The Roman Army In Africa
The hostages being thus disposed of, the consuls
brought their fleet to the citadel of Utica. When news of this
reached Carthage, the city was in the utmost excitement and panic, not knowing what to expect
next.
The Consuls, L. Marcius Censorinus, M'. Manilius, land in Africa. B. C. 149. |
However, it was decided to send envoys
to ask the consuls what they were to do, and to
state that they were all prepared to obey orders.
The envoys arrived at the Roman camp: the general's council was
summoned: and they delivered their commission.
They demand the disarming of the Carthaginians. |
The senior
Consul thereupon, after complimenting them on
their policy and readiness to obey, bade them
hand over all arms and missiles in their possession without subterfuge or concealment. The envoys answered
that they would carry out the directions, but begged the Consul
to consider what would happen if the Carthaginians surrendered
all their arms, and the Romans took them and sailed away from
the country. However, they gave them up. . . .
It was clearly shown that the resources of the city were
enormous, for they surrendered to the Romans more than
two hundred thousand stands of arms and two thousand
catapults. . . .
This was followed by a second injunction of the consuls that
the whole people of Carthage should remove to some other spot, to
be not less than ten miles from the sea, and there build a new
city. Livy, Ep. 49.