Mercenary War

The Mercenary War, or Truceless War, was a brutal conflict fought between Carthage and its mutinous soldiers from 241 to 237 BCE, during a lull in the Punic Wars. When Carthage's mercenary soldiers were denied the payment that they had been promised, they revolted, leading to a large-scale rebellion supported by several North African settlements. The Carthaginians initially fared poorly against the rebels, but their luck turned around under the generalship of Hamilcar Barca (circa 275-228 BCE), who scored several decisive victories. Though Carthage ultimately won the war, it was left in a weakened condition, allowing Rome to take advantage by seizing control of Sardinia and Corsica, thereby paving the way for the Second Punic War (218-201 BCE).