Punic Wars Timeline

First Punic War. Carthage cedes Sicily to Rome.

The Mamertines at Messana on Sicily call for Carthaginian and then Roman help in defence against Syracuse, sparking the First Punic War.

Antaros and 3000 Celts fight with Carthage in the First Punic War.

Segesta joins the Roman cause in the First Punic War.

Rome besieges and sacks Agrigento on Sicily in one of the first actions of the First Punic War.

First Roman naval victory against Carthage off Mylae in the First Punic War.

Rome builds a fleet of 120 ships in just 60 days to fight the First Punic War.

Rome wins a naval battle against Carthage at Sulcis during the First Punic War.

Roman naval victory against Carthage off Ecnomus during the First Punic War.

Rome lands an army of four legions on African soil at Clupea during the First Punic War.

Roman fleets are wrecked by storms off Pachynus and Palinurus during the First Punic War.

Carthage sues for peace during the First Punic War but the Roman consul Regulus' excessive demands are rejected.

A Carthaginain army led by the mercenary Spartan commander Xanthippus defeats two Roman legions near Tunis during the First Punic War.

Romans capture Palermo during the First Punic War.

A Carthaginian army led by Hasdrubal is defeated by Roman consul Metellus near Palermo in the First Punic War.

Antaros withdraws his support from Carthage.

Carthage defeats Rome in a naval battle at Drepanum during the First Punic War.

Hamilcar Barca raids southern Italy and then lands on Sicily during the First Punic War.

Hamilcar Barca captures Eryx on Sicily during the First Punic War.

A Roman fleet besieges the Carthaginian stronghold of Drepana on Sicily during the First Punic War.

Roman naval victory off the Aegates Islands leads to victory over Carthage, ending the First Punic War.

Hamilcar Barca arrives in southern Spain to expand Carthage's interests there. He makes his base at Gades and founds Acra Leuce.

Hasdrubal takes command of Carthage's armies in Spain.

Hasdrubal signs an agreement with Rome not to cross the Ebro river in Spain.

Hannibal takes command of Carthage's armies in Spain.

Hannibal crosses the Ebro river in Spain and sacks the city of Saguntum, Rome's ally, sparking off the Second Punic War.

Second Punic War.

Rome declares war on Carthage after Hannibal sacks Saguntum in Spain. The Second Punic War begins.

Hannibal leaves Spain to cross the Pyrenees and Alps into Italy.

Hannibal wins the battle of Ticinus.

Hannibal wins the battle of Trebia.

Hannibal wins the battle of Lake Trasimene.

"Hannibal ante portas." Hannibal directly threatens the city of Rome, but cannot advance due to lack of supplies and reinforcements.

Marcus Claudius Marcellus successfully defends Nola against attack from Hannibal during the Second Punic War.

Hannibal wins the battle of Cannae, the worst defeat in Roman history.

A Carthaginian army led by Hasdrubal is defeated at the battle of Ibera in Spain.

Syracuse joins the side of Carthage in the Second Punic War.

Roman commander Marcus Claudius Marcellus lays seige to and ultimately sacks Syracuse.

A Carthaginian army is defeated in Sicily by a Roman army led by Marcellus. Syracuse falls to Rome who now control the island.

A Carthaginian army defeats two Roman consuls and their armies in the Tader valley, Spain.

Scipio Africanus lands an army for the second time at Empuries in northeastern Spain during the Second Punic War.

Marcus Claudius Marcellus is given a triumph for his capture of Syracuse and victories in Sicily.

Scipio Africanus conquers Spain for Rome.

Scipio Africanus captures the Carthaginian base and treasury Carthago Nova in southern Spain.

Tarentum comes under Roman control during the Second Punic War.

Scipio Africanus defeats a Carthaginian army led by Hasdrubal at Baecula in Spain.

Roman commander Marcus Claudius Marcellus is killed in an ambush in Venusia, southern Italy.

Hannibal, harassed by Roman forces, is reduced to controlling only Bruttium in southern Italy.

Rome defeats a Carthaginian army at the battle of Metaurus.

The Romans conquer Gades. End of the Carthaginian presence on the Iberian Peninsula.

Scipio Africanus wins the battle of Ilipa in Spain.

Scipio Africanus sails to North Africa in the Second Punic War.

Scipio Africanus wins two battles and besieges Utica in North Africa.

Carthaginian commander Mago is unable to join forces with Hannibal and his army is defeated in Cisalpine Gaul.

Scipio Africanus attacks the two camps of Syphax and Gisgo in North Africa and destroys their armies.

Scipio Africanus defeats a Carthaginian army led by Hasdrubal in North Africa.

Hannibal is recalled from Italy to defend Carthage against Scipio Africanus.

Battle of Zama: Scipio Africanus defeats Hannibal, ending the Second Punic War.

A Carthaginian army attacks Numidia, breaking the peace treaty agreed with Rome and sparking the Third Punic War.

Third Punic War.

Rome sends an army of 80,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry to attack Carthage.

The Roman siege of Carthage, in its second year, remains unsuccessful.

Scipio Africanus the Younger takes over command of the siege of Carthage and builds a mole to block its harbour.

Scipio Africanus the Younger sacks Carthage and enslaves its population.