Third Punic War

The Third Punic War (149-146 BCE) formed part of the Punic Wars (246-146 BCE) between Carthage and the Roman Republic;
The War consisted of a three year siege of Carthage which resulted in its destruction.

Although Carthage was no longer a military threat, after it had paid off its War Indemnity its economy was rapidly redeveloping in rivalry to Rome.
Cato the Elder represented the anti-Carthage group, and constantly repeated the statement in the Roman Senate, Carthago delenda est meaning ‘Carthage must be destroyed’.
When the port of Utica decided to become a Roman Ally, it gave the Romans a port to use for their invasion, and they declared war on Carthage.

In 149 BCE, the Roman Army landed an Army of c.50,000 men near Utica 22 miles (35 km) north of Carthage.
To avoid a siege, the Romans demanded the Carthaginians relinquish all their weapons, whereupon a sizeable quantity was handed over.

When the Romans then demanded Carthage be razed, the Carthaginians declared war and positioned the Carthaginian Army under General Hasdrubal the Boetharch, in a camp 16 miles (25km) to the south of the city.
The Romans besieged the city with its army and Fleet, but were unable to breach the walls.
Carthaginian Fireships destroyed part of the Roman Fleet off Utica in 148 BCE, forcing it to move away and change its tactics from siege to blockade.
The Roman Army was also forced to move its camp away, because it was located in a swamp which was spreading disease.
The Carthaginians continued building new warships, but each time they confronted the Roman Fleet they were defeated. Supplies continued to get in past the blockade.
The walls of Carthage were extremely well defended and a stalemate ensued between 148-147 BCE.

Scipio Aemilianus, the adopted Grandson of Scipio Africanus was elected Consul in 147 BCE.
After an unsuccessful breach of the walls by the Romans, General Hasdrubal moved the army back into the city where he ruthlessly suppressed any opposition and openly tortured Roman prisoners on the walls. However, with no Carthaginian army to protect them, the surrounding Carthaginian cities allied themselves to the Romans.
Scipio built a mole to blockade the city by sea. Eventually the Roman Army made a successfully breach in the walls and after 6 days took the city.
Out of the population of Carthage, only 50,000 prisoners were taken and these were sold into slavery.

Carthage was razed to the ground and Utica became the Capital of the new Roman Province of Africa Proconsularis.
In the next century Carthage would be rebuilt and prosper as a Roman city.
In 698 CE Roman Carthage finally fell to the Arab Armies. Its ruins lie 15 miles (24km) east of Tunis.

Punic Port of Carthage, Tunisia