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The third century before the common era was a time of empire-making and empire-breaking especially in the western Mediterranean, where a conflict was brewing that would shape the future of the known world. |
Third Punic War (149-146BC)
(- threads, 34 posts)
 Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus
Historical Thread
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"Who, however, would deny that Scipio's career was msot glorious?... he overthrew two cities, both extremely hostle to this empire, and thus extinguished not only present but also future wars." Cicero, De Amicitia 3
Though he is considered one of the greatest Scipios, Aemilianus was not a Cornelian. Born the second son of Aemilius Paullus, the conqueror of Macedon, Aemilianus was adopted by a Scipio. He fought his distinction at Pydna in 168BC and won the corona muralis for being the first over an enemy fortification in Spain. he tried to hold a parley between Masinissa and Carthage but that ended in war. Carthage was defeated but Masinissa died of his exertions. The Roman Senate decided, egged on by Cato the Censor, to force war on Carthage and the Third Punic War began. Aemilianus again served with distinction including persuading a Carthaginian commander to desert. He returned to Rome in 147BC to stand for aedile but was so popular that he returned to Africa as consul. He used the vast resources of Rome to take Carthage the following year but was horrified by the Senate's next decision. With Cato's "Delenda est Carthago!!" still ringing in their ears, the senators had the city razed to the ground and salt sown into the land to make it infertile, with a solemn curse pronounced on anyone who tried to settle there in the future. Aemilianus celebrated a huge triumph before overseeing the new province of Africa. He failed in a Cato-esque censorship as his colleague worked against him in 142BC. Scipio was on the warpath again in the 130's this time against rebellious Spaniards which ended in the capture of Numantia. Soon before his mysterious death in 129BC, Aemilianus was put in a moral dilemma as his brother-in-law, Tiberius Gracchus, seemed to be setting the people against the Senate. After his death, even his enemies admitted that Rome had lost an outstanding general and politician.
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A Suggestion (* Kunimitsu Ashikaga, Jun 11, 2005 - 05:57 )|
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