The Punic Wars were some of the biggest wars of the Hellenistic period. These wars involved the Romans and Carthaginians. The name Punic comes from the word Carthaginian in Latin. There were three Punic Wars that spanned from 264 to 146 B.C. At first the Rome and Carthage were at peace through a series of trading and treaties.
While not many people saw the war between Rome and Carthage coming, it began because of the Campanian mercenaries that were ordered by Rome to take control Rhegium. These mercenaries, however, took the city for themselves and moved on to take Croton, a nearby city as well. Rome then sent an army to stop the Campanian mercenaries from taking any other nearby cities. In the city of Messana, there was a garrison of Campanian mercenaries similar to those that Rome had sent. These mercenaries were sent by the Agathocles of Syracuse, under the rule of Hiero II and known as the Mamertines. The Mamertines and the Campanians in Rhegium allied together but were defeated by Hiero II. The Roman Senate voted to ally with the Mamertines after their promise of treasure. Carthage had sent soldiers to occupy Messana while the Mamertines were still there. The Mamertines, however, convinced the Carthaginians to leave the city. Carthage agreed with the Mamertines but the Carthaginians had begun blockading Messana. Hiero II had made the decision to ally with Carthage after the Mamertines rebelled his control. With Rome allied with the Mamertines and Carthage allied with Hiero II the conflict between Rome and Carthage grew.
