the conflict in Sicily, Amilcare leaves the army's head and returns home. Years of rebellions will follow, caused by the non-payment of money to mercenary troops.
Carthage, in what is known as the First Punic War and in subsequent revolts, besides Sicily, also lost Sardinia.
Following an attempted coup by Amilcare, which failed, the general left for Spain, perhaps called by his Asdrubal son-in-law, and from there began preparations for the conquest of Italy.
Hannibal at that time was only nine years old when, one day, his father called him to him and asked him if he wanted to follow him to Spain. Hannibal accepted with joy. The father then made him pronounce a solemn oath with which he undertook never to reconcile himself with his enemies, the Romans.
In the following nine years Amilcare, still with his son at his side, conquered Spain.
He was preparing for the conquest of further territories in the north of Spain when, crossing a river, he drowned.
Power passed into the hands of Asdrubale, his son-in-law, who continued his campaigns of conquest for another eight years, attesting to the border on the Ebro. Beyond the river the area of influence of the Romans began, it was not possible to cross it unless the war resumed.
Hasdrubal was assassinated in the 221 BC
Hannibal had 26 years and was the natural successor of his uncle, he had the reins of the command. On the other hand, Carthage was not much worried about what was happening in Spain, so when Asdrubale died the nomination of Hannibal as the new army commander was ratified.
In those years of conquest in Spain, the army had changed.
First he had become a professional army. Hired, trained and paid by the General Staff who had it without asking any opinion of the political class of Carthage. It was no longer a question of the army of mercenaries previously employed and which had caused so many problems on returning from Sicily.
Hannibal had a well-trained army and above all loyal to him and only to him. In the following two years he was concerned to consolidate his power and to subdue the tribes of the Ebro valley, trying not to enter into conflict with the Romans. At least until the Romans violated the peace treaty then in force.
A small town, Sagunto, south of the Ebro and therefore under the influence of the Carthaginians of Spain, asked for help in Rome. This, determined to stop the advance of Carthage, intervened in favor of Sagunto, declaring that the city was under his protection.
Hannibal was waiting for this moment.
He met the Roman ambassadors and complained to them about the interference in the territories he considered his. He said he could not pretend anything at the expense of his and Carthage's credibility. If things remained so the peace between Carthage and Rome was broken and the responsibility was of the Romans.
The Senate of Rome did not take seriously the threats of the young Barca, also because he was busy managing the problems of the nearest Illyria (which was where Albania and Montenegro are today).
The consul Lucio Emilio Paolo had just left for Dimale, a city near present-day Durres, where the king of Illyria Demetrio di Faro (former Roman ally) had deployed all his strength, when Hannibal took the siege of Sagunto.
The conquest of Sagunto was the first great undertaking of Hannibal, the great Carthaginian general who will be remembered by history for having crossed the Alps with his war elephants and for having brought the Romans to their knees in the famous battle of Canne.
The intelligence of the Carthaginian general, his willpower, his ability to maneuver and the cunning of which he gave ample demonstration, still make him one of the most studied today.
The book by George Philiph Baker, an English author born in Plumstead in the 1879, is really exciting, written with style, never heavy, full of details and quotes from classical authors, it deserves to be part of every personal history's personal library .
Alesssandro Rugolo
