A Tour of the Great Roman Cities
Toletum (Toledo)
Many of you are surely aware of how hard the conquest of Spain was for Rome. Hannibal used Spain as a staging area from which he launched his land attack against Italy in the Second Punic (218 to 202 BC). Because of this, once the Carthaginians were defeated, the Roman Senate determined that the only way to ensure there was never an attack against Rome from Spain again was to conquer and pacify Spain.
The people of Spain are a mixture of Gauls who migrated into Spain and native Spaniards who were there when the Gauls arrived. The mixing of the Gauls with the native Spanish created a people who turned out to be some of the toughest opponents that the Romans ever faced. Spain wasn’t fully and completely pacified until the Divine Augustus put down a final rebellion in 734 AUC (19 BC).
Within Spain, the city of Toletum is an important strategic city. Toletum is located on the Tagus River and is located in the center of the peninsula of Spain. It sits on crossroads for the major cities of Emerita Augusta, Caesar Augusta, and Laminium.
Originally, Toletum was a city of the Carpetani who are one of the tribes of Gauls who migrated into Spain across the Pyrenees Mountains and mixed with the native Spanish. In 560 AUC (193 BC) the Carpetani and allies were conquered and the Romans took the city of Toletum under M. Fulvius Nobilior.
Though Spain has been quiet and safe for sometime, it remains a land that breeds fierce warriors. These days, many of our best legionaries come from Spain. And in time, one can expect to see Emperors come from this same, tough stock.
While it is an old city, because it is originally a barbarian city and in a region that has seen so many years of hard fighting, Toletum is not a cultured city. But, it is strategically important in its location. And it is an important city in helping to maintain the peace in Roman Spain and as a recruiting ground for legionaries.
Kartagena (Cartagena)
Governors, there is probably no other city that we are talking about today that has the significance in Roman history as Kartagena. Kartagena is a key city in that most important chapter of Roman history: the Punic Wars.
Kartagena was founded after the First Punic war around the year 523 AUC (230 BC) by Hasdrubal the Fair. Located on the Mediterranean coast of Spain, Kartagena boasts an excellent natural harbor, making it an idea city for the sea-faring Carthaginians.
In the wake of their defeat in the First Punic War, the Carthaginians needed to find silver to pay the huge indemnity that the Romans placed on them as a term of surrender. Spain boasts a number of excellent silver mines so the Carthaginians moved into Spain to exploit the mines and pay for the costs of the First Punic War.
Recognizing the ideal harbor, Hasdrubal founded Kartagena, calling it Carthage as well. Kartagena became the focus of Carthaginian power in Spain.
Over time, the Carthaginian silver mines in Spain more than paid for the indemnity to the Romans. Soon the Carthaginians were able to build up a new war chest. And in time, Hasdrubal was killed by a Gaul and succeeded by Hannibal the son of his father-in-law, Hamilcar Barca.
Hannibal’s invasion of Italy began from Karagena when he marched on the Spanish city of Saguntum which was a Roman protectorate. After laying siege to Saguntum for 8 months, Hannibal succeeded in capturing the city and, in doing so, saw the war against Rome begin in earnest.
Seven years before he met Hannibal on the plains at Zama in 551 AUC (202 BC), the great Scipio Africanus Major was leading legions in Spain. During this time he captured the city of Carthage in Spain, renaming it Carthago Nova or Kartagena.
While the city has remained pacified ever since, it’s early history is enough to make this a city of great historical importance to any Roman.
Governors, as you oversee this city, ensure that you are mindful of its importance in history and of the loss of blood and lives that emanated from this city in Spain.
