Rome and Carthage Continue to Covet Sardinia and Sicily
It appears to me not to be alien to my general
Sardinia reduced by T. Manlius Torquatus, B. C. 215. Marcellus took Leontini, B. C. 214 (autumn). Livy, 24, 30. |
purpose, and the plan which I originally laid down, to
recall the attention of my readers to the magnitude of the
events, and the persistency of purpose displayed by the two
States of
Rome and
Carthage. For who could think
it otherwise than remarkable that these two powers,
while engaged in so serious a war for the possession of
Italy, and one no less serious for that
of
Iberia; and being still both of them equally
balanced between uncertain hopes and fears for
the future of these wars, and confronted at the
very time with battles equally formidable to either,
should yet not be content with their existing undertakings: but should raise another controversy
as to the possession of
Sardinia and
Sicily; and not content with
merely hoping for all these things, should grasp
at them with all the resources of their wealth
and warlike forces? Indeed the more we
examine into details the greater becomes
our astonishment.
Marcus Valerius Laevinus commands a fleet off Greece, B. C. 215-214. Livy, 24, 10.
Publius Sulpicius Galba Cos. (B. C. 211.) sent to Macedonia. Livy, 26, 22; 27, 31.
Appius Claudius Pulcher, Praetor, sent to Sicily, B. C. 215. Livy, 23, 31,
Pro-praetor, B. C. 214. Livy 24, 33. |
The Romans had two
complete armies under the two Consuls on active service in
Italy; two in
Iberia in which
Gnaeus Cornelius commanded the land, Publius Cornelius the naval forces; and
naturally the same was the case with the Carthaginians. But besides this, a Roman
fleet was anchored off
Greece, watching it and the movements of Philip, of which first
Marcus Valerius, and afterward Publius Sulpicius was in command. Along with all
these undertakings Appius with a hundred quinqueremes,
and Marcus Claudius with an army, were
threatening
Sicily; while Hamilcar was doing
the same on the side of the Carthaginians.
Marcus Claudius Marcellus, Cos. III., B. C. 214. |
