First Carthaginian-Roman treaty

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The first Carthaginian-Roman treaty was a friendship treaty between the two (rising) Mediterranean powers. There is no definite knowledge as to when this contract was concluded exactly. However, based on other documents, the time is usually around 508/507 BC. Considered plausible. Knowledge of this contract is essentially based on the records of Polybios . The contract itself is said to have been written in an outdated Latin language. The contract negotiations were carried out from the Roman side by the priesthood ( fetiales ) commissioned for this purpose .

Main features of the contract

  1. On the North African coast, the Romans were not allowed to go beyond the " Promunturium Pulchri " ( promunturium Pulchri ) (meaning a point in the north of the city of Carthage - probably Cape Farina). Should this nevertheless happen due to force majeure (for example due to a storm), this circumstance could only be used to get the bare essentials on land, but not to trade. After that, the area had to be vacated within five days.
  2. Roman merchants were only allowed to do business in the Carthaginian sphere of influence in North Africa and Sardinia in the presence of Carthaginian officials.
  3. In the Carthaginian part of Sicily (west of the island), the Roman merchants were equal to the Carthaginian merchants.
  4. There were no travel limits for the Carthaginians, but attacks on Roman-ruled cities in Lazio were prohibited. Action against independent cities in Lazio was also not desired. Should an independent city of Lazio be conquered for any reason, it should be handed over to the Romans immediately and undamaged. At the same time it was achieved that the independent cities had to appear more lucrative to work with Rome, as this also offered protection from the other western Mediterranean great power. The construction of fortresses was also prohibited.

The terms of the contract were quoted by Polybios as follows:

Friendship between the Romans and their allies and the Carthaginians and their allies should exist under the following conditions:

  1. The Romans and their allies are not allowed to sail beyond the "Schöne Land Vorgebirge" unless the weather or enemies force them. Those who are driven on should not offer or buy anything there, except what they need for equipping their ship or for religious purposes. He is supposed to sail on within five days.
  2. Roman traders cannot do business in Libya or Sardinia except in the presence of a herald or town clerk. The negotiated price is secured for the provider by the state.
  3. The Romans have the same rights as the others in the Carthaginian province of Sicily.
  4. The Carthaginians are not allowed to harm the inhabitants of Ardea, Antium, Areninum, Circeii and Terracina or other Latin tribes, as far as these are lawful to Rome.
  5. The Carthaginians are to keep away from all cities that are not subject to Rome. If they conquer one, they should hand it over to the Romans without plunder. They are not supposed to set up any military bases in Lazio. If they enter an area as enemies, they are not allowed to stay there overnight.

With this first treaty, the two powers Carthage and Rome secured their spheres of interest. Carthage was interested in a precise regulation of trade and shipping on the North African coast. On the other hand, Rome aimed for recognition of its expansion in Lazio.

In 348 BC A renewal of the Carthaginian-Roman treaty followed, which was owed to the progressive expansion policy of the Roman Republic .

See also

literature

  • Dieter Flach : The Roman-Carthaginian relations up to the outbreak of the First Punic War . In: Rosmarie Günther et al. (Ed.): E fontibus haurire. Contributions to Roman history and its auxiliary sciences. Schöningh, Paderborn et al. 1994, pp. 33-44.
  • Werner Huss : History of the Carthaginians . CH Beck, Munich 1985, here pp. 86-92.
  • Robert M. Ogilvie : The early Rome and the Etruscans (dtv history of the ancient world). Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, Munich 1983, ISBN 3-423-04403-9 ; engl. Original edition: Robert M. Ogilvie: Early Rome And The Etruscans (Fontana History Of The Ancient World). Collins & Sons, 1976.
  • Robert Werner : The Καλόν άκρωτήριον of Polybios . In: Chiron , Vol. 5, 1975, pp. 21-44.
  • Klaus Zimmermann : Rome and Carthage . 3rd edition, Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt 2013, ISBN 978-3-534-23008-2 .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Brian H. Warmington: Carthage. Rise and fall of an ancient cosmopolitan city ("Carthage"). FA Brockhaus, Wiesbaden 1963, p. 168.
  2. ↑ Titus Livius , from urbe condita 1.24.
  3. ^ Brian H. Warmington: Carthage. Rise and fall of an ancient cosmopolitan city ("Carthage"). FA Brockhaus, Wiesbaden 1963, p. 169.
  4. ↑ Polybios: Historien III, 22.4-13 ( online ).