Siege of Carthage (Third Punic War)

Siege of Carthage
Part of the Third Punic War
Catapulta by Edward Poynter. Roman siege engine in action during the siege of Carthage in the Third Punic War.
Date c. 149 – spring 146 BC Location Carthage (near Tunis) Result Roman-Numidian victory Destruction of Carthage
Belligerents
Roman Republic	Carthage
Commanders and leaders
Scipio Aemilianus Manius Manilius L. Marcius Censorinus Lucius Calpurnius Piso	Hasdrubal
Strength
36,000–46,000 infantry 4,000 cavalry	30,000 soldiers Large number of armed civilians (around 60,000)
Casualties and losses
Unknown	450,000–750,000 killed[1] 50,000 enslaved[1]

The siege of Carthage was the main engagement of the Third Punic War fought between Carthage and Rome. It consisted of the nearly-three-year siege of the Carthaginian capital, Carthage (a little north east of Tunis). In 149 BC, a large Roman army landed at Utica in North Africa. The Carthaginians hoped to appease the Romans, but despite the Carthaginians surrendering all of their weapons, the Romans pressed on to besiege the city of Carthage. The Roman campaign suffered repeated setbacks through 149 BC, only alleviated by Scipio Aemilianus, a middle-ranking officer, distinguishing himself several times. A new Roman commander took over in 148 BC, and fared equally badly. At the annual election of Roman magistrates in early 147 BC, the public support for Scipio was so great that the usual age restrictions were lifted to allow him to be appointed commander in Africa.

Scipio's term commenced with two Carthaginian successes, but he tightened the siege and commenced a construction of a large mole to prevent supplies from getting into Carthage via blockade runners. The Carthaginians had partially rebuilt their fleet and it sortied, to the Romans' surprise; after an indecisive engagement the Carthaginians mismanaged their withdrawal and lost many ships. The Romans then built a large brick structure in the harbour area, which dominated the city wall. In the spring of 146 BC, the Romans launched their final assault and over seven days systematically destroyed the city and killed its inhabitants; only on the last day did they take prisoners – 50,000, who were sold into slavery. The formerly Carthaginian territories became the Roman province of Africa, with Utica as its capital. It was a century before the site of Carthage was rebuilt as a Roman city.