- After the Second Punic War, Carthage had recovered to the point that in 191 it offered to repay the remainder of
the 50-year tribute of 200 talents per year in one lump sum.
- Carthage's neighbour, the Numidian king Masinissa, had been granted as a
reward for his support of Rome at the Battle of Zama his paternal kingdom and the western Numidian kingdom ruled by Syphax.
- After a series of losses and numerous Numidian attacks, the Carthaginians in
151 decided to fight back, violating the treaty of 201 When a Roman
delegation observed thisRome was provided with the casus belli for a declaration of war
in 149.
-Polybius claimed that the Senate had decided on this war "long before."
- It was Cato the Elder who cried "Carthago Delenda est" (Carthage must be destroyed) which resulted
in the famous slogan.
Carthage desperately tried to make amends, executing their own generals who
had fought against the Numidians, surrendering to Rome, handing over hostages,
armour, and artillery.
- Rome finally agreed that: Carthage must be abandoned and the population
moved to a new site inland. Carthage had no choice but to fight.
- Rome sent huge land and naval forces under both consuls of 149, Lucius
Marcius Censorinus and Manius Manilius.
- Rome knew they would win but the heavy fortifications of Carthage delayed
the Roman victory. The young Scipio Aemilianus was elected consul for 147, and by
popular vote he was assigned the task of bringing the war to an end. He
blockaded the city by land and sea, inflicting terrible suffering.
- Finally, in 146, the Roman army took Carthage, enslaved its remaining 50,000
inhabitants, burned the buildings to the ground, and ritually sowed the site
with salt to guarantee that nothing would ever grow there again.
- Carthaginian territory was annexed as the province of Africa.
The History of Rome - Part One 743 - 136 B.C.
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