Carthage Timeline

Traditional founding date for the Phoenician colony of Carthage by Tyre.

Carthage and Greece fight for dominance in Sicily.

A joint Carthaginian and Cerveteri force wins the Battle of the Sardinian Sea against the Phocaeans.

Etruscan & Carthaginian alliance expels the Greeks from Corsica.

Battle of Alalia. Carthaginian navy, in alliance with Etruscans, defeated Greek ships off the island of Corsica.

First treaty between Rome and Carthage.

Carthage expands into southern Spain.

Tyrant of Syracuse Gelon defeats the Carthaginians at the battle of Himera.

Agrigento defeats Carthage at the battle of Himera.

Agrigento is attacked and destroyed by Carthage.

Segesta comes under Carthaginian control.

The Carthaginian city of Lilybaeum is founded on Sicily.

Timoleon defeats a Carthaginian army at the battle of Crimisus in Sicily.

Timoleon agrees a peace treaty with Carthage over their control of Sicily.

A Carthaginian army defeats Agathocles of Syracuse near Gela, Sicily.

Agathocles of Syracuse lands an army of 14,000 in North Africa.

Syracuse defeats a Carthaginian army in Sicily and kills their general Hamilcar.

Agathocles of Syracuse successfuly campaigns in North Africa defeating Carthaginian armies and taking Utica and Hippacra.

Carthage defeats the army of Agathocles of Syracuse led by Archagathus while Agathocles is in Sicily.

Carthage and Agathocles of Syracuse sign a peace treaty and divide Sicily between them.

First Punic War. Carthage cedes Sicily to Rome.

The Mamertines at Messana on Sicily call for Carthaginian and then Roman help in defence against Syracuse, sparking the First Punic War.

Antaros and 3000 Celts fight with Carthage in the First Punic War.

Rome lands an army of four legions on African soil at Clupea during the First Punic War.

Roman fleets are wrecked by storms off Pachynus and Palinurus during the First Punic War.

Carthage sues for peace during the First Punic War but the Roman consul Regulus' excessive demands are rejected.

A Carthaginain army led by the mercenary Spartan commander Xanthippus defeats two Roman legions near Tunis during the First Punic War.

Antaros withdraws his support from Carthage.

Carthage defeats Rome in a naval battle at Drepanum during the First Punic War.

Life of Hannibal.

Hamilcar Barca raids southern Italy and then lands on Sicily during the First Punic War.

The rebellion of the mercenaries: Unpaid mercenaries under the leadership of Mathos and Spendios rebel against Carthage. Despite a peace treaty, Rome seizes the opportunity to strip Carthage of Sardinia and Corsica.

Hamilcar Barca arrives in southern Spain to expand Carthage's interests there. He makes his base at Gades and founds Acra Leuce.

Hasdrubal takes command of Carthage's armies in Spain.

Hasdrubal signs an agreement with Rome not to cross the Ebro river in Spain.

Hannibal takes command of Carthage's armies in Spain.

Hannibal crosses the Ebro river in Spain and sacks the city of Saguntum, Rome's ally, sparking off the Second Punic War.

Rome declares war on Carthage after Hannibal sacks Saguntum in Spain. The Second Punic War begins.

Hannibal leaves Spain to cross the Pyrenees and Alps into Italy.

Hannibal wins the battle of Ticinus.

Hannibal wins the battle of Trebia.

Hannibal wins the battle of Lake Trasimene.

"Hannibal ante portas." Hannibal directly threatens the city of Rome, but cannot advance due to lack of supplies and reinforcements.

Hannibal wins the battle of Cannae, the worst defeat in Roman history.

A Carthaginian army led by Hasdrubal is defeated at the battle of Ibera in Spain.

The Romans conquer Saguntum from the Carthaginians.

A Carthaginian army is defeated in Sicily by a Roman army led by Marcellus. Syracuse falls to Rome who now control the island.

A Carthaginian army defeats two Roman consuls and their armies in the Tader valley, Spain.

Scipio Africanus captures the Carthaginian base and treasury Carthago Nova in southern Spain.

Scipio Africanus defeats a Carthaginian army led by Hasdrubal at Baecula in Spain.

The Romans conquer Gades. End of the Carthaginian presence on the Iberian Peninsula.

Scipio Africanus wins the battle of Ilipa in Spain.

Scipio Africanus sails to North Africa in the Second Punic War.

Scipio Africanus wins two battles and besieges Utica in North Africa.

Carthaginian commander Mago is unable to join forces with Hannibal and his army is defeated in Cisalpine Gaul.

Scipio Africanus defeats a Carthaginian army led by Hasdrubal in North Africa.

Hannibal is recalled from Italy to defend Carthage against Scipio Africanus.

Hannibal flees to Hadrumentum after losing the battle of Zama.

Battle of Zama: Scipio Africanus defeats Hannibal, ending the Second Punic War.

Facing the threat of being handed to the Romans after the Second Punic War, Hannibal flees to the Seleucid court of Antiochus III and becomes his advisor.

As an ambassador to the Hellenistic kingdom of Bithynia, T. Quinctius Flamininus, the general who defeated Macedon, demands that Hannibal should be surrendered in Roman hands. As king Prusias gives in, Hannibal commits suicide in the village of Libyssa, in order to escape captivity. The Roman Senate did not approve of Flamininus' action.

A Carthaginian army attacks Numidia, breaking the peace treaty agreed with Rome and sparking the Third Punic War.

Third Punic War.

Rome sends an army of 80,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry to attack Carthage.

The Roman siege of Carthage, in its second year, remains unsuccessful.

Scipio Africanus the Younger takes over command of the siege of Carthage and builds a mole to block its harbour.

End of the Third Punic War. Carthage is destroyed and its lands become the Roman province Africa.

Scipio Africanus the Younger sacks Carthage and enslaves its population.

The Antonine Baths at Carthage are completed.