Carthage

Classic	Remastered

"Why would Baal send such a vision? He's not cruel, he has watched over us, we have had victories aplenty in war."

-Carthaginian leader

Carthage as a major playable faction in Rome: Total War.

Introduction[]

By tradition, Carthage was founded by Queen Dido who had fled from the city of Tyre in Phoenicia after her husband was killed by her brother. Even in the days of legend there was a link with Rome, because Aeneas of Troy, the father to the Romans, was the lover of Dido and then abandoned her. In her grief she killed herself, cursing Aeneas and his descendants as she died.

Carthage - the name means ‘new town’ - continued to flourish, a Phoenician colony that outgrew and survived its parent land. The Phoenicians - and their successors the Carthaginians - must be credited with the invention of glass, the bireme galley and with being expert traders thanks to their superb navigational skills. Even before the Greeks reached the Western Mediterranean, Carthage was a superbly wealthy city, thanks to its mastery of the seas. Carthaginian colonies - colonies of the original Phoenician colony - now ring the sea (modern Barcelona is named after the famous Barca family). Carthage is a maritime power, with only a relatively small landowning class to provide military land power. This, however, does not matter as long as Carthage continues to be wealthy. Its coffers pay for mercenaries in abundance when the city needs to go to war.

And it is this wealth, mastery of trade and expansion along the Mediterranean coast towards Italy that brings Carthage into direct confrontation with the newly rising power of Rome. Now, perhaps, it is time for Dido’s curse to have its full effects on the children of Aeneas...

Background Information[]

History[]

Carthage, based in North Africa (in present-day Tunisia), started out as a great and prosperous city state in the 9th century BC. By tradition, the city had been founded by Queen Dido, who had fled the city of Tyre in Phoenicia (in present-day Lebanon) after her husband was killed by her brother. Even in the days of legend there was a link to Rome, because Aeneas of Troy (in present-day Turkey), the father to the Romans, was the lover to Dido and then abandoned her. In her grief she killed herself, cursing Aeneas and his descendants as she died.

Carthage continued to flourish, a Phoenician colony that outgrew and surpassed its parent land.

Carthage is best known for the actions of Hannibal in the Second Punic War. Hannibal amassed an army in Spain and marched his army through the Alps into Italy in an attempt to capture Rome itself. After a string of victories Hannibal expended his funding from the Carthaginian council. Much to his displeasure he was forced to end the war.

Following the war Rome consolidated its power. When Carthage in turn grew in strength Rome demanded Hannibal go in exile. Years later, in Turkey, Hannibal commited suicide.

At the end of the Third Punic War, in 147 B.C. Rome launched an attack on Carthage and effectively annihilating the city as a civilian settlement.

In the following millennia many countries and states have taken the title of Carthage but the classical Carthaginian state is accepted to have been destroyed at this time.

Units[]

Trivia[]

Carthage is present in two optionally played historical battles, both pitting them against Rome, the Battle of the River Trebia and the Battle of Lake Trasimene. In the former, the player plays as Hannibal, in control of Carthaginian forces, while in the latter the player plays as the ambushed Romans.
The wide mix of Carthaginian military units have their own unique flaws and advantages. Mercenaries are easily recruited from nearby regions to bolster the imperial armies, while the local spearmen and war elephants are of unusually strong martial prowess. Perhaps the most easily exploited weakness in Carthage, however, is the kingdom's lack of proper military emphasis on ranged or cavalry units, giving most Eastern factions in Rome: Total War a definite advantage over them. However, Libyan Spearmen are decent against even Cataphracts, being able to hold them for some time, as well as being maneuverable. Also, Sacred Band Cavalry have superior attack and defense than Companion Cavalry, allowing Carthaginian armies to have a powerful cavalry unit.
Sacred Band are superior to all phalanxes except Spartan Hoplites and Royal Pikemen (when played against), and maybe Silver Shield Pikemen and Bronze Shield Pikemen.
Poeni Infantry is superior to Hoplites and Nile Infantry.
Sacred Band Cavalry is on the same level as Companion Cavalry. It depends then on who charges first, who is more tired, have less morale, what formation they use (wedge formation against a standard formation will always win when the units are evenly matched), and of course, how many soldiers each have.
Unique Carthaginian units are: Libyan Spearmen, Poeni Infantry, Sacred Band Infantry, and Sacred Band Cavalry.
The symbol of Carthage is based on the ancient Phoenician and later Carthaginian crescent symbol.
In the campaign, Carthage has been seen to be at war with all 4 Roman factions, the Iberians, the Greek Cities, Numidia, Gaul, Egypt, and Macedon, in addition to the Rebels.
When playing as Carthage, it is advised to ally with the Greek Cities to fight the Romans together. As your Diplomat is by Carthage, and a Greek Diplomat is on Sicily, this is rather easy. Attacking Numidia should be postponed in favor of Rome, as the Romans are bigger threats than the Numidians. Additionally, conquering Iberia (except the one Gallic settlement) is advised. Once you have defeated Rome and Iberia, decide whether attacking the Greeks, the Numidians, or the Macedonians is best. The Greeks will inevitably become a hindrance, but you might not want to attack them too soon and go for Macedon. You can also spend minimal resources and conquer Numidia.
Initially, Carthage has a fairly weak army that must be bolstered with mercenaries (while Iberian Infantry and Libyan Spearmen are decent troops, they just aren't good enough, unless against barbarians in early-game), preferably Mercenary Hoplites, although hiring everything that's available is recommended.
Carthage cannot train any ranged cavalry.
Even though they're not playable, the The Aztecs in Medieval II can be made selectable on the menu by changing the available factions in the game file. Doing so and selecting them on the map will give you Carthage's starting position for some reason, likely because they were never meant to be playable, and the game will crash if attempting to do so.