--- title: Carthaginian Government author: Mark Cartwright source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Carthaginian_Government/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 1970-01-01 --- # Carthaginian Government _Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_ The government of [Carthage](https://www.worldhistory.org/carthage/) was based on a system of elected officials accountable to a popular assembly. Unlike its founding [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/), [Tyre](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tyre/) in [Phoenicia](https://www.worldhistory.org/phoenicia/), Carthage did not have a monarchy but its politics was dominated by an aristocratic elite which was composed of competing clans and which held all important political, judicial, and military positions. As in other contemporary ancient cultures participation in political life and the popular assembly of the city was limited to those who held citizenship – indigenous and free males. Although the system was praised by such noted figures as [Aristotle](https://www.worldhistory.org/aristotle/), some of the exact workings of the Carthaginian government have remained elusive, a situation further confused by [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) and [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) writers using their own familiar terminology to describe the political institutions of Carthage. ### Suffetes The most powerful office in the Carthaginian government was held jointly by two magistrates elected annually known as *suffetes* (Latinized from the [Punic](https://www.worldhistory.org/carthage/) *sptm* or *shophetim* and conventionally translated as 'judges'). These had replaced the initial system of monarchy sometime in the early 7th century BCE, and so their association with purely judicial matters may too have widened in political scope as the office evolved. It is also possible that there was only one *suffete* in the first century or so of the new system. From the 5th century BCE electing two *suffetes* becomes standard, one leading the armed forces of Carthage when at [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) and the other running the government at home. Greek and Roman sources indicate that the *suffetes* operated in collaboration with the senate and were also concerned with civil lawsuits. Wealth and family background seem to have been the two most important factors in being considered eligible for the role. The position of *suffete* continued to exist even when North [Africa](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/africa/) became a Roman province and is recorded at least until the 2nd century CE. ### Senate Carthage, even under its earliest form of monarchy, had a senate composed of influential citizens. These members were known as *drm* or the 'great ones' and held the position for life. Just how these senatorial members were selected is unknown, but it is likely they numbered between two and three hundred. They met in a building in the marketplace of Carthage but also sometimes at the [temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) of Eshmun on the Byrsa hill. The *suffetes* would consult the senate on government policy – military, diplomatic, and financial matters - and if the two sides disagreed, then a deciding vote would be held in the popular citizen's assembly (see below). Also, if one *suffete* was not in agreement then, again, the assembly would be consulted. We know that the senate decided on declarations of war, whether or not to send additional armies to support generals in the field, punishments for commanders who failed in their objectives, and whether to accept peace terms offered by the enemy. The senate also sent representatives with [Hannibal](https://www.worldhistory.org/hannibal/)'s army in Spain and [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/) and signed the commander's peace treaty with [Macedon](https://www.worldhistory.org/macedon/) in 215 BCE. However, it is also true that commanders often acted quite independently when campaigning across the [Mediterranean](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/mediterranean/), which led the Athenian politician [Isocrates](https://www.worldhistory.org/Isocrates/) to state that Carthage was "ruled by an oligarchy at home, by a king in the field" (Miles, 146). ### Senior Officials Certain senators were selected to special commissions. Aristotle describes these as consisting of 5 members (hence their name 'pentarchies') who acted as judges in [law](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/law/) courts, but Punic inscriptions only mention a 10-man commission responsible for religious sites and a 30-man commission which supervised taxation. In addition, there was a state treasury (*mhsbm*) headed by a single treasurer (*rb*) who is mentioned in one inscription as imposing penalties on those merchants who failed to pay customs duties. Other important state officials were the head of the priests (*rb khnm*) and the head of the army (*rb mhnt*), the latter very often also being a *suffete* in important conflicts. All of these positions were elected, and all seem to have had a limited term of office, with the exception of the general who served for the duration of a war. These limitations were, no doubt, to prevent individuals from becoming too powerful, but it does not seem to have curbed corruption. Bribery - for votes, favourable decisions, and access to high positions – and embezzlement were such a problem that Hannibal's first task on being elected *suffete* was to improve the endemic corruption which was crippling the state's finances. Corruption was not helped by the absence of a salary for state officials, a fact which also meant that such positions were only open to those with a source of private income. From the 5th century BCE a special branch of the senate composed of 104 members convened to assess the military performance of commanders on completion of their campaign. We imagine that the number is derived from 100 senators plus the two *suffetes*, the treasurer and the head of the priests. Senatorial membership of the council of 104 was for life. It was responsible for deciding the fate of generals and admirals who failed in a campaign with punishments ranging from fines to [crucifixion](https://www.worldhistory.org/crucifixion/). [ ![The Western Mediterranean 264 BCE](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/237.png?v=1774221425) The Western Mediterranean 264 BCE Jon Platek (CC BY-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/237/the-western-mediterranean-264-bce/ "The Western Mediterranean 264 BCE")Another important group of officials was those administrators selected to govern the provinces controlled by Carthage. Allied [cities](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) such as [Utica](https://www.worldhistory.org/Utica/) and [Cadiz](https://www.worldhistory.org/Gades/), and subject territories in North Africa were allowed a high degree of political autonomy except in military matters and foreign affairs. In return for Carthage's protection they did have to pay tribute in money, arms, and men for military service. Regional officials would have supervised this and collected such additional taxes as custom duties. All of the key political positions in Carthaginian government were dominated by a ruling elite. This aristocracy was characterised and dominated by opposing families (*mizreh*), notably the Barcids and Magonids. Nevertheless, for enterprising citizens, especially rich merchants, there was the possibility to join this aristocracy as wealth was the overriding factor for success in politics. On the other hand, the traditional elite was composed of those who could claim descent to the colony's founding fathers, and it is clear that genealogy was an important consideration. This perhaps explains the rather confusing repetition of names from generation to generation resulting in literally hundreds of Hannos, Hamilcars, and Hannibals. [ ![Hamilcar Barca](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/5181.jpg?v=1774221428) Hamilcar Barca Kordas (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/5181/hamilcar-barca/ "Hamilcar Barca")### Assembly & Citizenship The popular assembly of Carthage was known as the *'m* (pron. *ham*) which translates as 'the people'. They met in the market square of the city, and their main powers were to vote on issues proposed by the *suffetes* and senate, and the election of officials, including the *suffetes*, chief priest and treasurer, and military commanders. Qualification to attend the assembly, beyond holding citizenship, and the system of voting are not known. Citizenship was reserved for males from the city of Carthage. [Women](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/women/), slaves, and foreigners could not enjoy citizen status. There are some indicators in the historical record that there may have been a second tier of citizens composed of former slaves and foreign artisans. The existence of two levels of citizenship, though, continues to be debated amongst historians. Citizens were organised into memberships (*mizrehim*) or family clubs which were distinguishable from each other via their devotion to a specific [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/), the profession of their members, or perhaps even composed of those who had fought together in [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/). Such memberships regularly bonded through shared banquets. Citizens of allied cities in North Africa had a similar or equal status to their counterparts at Carthage in regards to civil law. The status of those who lived in the smaller settlements of the areas under Carthaginian control is not known. More certain is that the level of integration of peoples into the Carthaginian [empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/) was quite low with the consequence that in times of peril, such as the [Punic Wars](https://www.worldhistory.org/Punic_Wars/) with [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/), many cities defected to the Roman side. Carthage exploited its colonies but made no real efforts to foster a sense of belonging in their allied and conquered states, which meant that when Carthage fell, so too did its empire. #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - [Bagnal, N. *Punic Wars by Bagnall, Nigel \[Hardcover \].* Thomas Dune s, Hardcover(2005), 2016.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B008AUBEJ8/) - [Hoyos, D. et al. *A Companion to the Punic Wars.* Wiley-Blackwell, 2016.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B01FKTUEZ6/) - [Hoyos, D. *The Carthaginians.* Routledge, 2016.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B01FIW5XRY/) - [Miles, R. *Carthage Must Be Destroyed.* Penguin, 2016.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B00YDK13S6/) - [Moscati, S. *The World of the Phoenicians.* Weidenfeld & Nicolson History, 2016.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B011SL6MCE/) - [Warmington, B.H. *Carthage.* Penguin Books, 1964.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B0007KDLJK/) ## About the Author Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. ## Timeline - **c. 814 BCE**: Traditional founding date for the Phoenician colony of [Carthage](https://www.worldhistory.org/carthage/) by [Tyre](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tyre/). - **539 BCE**: [Etruscan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Etruscan_Civilization/) & Carthaginian alliance expels the Greeks from Corsica. - **510 BCE - 509 BCE**: First treaty between [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) and [Carthage](https://www.worldhistory.org/carthage/). - **306 BCE**: [Carthage](https://www.worldhistory.org/carthage/) and [Agathocles of Syracuse](https://www.worldhistory.org/Agathocles_of_Syracuse/) sign a peace treaty and divide [Sicily](https://www.worldhistory.org/sicily/) between them. - **255 BCE**: [Carthage](https://www.worldhistory.org/carthage/) sues for peace during the [First Punic War](https://www.worldhistory.org/First_Punic_War/) but the [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) [consul](https://www.worldhistory.org/Consul/) Regulus' excessive demands are rejected. - **241 BCE - 238 BCE**: The rebellion of the mercenaries: Unpaid mercenaries under the leadership of Mathos and Spendios rebel against [Carthage](https://www.worldhistory.org/carthage/). Despite a peace treaty, [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) seizes the opportunity to strip Carthage of Sardinia and Corsica. - **146 BCE**: End of the [Third Punic War](https://www.worldhistory.org/Third_Punic_War/). [Carthage](https://www.worldhistory.org/carthage/) is destroyed and its lands become the [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) province [Africa](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/africa/). ## Cite This Work ### APA Cartwright, M. (2016, June 15). Carthaginian Government. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Carthaginian\_Government/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Carthaginian_Government/) ### Chicago Cartwright, Mark. "Carthaginian Government." *World History Encyclopedia*, June 15, 2016. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Carthaginian\_Government/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Carthaginian_Government/). ### MLA Cartwright, Mark. "Carthaginian Government." *World History Encyclopedia*, 15 Jun 2016, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Carthaginian\_Government/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Carthaginian_Government/). ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 15 June 2016. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.