Xanthippos (Sparta)

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Xanthippos was a Greek mercenary leader of the 3rd century BC. BC, who probably came from Sparta .

When the Carthaginians during the First Punic War after the Romans landed in Africa in 256 BC. BC got into a desperate situation - the Roman army under the consul Marcus Atilius Regulus stood in front of the walls of their capital and the Carthaginians asked for peace, but then rejected the harsh conditions of the Romans - they called on the Spartan general Xanthippus for help . In a very short time he succeeded in assembling and training a considerable army. At the Battle of Tunes (near today's Tunis ) in 255 BC. BC a decisive victory against the Roman landing forces succeeded, whose remains had to embark again, but were destroyed in a devastating storm at sea.

The new Carthaginian line-up goes back to Xanthippos, in which the cavalry was divided between the two wings and a row of phalanx fighters and war elephants stood in front of the infantry.

personal data
SURNAME Xanthippos
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Greek mercenary leader
DATE OF BIRTH 4th century BC BC or 3rd century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 3rd century BC Chr.