Rеpubliс of Carthage

👑 Following its emergence as the dominant naval power in the western Mediterranean, the 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐠𝐞 was long regarded by its rivals as a city of merchants rather than a nation of warriors. Yet the mounting threat posed by the Roman Republic demanded a transformation in both ambition and doctrine. No longer content to safeguard its interests through trade and diplomacy alone, the Carthaginian state began restructuring its military and asserting itself as a force capable of challenging Rome.

🌿 Under the leadership of the Barca family—foremost among them Hamilcar and his son Hannibal—the Carthaginian state implemented a series of brilliant military reforms. These prioritised tactical flexibility, a reliance on diverse mercenary forces from Africa, Iberia, and Gaul, and a boldness in strategy seldom matched in the ancient world. Hannibal’s crossing of the Alps and his victory at Cannae marked the height of Carthaginian military prowess during the Punic Wars.