Rome’s declaration of war on Carthage in 218 B.C.
Scullard, H.H.
Rheinisches Museum, No.94 (1952)
Abstract
In a recent paper W. Hoffmann has made an important contribution towards the solution of the vexed question of the Roman declaration of war on Carthage in 218 B.C. ). He follows the view of those scholars who reject a literal acceptance of Polybius’ record of the terms of the Roman message to Hannibal in the late autumn of 220 (which amounted to a declaration that an attack on Saguntum would mean war with Rome) because it appears to be inconsistent with Rome’s subsequent policy of non-intervention not only during Hannibal’s siege of Saguntum but also after its fall probably in November 219. He also rightly rejects Polybius’ statement that on the fall of Saguntum the Romans immediately sent Fabius and his colleagues to deliver the ultimatum at Carthage.
He then takes the argument a stage further. The Roman declaration of war in 218 is usually placed in late March or April (i.e. at the earliest date after the entry of the new consuls into office and the beginning of the campaigning season) because, on Polybius’ view, Rome was committed to war on behalf of Saguntum. Hoffmann, however, believes that to reject the terms of the Roman ultimatum of 220 removes any motive for the Roman declaration of war in the spring of 218 and that therefore the precise date of the declaration in 218 can remain an open question. He then argues that Rome first decided on war after Hannibal crossed the Ebro (c. end of May, 218), and not on the fall of Saguntum: it was Hannibal’s violation of the Ebro treaty by his crossing the river with a large army that started the war (which cannot therefore have been declared until June), while the view that his attack on Saguntum was the erucial factor in the development of Roman poliey was only advanced later by writers who sought to justify Rome’s conduct and her neglect of her ally Saguntum during 219. Thus after the fall of the city the Romans decided to “write off” Saguntum, because senatorial opinion had not been united on this issue 4), and turned to war only when provoked by a fresh act of aggression.
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Rome’s declaration of war on Carthage in 218 B.C.
Scullard, H.H.
Rheinisches Museum, No.94 (1952)
Abstract
In a recent paper W. Hoffmann has made an important contribution towards the solution of the vexed question of the Roman declaration of war on Carthage in 218 B.C. ). He follows the view of those scholars who reject a literal acceptance of Polybius’ record of the terms of the Roman message to Hannibal in the late autumn of 220 (which amounted to a declaration that an attack on Saguntum would mean war with Rome) because it appears to be inconsistent with Rome’s subsequent policy of non-intervention not only during Hannibal’s siege of Saguntum but also after its fall probably in November 219. He also rightly rejects Polybius’ statement that on the fall of Saguntum the Romans immediately sent Fabius and his colleagues to deliver the ultimatum at Carthage.
He then takes the argument a stage further. The Roman declaration of war in 218 is usually placed in late March or April (i.e. at the earliest date after the entry of the new consuls into office and the beginning of the campaigning season) because, on Polybius’ view, Rome was committed to war on behalf of Saguntum. Hoffmann, however, believes that to reject the terms of the Roman ultimatum of 220 removes any motive for the Roman declaration of war in the spring of 218 and that therefore the precise date of the declaration in 218 can remain an open question. He then argues that Rome first decided on war after Hannibal crossed the Ebro (c. end of May, 218), and not on the fall of Saguntum: it was Hannibal’s violation of the Ebro treaty by his crossing the river with a large army that started the war (which cannot therefore have been declared until June), while the view that his attack on Saguntum was the erucial factor in the development of Roman poliey was only advanced later by writers who sought to justify Rome’s conduct and her neglect of her ally Saguntum during 219. Thus after the fall of the city the Romans decided to “write off” Saguntum, because senatorial opinion had not been united on this issue 4), and turned to war only when provoked by a fresh act of aggression.
Click here to read this article from the Rheinisches Museum
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