Valens Posted June 27, 2004 Report Share Posted June 27, 2004 While reading the section on the First Punic War, I was interested to see that Sparta had been hired on as a mercenary army by Carthage, with great success in the Battle of Bagradas. I'm curious to know if the Spartans fought in any of the other Punic War battles, and if so, with how much success? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viggen Posted June 27, 2004 Report Share Posted June 27, 2004 Hello Valens, You might find the Macedonian Wars interesting, were a vigorous struggle was maintained with the Achaean League and with Macedon until the Romans, after the conclusion of their war with Philip V sent an army into Laconia under T. Quinctius Flamininus. Sparta was forced in 192 BC by Philopoenien to enroll itself as a member of the Achaean League under a phil-Achaean aristocracy.Again and again the relations between the Spartans and the Achaean League formed the occasion of discussions in the Roman senate or of the despatch of Roman embassies to Greece, but no decisive intervention took place until a fresh dispute about the position of Sparta in the league led to a decision by the Romans that Sparta, Corinth, Argos, Arcadian Orchomenus and Heraclea on Oeta should be severed from it. This resulted in an open breach between the league and Rome, and eventually, in 146 BC, after the sack of Corinth, in the dissolution of the league and the annexation of Greece to the Roman province of Macedonia. related info: Roman Province of Achaea and Roman Province of Macedonia cheers viggen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valens Posted June 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2004 Thanks for the info, but I'm still a bit confused on events prior to those which you mentioned. Did Sparta intervene in any other First Punic War battles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primus Pilus Posted June 27, 2004 Report Share Posted June 27, 2004 No, Sparta was involved in the First Punic War as a mercenary army. During the Second Punic War, hostility broke out between Philip of Macedonia and Rome. The Macedonian Wars had nothing to do with Sparta. The Spartan mercenaries revolted after the close of the First Punic War, and Carthage was hard pressed to put them down. Under Hannibal's father, Hamilcar, Carthage finally succeeded after several years. In the meantime, Rome took Sardinia and Corsica from Carthage, fueling the fire for the Second Punic War. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valens Posted June 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2004 No, Sparta was involved in the First Punic War as a mercenary army. Right, but was Bagradas the only First Punic War Battle they fought in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primus Pilus Posted June 27, 2004 Report Share Posted June 27, 2004 No, they were involved in Tunes, in North Africa, c. 255 BC and were likely involved in several battles in Sicily under Hamilcar. The bulf of the Spartan force likely stayed in Africa, fighting the Numidians. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valens Posted June 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2004 Ah, thanks. One last question: Was there a Sparta General in Africa, or did Sparta just send troops to serve under a commander from Carthage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primus Pilus Posted June 28, 2004 Report Share Posted June 28, 2004 Spartan commander was Xanthippus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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