March of times without Romans?

I'm in the middle of my Qarthadasht campaign, it's 246BC and after some 5 years of war against the Romani, I'm starting to have an upper hand. I have Rhegion, Taras, Capua, Arpi, I've pillaged Arretium, although decided to withdraw from Nortern Italy for now; my main army with 5 family members is besieging Rome now, with city garrison heavily decimated after an unsuccessful sally. I have a strong feeling that Romans will not be there to trigger "The march of time" event. Is there any other way to trigger it?

no there is no other way of triggering it. I don't think it effects any Carthage units though.

Foot

Yes, I know that it doesn't affect Qarthadasht units, but it affects some Eastern factions. I think it affects the cataphract units somehow, so it would be a pity if those will not appear. But if it's impossible, than there's little to be done.

In that case I would leave the romans alone for a while. Perhaps give one of their italian cities a tonne of population and wait for them to upgrade.

Foot

Or start kickin the gauls in the teeth.