Roman Republic: 2nd Punic War Background Guide

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 Historical Background

The year is 218 BC. The Republic of Rome has accumulated a long series of

major victories. It has brought the Italian states, often unwillingly, under its control, and

only 13 years ago, won the First Punic War against Carthage, bringing the islands of

Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily under its control. Now, with its influence expanded into

Illyria and Greece, Rome seems poised to continue its incredible rise.

Carthage, however, despite the loss of its island possessions in the Central

Mediterranean, does not stand idle. It has expanded its influence in Iberia. Just last

year, the Carthaginian leader Hannibal Barca seized control of the city of Saguntum, a

staunch Roman ally. This has driven the Senate to declare war upon the Carthaginians.

War, long a Roman specialty, has descended upon the Mediterranean once again, and

the people of the Republic expect to make quick work of Carthage.

Roman Culture

Roman social structure has four tiers: Patricians, Plebeians, Latini, and slaves.

Patricians are the old ruling class of Rome and among the wealthiest and most famous

families of the Republic. Few in number, they still hold many of the offices and much of

the power of Rome. The Plebeians are Rome’s former lower class citizens. They

represent the majority of the city’s populace. They accredit their new position to new

laws put forward in the last century that have put them on an equal political footing with

the Patricians. The majority of Roman soldiers come from this class. The Latini are the

peoples of the Italian States which are under Rome’s control. They have limited rights

under Roman rule and are required to furnish troops for Rome’s wars. Finally, Slaves
are individuals bought from slave markets or taken from conquered peoples that are

then forced into bondage under a master. They perform myriad tasks: from the menial

to the scholarly. Their rights are incredibly limited and are often ignored by Roman laws.

Other Nations

Carthage: Carthage is a powerful mercantile republic currently occupying much of

North Africa and Spain. Rome and Carthage have been rivals for some time, and they

have already fought one major war in which Rome emerged victorious. The Barcid

family, currently led by General Hannibal, controls the country. However, Hannibal

does have a few significant rivals preventing him from maintaining full control of his

nation.

Macedon: Macedon is a successor state born after the death and destruction of

Alexander the Great and his empire in 323 BCE. Currently, the state controls much of

northern and eastern Greece, though it intends to regain full control of Greece. This

means that this state proves hostile to both Rome and the Aetolian League. While

Macedon is not as powerful as its rivals in Seleucia or Egypt, its comparative distance

from these states lends to its imperviousness to foreign threat.

Aetolian League: This league once represented a loose alliance of anti-Macedonian

city states. Now, these states have merged into, essentially, a single nation. This

makeshift nation occupies the area of Greece not controlled by Rome and Macedon.
Their primary goal is to prevent the two from dominating the peninsula. The nation is not

terribly wealth and often resorts to piracy to supplement their income.

Numidia: Numidia is an area currently composed of two competing kingdoms: the

Masaesyli ruled by King Syphax and the Carthaginian allied Massylii ruled by King

Masinissa. Both states intend to to defeat one another for full and undisputed control of

Numidia. They are renowned for their quality horses and the fighting ability of their light

cavalry.

Iberian Tribes: The Iberian tribes are a collection of non-Celtic tribes occupying

southern and eastern Hispania. Most are aligned with Carthage. Like most tribal groups,

they are often available as mercenaries.

Gallic Tribes: The Gallic Tribes are Rome’s ancient, yet utterly disunited enemies.

They are Celtic peoples who occupy northern Italy and Gaul. Rather than uniting their

scattered forces for large battles, they tend to undertake raid missions against their

enemies. However, in 387 BCE the city of Rome once fell to the Gallic forces of

Brennus leading current Roman citizens to view the tribes as a viable threat. The tribes

are currently disunited and squabbling amongst each other, though tribes often grant

mercenaries to financially sound leaders who can promise money and opportunity for

plunder.

Syracuse: Syracuse is a city-state occupying southeastern Sicily. This state maintains

a Greek culture and is by far, the most impressive city in Sicily. Syracuse aligned with

Rome during the First Punic War due to their joint history of waging war on Carthage.
For a single city, Syracuse has a powerful fleet and access to an impressive amount of

wealth.

Ptolemaic Egypt: Ptolemaic Egypt supplements Macedon as yet another powerful

Alexandrian successor state. Ptolemy, one of Alexander’s generals, proclaimed himself

as the Pharaoh of Egypt, and since then the Ptolemaic people have been trying to

destroy the Seleucid state and unite Alexander’s Empire. Ptolemaic Egypt possesses

possibly the most powerful fleet on the Mediterranean.

Seleucia: Seleucia is the most powerful of the Alexandrian successor kingdoms. The

nation, stretching from Western India to Western Asia Minor has enemies in both Egypt

and Macedonia. While its many enemies prove a limit to their omnipotent nature, there

are few who would deny their claim to power in the Mediterranean.

Roman Families

Acilius- A plebeian family that only recently reached prominence. As a new member

family of high society, this family has support among many Roman lower classes.

However, among patrician families, the Acilii have little prestige.

Aelius- One of the earliest plebeian families to gain prominence in Rome, with

members in the Roman Consul.

Aemilius- An old and powerful patrician family with roots in Rome’s earliest history.

They are protective of patrician class privileges.

Aurelius- A newer but capable and clever plebeian family. The family first gained

influence in the consulship during the First Punic War and is vehemently anti-Carthage.
Calpurnius- A newly risen plebeian family, which gained prominence through their

military prowess in the First Punic War.

Claudius- One of the oldest patrician families. They are dismissive of the plebeian class

and unwilling to bend to any laws detailing an expansion of Roman citizenship.

Cornelius- A patrician family that is perhaps the most prestigious in Rome, as

throughout the history of the Republic, they have held more high offices than any other

house.

Fabius- A patrician family noted for its strong loyalty to the republic as well as its

military prowess. They are close with the Fulvian family.

Flaminius- A very young plebeian family, with very little prestige. They are desperate to

gain glory and secure their position within Roman society.

Fulvius- An accomplished plebeian family known for its military accomplishments and

its close association with the patrician Fabian family.

Furius- A fairly famous patrician family remembered for Marcus Camillus: often known

as the second founder of Rome.

Julius- An ancient patrician family whose influence has waned over the last few

decades.

Junius- An old and beloved Roman family who expelled the last king of Rome and is a

staunch supporter of the Republic.

Manlius- A patrician family concerned with the rights of plebeians. This connection has

made them popular with the lower classes, but many among the upper classes treat

them with suspicion.

Papirius- A plebeian family with old patrician roots. They are greatly respected among

even patrician families.

Quinctius- A patrician family whose most famous member was Lucius Quinctius

Cincinnatus: a man who assumed Roman dictatorship twice in an effort to save the

Republic.

Sempronius- A plebeian family with ties to Sardinia and Corsica.

Terentius- A plebeian family, fiercely anti-Carthaginian.

Valerius- Perhaps the most prestigious patrician family in Rome known for its pro-

plebeian and charitable nature.

Additional Sources:

http://dcc.dickinson.edu/nepos-hannibal/second-punic-war

https://www.britannica.com/event/Second-Punic-War

http://www.forumromanum.org/history/morey15.html

http://csuimages.sjsu.edu/gallery/oldworld/ancientrome/socialclass/index.html