Hannibal - Hannibal: the military biography of Romes greatest enemy

814:

Carthage founded on the Tunisian coast as a colony of Tyre.

753:

Founding of Rome.

550:

Rise of the Magonid military dynasty in Carthage.

545:

Rise of Persia weakens the Babylonians hold over Tyre. Sidon eclipses Tyre as the major Phoenician state. Carthage declares itself independent from Tyre, thereby becoming an independent political entity.

530:

The Persians extend their control westward to Egypt and plan to attack Carthage. Tyre refuses to attack its former colony, and the Persian king calls off the campaign.

509:

Traditional date of the expulsion of kings from Rome. Also the date of the first treaty between Rome and Carthage recognizing Carthages control of Sardinia and Corsica.

480:

Carthage invades Sicily with the goal of driving the Greeks from the island. Carthage defeated at Himera and withdraws from Sicily. Carthage turns inward, expands across the African littoral, and rebuilds its economic and military base. The Magonid military dynasty ends.

409:

Carthage invades Sicily, engaging in a series of wars with the Greeks for control of the island. The Greeks and Carthaginians sign a treaty in 374 delineating their spheres of influence. Carthage occupies the western third of the island.

348:

Second treaty between Rome and Carthage reaffirming the earlier treaty in which Carthage reasserted its rights to Sardinia.

310:

Agathocles of Syracuse invades Africa and attacks Carthage. The campaign lasts for three years, but Carthage is not taken. Agathocles returns to Sicily in 307 BCE.

306:

Rome and Carthage conclude a treaty in which Rome promises to stay out of Sicily and Carthage out of Italy.

279:

Rome and Carthage sign a military alliance against Pyrrhus of Greece, who attacked Sicily. After three years of campaigning, Pyrrhus withdraws with nothing to show for his efforts.

275:

Hiero II of Syracuse becomes king of Syracuse.

264:

The Romans send aid to the Mamertine mercenaries in Sicily. Car-thage moves to suppress the revolt and occupies Messina, causing the outbreak of the First Punic War.

256:

The Romans invade Africa and threaten Carthage. The following spring Carthage defeats a Roman army under Regulus. The theater of conflict moves to Sicily and the sea.

249:

Carthage defeats Roman fleets off Drepanum and Cape Pachynus. The Romans respond by constructing a large fleet to fight the Carthaginians at sea.

247:

Hamilcar Barca, the founder of a new Carthaginian military dynasty, appointed as commanding general of Carthaginian forces in Sicily. His son Hannibal is born. Hamilcar continues to fight the Romans in Sicily for the next five years.

241:

The Roman fleet defeats the Carthaginians in a great sea battle off the Aegates Islands. Rome and Carthage sign a peace agreement bringing the First Punic War to an end.

241:

Carthaginian mercenaries, returning from Sicily to Carthage, revolt and cause the outbreak of the Mercenaries War. Hamilcar put in command of Carthaginian forces.

238:

Hamilcar defeats the mercenaries, ending the Mercenaries War. Hamilcar is again elected general of the Carthaginian armies, and the Barcid military dynasty commands Carthaginian foreign policy.

237:

The Romans seize Sardinia and threaten to declare war on Carthage, which cedes Sardinia to Rome and agrees to pay an indemnity. Carthage orders Hamilcar to take an army into Spain and establish and expand the Carthaginian economic and military presence there. Nine-year-old Hannibal goes with him. Hamilcars successful expedition lasts nine years.

231:

The Romans send an embassy to Hamilcar to determine his intentions toward Rome. Hamilcar insists he is only establishing Carthages economic situation to pay the Roman indemnity.