Civil War of Carthage, 480 B.C. Alternate History

[Marshal Murat]

As a beginning note, most military tactics and troops will be drawn from Persian, Greek, Gallic, and Italian history. This period is lacking in sources, because most of it was probably destroyed in Alexandria, or not actually recorded at all.
Many of you know about Dido in the Aeneid, and her mythical founding of Carthage. Not much is mentioned until later, when the Carthaginians are really fighting the Greeks and Romans. As such, the terms in the interactive are very broad and of inventive. While the historical accuracy is very questionable, I'm dedicated to providing the most probable results possible, and making this as historically accurate, despite the unfortunate space in historical texts. It's really to bad there aren't more works on this period, but this period doesn't have as many authors.
Therefore, I'll outline the general situational land control of Carthage. The relative realm of the Carthaginian Empire is Carthage and the surrounding area, the coast, and then lower Spain to the Ebro. Sardinia, Corsica, and Balearic Islands.


In the year 480 B.C., momentous events were transpiring around the Mediterranean. The greatest recorded event was the Persian War between the Greek city states and the Persian Xerxes. Salamis and Thermoplaye, fought out on the peninsula of Greece. There were greater events transpiring on the other end of the sea. The great Carthaginian tyrant Hamilcar I has died recently, after his armies suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Syracusans, leaving a power struggle between the Merchant Houses and the Royal House. Those of the Merchant Houses had been calling for increased power, because of their influence and monetary contributions to the Royal Coffers.
The Mago family, rulers since the death of the last of the Line of Dido, those rulers have kept their lines pure, and rule strong. However, the last ruler, Hamilcar I has caused a rift between the Mago family and the Merchant House of Barca, the House of Balcara, House of Hego, and the House of Cagar.
The rift resulted from Hamilcar's unfortunate penchant for pleasure and luxury. Many called his court a rival for Xerxes. This was due to the relative security of Carthage, because of the vassal oaths from the Numidian kings keeping the desert raiders away from the sterling white walls. Since the regular taxes couldn't be raised without the Council of Elder's approval, which was like cooing a fish out of water, he had decided to confiscate the 'illegal profits and contraband' of the Merchant Houses.
Balcara, Hego, Barca, and Cagar were the major targets, their warehouses providing the western Mediterranean with many of the items of need, from Spices of the Orient, the Gold of Ghana, Tin of Britain, Grain of Egypt. The merchant fleets were stopped by the Royal Fleet, and the 'contraband' on board were taken. The families roared and raged against Hamilcar I, the men of the Houses railing against the King in the Council of Elders. With the hundreds of drachma's in profits from the resale of these materials, the King was able to build two floating palaces. The sheer decadency enraged every Merchant House, and caused many to plot against the King.
However, when four young nobles from the House of Hego was found out, they were summarily stripped of their ranks as Navy Captain, and they were crucified above the harbor entrance. They struggled and cried, and the harsh sun baked them alive. It was torture, and when the finally died, the fetid stench rippled across the city. It was a punishment without equal, and when their bones were picked clean, they were heaved into the ocean and smashed into the deep blue darkness. The meaning was clear to the Houses, and talk of rebellion was quiet, at least for the time.

Now, with Hamilcar I death, the House of Mago had no leader. In the Twenty-Table Law codes, the next ruler was then chosen by lot amongst the Council of Elders. An obscure family from Spain was chosen, causing indignation from the four Houses. They all felt entitled, and Hego was no different. As such, the four Houses moved into the corners of the Carthaginian realm. Barca moved to Spain, Balcara to Outer Carthage, Hego to Sardinia, and Cagar moved into the Balearic Islands.
Now you take command of the House of Barca, led by the forty-five year old Hamilcar Baal Barca. Your city of Gadir is a trading outpost, beyond the Pillars of Herakles. The trade is mostly in Britannia Tin, and Ghana Gold, other materials that must pass the Carthaginian city to reach the Mediterranean. It is a strong city, with walls of stone, and thousands of inhabitants.
The obscure House of Barbahal, now the King of Carthage and her Realm, they are worthless and weak. The Royal Army and Navy are small in comparison to the private armies of the Merchant Houses. As such, the Merchant Houses have taken power into their own hands many times. This free hand usually breeds contempt, and there are reports Hego is calling mercenaries and allies to her cities in Sardinia, and building her a fleet of triremes and transports for their soldiers. The buildup means one thing. War. Barbahal isn't strong enough to hold Carthage, but one of the Houses are. Hamilcar must either submit to another house, or fight with his own significant power. However, this civil war hasn't begun as of late, forcing you to bide your time until news reaches the outer realms.

Every turn will last 2 weeks.Good Luck.

1)Your House has four colonies along the seaboard coast of Atlantic. The largest is with maybe a hundred colonist, and then they decrease in size from there. They are reporting that several Iberian tribes have been attacking forage parties, causing light casualties. Since the Royal Garrison in Spain is only about 500 men, the House of Barca has provided mercenary or militia forces to assist with 'local issues'.
A)Send 10 triremes and 1,000 soldiers to attack the local tribes headquarters in the farther wilderness.
B)Send ambassadors to the local tribes, with several wagons of goods. When the ambassadors have started talking with the leaders, open the wagons up and launch the hidden soldiers amongst the enemy garrisons, killing them, enslaving the people, and burning the towns.
C)Withdraw the traders and colonist back to Gadir, and have them settle elsewhere.
2)A storm has destroyed 4 merchant ships, 2 triremes, and 8 fishing ships, all of your House Fleet. The losses aren't small enough to be covered by other merchants, and the shipyards can build only 3 ships every month. Which ships will you build?
3)Pirates, the bane of the Merchant Houses, have been raiding locally, and their bases identified. While the magistrate is supposed to take care of it, he is undecided, and you are his uncle.
A)Lead a combined force along the coast, blockade the pirate holdouts, and then assault. It would take about 1,000 soldiers and 20 ships for this task along the entire coastline.
B)Parley with them, and have them form a raiding force that might become useful in the coming civil war.
C)Using merchant ships, you load them with 2,000 soldiers and when pirates board, they kill and destroy the pirate fleets. However, when the tactic becomes known, pirates may withdraw into their ports, hoping your attention gets drawn away, which it may if war comes.

[AntiochusIII]

Huh? Carthago Nova (Qart Hadast-in-Iberia) wasn't founded until Hasdrubal, son of Hamilcar Barca, took over his father's campaign in Iberia long after the First Punic War...how come we have a fine city there already?

At the era of our game it would be more appropriate to use Gadir as the major Carthaginian outpost in Iberia, and perhaps the Barcid's base in our fictional campaign.

Also, Carthaginian power in the Iberian peninsular at the time was essentially limited to Gadir and other Phoenician coastal outposts. Very few of the Iberian tribes were likely to be subjected to them yet if any, and most likely not independent Greek colonies like Saguntum, either.

Unless, of course, your intention was to create a fully fictional setting with limited ties to the real life Carthage.

Another interesting event at 480 B.C. is the supposed battle between a certain Hamilcar and the Syracusan tyrant, in which the Greeks won: did this happen yet?

P.S. I'm too sleepy right now; I'll come back and make choices later!

[Lord Winter]

1. a: B would make us lose trust in other diplomatic dealings we do and C is out of the question. If possible see if there are any tribes who we could ally with. Perhaps promise them gold, land of the conquered tribes ect...

2. Two Trimines and a merchant ship If war is coming soon we'll need all the war ships we can get. The merchant ship will help with wealth.

3. b could be useful again promise them lands protection and gold.

[IrishArmenian]

1) B. Use diplomacy: win them with exotic goods!
2) Same with DOH I will go with 2 tiremes and a merchant ship.
3) B. Pay them to raid ships of the king.

[AntiochusIII]

Now that I got some much needed sleep.

1) I agree with Destroyer of Hope: the Iberian tribes understand blood. The second choice would not work the second time, so I'll save it for more dangerous opponents inland or other Carthaginian factions, and the third, well, weakness!

Therefore, first choice. Don't be too harsh on the tribes, though; if Carthaginian brutality crosses a certain threshold, the Iberians would unite against us in desperation instead of merely fearing our power. No complete massacre of entire villages or anything like that. Slavery, may be.

I suppose since we lost the entire Barcid fleet in that disastrous storm that we'll co-opt Carthage's navy for the triremes needed for the operation? It's unlikely that the already weak royal family would deny a "loyal" noble's request: he needs all the allies he could get.


2) I'm not sure about the purpose of fishing ships -- I presume they feed our colonies and the like. Since there appears to be no problem at the moment with food shortages and farming and foraging in those settlements would not be a problem once the Iberians are cowed, I don't think we need any yet. Besides, they'll take up precious naval resources. Later, may be, when we need to raise a big army and all the wheat are needed elsewhere.

Merchant ships: money and prestige (we are a merchant house), information from other lands as well as transport for our agents if need be. But will be useless without military assets to protect them.

Triremes: the poster boy of classical naval warfare, at our timeline still very much the top dog until at least Athens' decline. We'll need those for troop transport and war in general.

For consensus' sake, I agree with others: 2 triremes and one merchant ship.


3) I disagree here. The first choice costs too much (where can we find any more of the triremes for the operation considering we have no triremes left and any the motherland can spare will be used against Iberians?). The second choice might appear attractive, but pirates have been known to turn on their paymasters without a blink of an eye. I can't take that chance right in the middle of a losing war. Moreover, our gold could be better used and any potential allies in other merchant houses will be lost if we are to offer the pirates protection. Pariah, I'd say.

Instead, opt for the third choice. The key to this choice is actually that we board the pirate ships and take them for our use! Now that's a good way to rebuild a lost navy. Once they retreat back to their ports we can switch to the first operation at a later date: wipe them out when they're weaker.

[Ignoramus]

1) I agree with Antiochus, if we go with B, the Iberians will be more wary of us in the future. Therefore, I'll go with A.

2) I think that we ought to go for 3 triremes. Whoever has the largest military fleet will dominate the Mediterranean. Thus, we will be able to capture out enemies merchant ships.

3) I'll go with C.