Third Punic War: The Death of Carthage

How the Romans exterminated their Punic enemy in 146 BC.

After two bloody, drawn-out wars against Rome, Carthage was reduced to a weakened power. But it still existed, much to the chagrin of some Romans. 

“Carthage must be destroyed”

After Rome’s triumph in the Second Punic War, Carthage was forced to pay a hefty sum of talents, land, and military autonomy. Carthage was not allowed to wage any war without Rome’s approval, even defensive ones. 

King Masinissa of Numidia, an ally of Rome, exploited Carthage’s situation. Numidia began to expand into Punic territory. For three decades, Rome supported Numidia’s war of aggression against a subdued Carthage. By 151 BC, Carthage had suffered enough. Under attack again from Numidia, General Hasdrubal launched a counter-offensive. The Punic general was sentenced to death by  for his actions.

Back in Rome’s Senate, a handful of hardliners insisted that Carthage’s continued existence posed a threat to the Republic. No one knows why the Romans felt this way. Was it greed? Was it the threat of economic competition? Was it fear that a revanchist Carthage would return to power? Some of Rome’s elites felt that Carthage should be left alone, because the enemy state helped to unify Rome’s Republic. Other Romans, led by Cato the Elder, insisted that Carthage be destroyed. Cato ended his every speech, even ones completely unrelated to Carthage, with the following phrase: Carthago delenda est (“Carthage must be destroyed”). 

Carthage attempted to negotiate with Rome, but it was too late. In 149 BC, two consuls—Manius Manilius and Lucius Calpurnius Piso—landed at the port city of Utica, not far from Carthage itself. Rome had an iron-clad determination to wage war, but Carthage was equally determined to use diplomacy and make peace. Carthage sent an embassy to the Romans. Rome first reacted by trying to disarm Carthage. Carthage obliged. But Rome’s demands got even worse. The Romans demanded that Carthage relocate their city. The Carthaginians refused, and prepared to defend their city at all costs. 

Carthage, realizing that Rome could never be an ally, released their general Hasdrubal, who prepared to defend the city from the Romans. As the Romans moved in for a siege, Carthage attempted to disrupt Roman supply lines and damage their ships. It was of little success. The Romans changed strategy, deciding to knock out Carthage’s allies before invading the city itself. But this strategy was not particularly successful either. 

Scipio’s invasion

The grandson of Scipio Africanus, known as Scipio Aemilianus, was elected consul of Rome in 147 BC. He received full command of the campaign against Carthage. This was just what Rome needed. Within the walls of Carthage, Hasdrubal clashed with his government, and so he led a coup. He controlled the entire city. 

The remainder of the war became a showdown between Scipio and Hasdrubal. Scipio fired his Roman troops, replacing them with more disciplined ones. He prepared to break through the city’s robust defenses. He quickly found success. In the dark of night, Scipio and a small force managed to break through. In a show of force, an enraged Hasdrubal tortured his Roman prisoners of war. Scipio tried to cut off Carthage from any outside help. 

Rome’s progress continued to lag until finally, in 146 BC, Scipio got his wish. As spring rolled around, Scipio renewed his siege. It was massively successful. Over the next week, Scipio led his men in a scorched earth campaign, massacring the citizens of Carthage and burning the city to the ground. Only 50,000 of them were spared, and they were sold off into slavery. Hasdrubal surrendered. Scipio, in one final act of clemency, spared the life of his rival. Carthage was gone. The Romans proceeded to annex Carthage outright, ending the Punic Wars once and for all.