Captain Amilcar Barcas and sent him into the field with 70 Elephants and 10000 men There he was encompassed by the Africans on his Front the Numidians on his Rear and Spendius on his Flanck where Naravasus a Numidian with 2000 of his followers revolted to him Amilcar Barcas defeateth the Mercenaries Encouraged by this addition he engaged with his Enemies causing his men so to face about as the Front became the Rear whereby seeming to be in confusion the Mercenaries thought they ran and breaking their Ranks to pursue them he took this opportunity and setting on them out of order obtained the victory having slain 10000 and taken 4000 prisoners 12. He gave Arms to all such prisoners as would serve under him and having exhorted the rest to fight no more against the Carthaginians dismissed them freely Spendius and Matho together with Autaritus Captain of the Galls hearing this doubted how far his clemency especially the offer of indemnity might prevail with the Africans and others and consulted how to obviate this his design by setting the multitude at irreconcilable enmity with the Carthaginians To this purpose they feigned Letters to be sent out of Sardinia from their friends giving them to understand that certain amongst them held intelligence with the Enemy and advising them to keep close Gesco and the other with him Spendius taking hereat occasion earnestly advised them not to trust to the pretended clemency of Amilcar Who are further provoked by their Captains and by no meants to permit Gesco to escape for thereby they should incur the contempt of their Enemies and by strengthning them through the assistance of so great a Captain not a little damnifie their own affairs Whilest he yet spake another Carrier brought Letters as from Tunis of the same Contents with the former and then Autaritus openly protested that whosoever had any regard to the kindnesse of the Carthaginians could not be faithfull and therefore such were to be heard as perswaded the most bitter things against Carthage all others being Traitors and Enemies Then did he perswade them to Torture Gesco to death with such as were now with him and all that hereafter should be taken There were many which spoke against this cruelty especially as Gesco was concerned in it but for some time they were not understood speaking in their own languages and when what they aimed at was fully known some one cried out strike them which so provoked the multitude that they fortwith stoned them After this bringing forth Gesco and the other Carthaginians to the number of 700 they cruelly tormented them to death and made a decree that whomsoever of them for the time to come they should take he should be used in the same manner and if any of their Allies were taken his hands being cut off he should be sent back to Carthage This they very carefully afterwards observed having also refused to deliver the dead bodies to the Messengers that came for them and threatned if any more came to deal with them as they had used Gesco 13. Amilcar seeing into what straights he was cast by this boldnesse of the Mercenaries sent for Hanno judging that an end might sooner be put to the War if the forces of the State were all United Amilcar Uniteth the Carthaginian forces Such of the Enemies as he took in the heat of the fight he killed as he might by the Law of War or taking them alive cast them to wild beasts When he thought that he had brought matters into a fair way of recovery they presently relapsed into a far worse condition than ever For the ships that brought Provisions miscarried by force of Tempest Sardinia at the same time revolted from them which was wont to supply them with large Provisions and Hippacrita and Utica which hitherto had remained faithfull now revolted without any manifest cause Mathos and Spendius herewith elevated resolved to lay siege to Carthage it self Mathos and Spendius elevated by their successe besiege Carthage and shortly after performed it The Carthaginians in this their distresse betook themselves to their neighbours whereof the Romans and Hiero King of Syracuse in Sicily being sensible of the sawcinesse of their Enemies were ready to do them all good Offices Herewith better enabled they held out and Amilcar lying abroad so cut off all Provisions from the Mercenaries that being no other than besieged themselves they were forced at length to rise up and depart resolving to observe Amilcar's motions Amilcar forceth them to break up and ly in wait for him on the sides of the Mountains for they would not venture to take the plain being afraid of his Elephants and the horse of Naravascus and otherwise they were much inferiour to the Carthaginians who far surpassed them in Military skill though but equal to them in valour 14. But Amilcar singling them out by parties killed many of them and when they ingaged with their whole force cut them off by stratagems sometimes by day otherwhiles by night he would fall upon them on a sudden with great terrour and such of them as he took he cast them to the beasts At length he compassed them about in such a place as though they were afraid to fight they could not escape and being shut up within a Ditch and Rampire they were forced to devour one another Though they now could expect no mercy yet they sent to desire a Parley and having obtained leave Autarolus Zarxas Spendius and other Captains were ordered to manage it It was agreed that the Carthaginians should pick out ten men whom they pleased and the other be dismissed in their Coats The Covenants being finished Amilcar declared that he made choice of those who were present and so got the most eminent Leaders into his power The Africans understanding that their Officers were seized took Arms in great haste but Amilcar with his Elephants and his Army compassing them in on every side put them to the sword For the improvement of this successe he and Annibal went and besieged Mathos in Tunis before the Walls whereof he nailed Spendius to a Crosse with the rest of the Captives Annibal pitching his Camp on that side of the Town towards Carthage carelesly demeaned himself which Mathos considering made a Sally and killing many took much plunder and amongst other prisoners Annibal himself whom bringing to Spendius his Cross after he had taken down his Collegue's body he nailed him to it and killed 30 more of the most noble Carthaginians 15. It was long ere Amilcar knew of this disaster and when he did for the distance of place and difficulty of passage he could give no relief Marching therefore from Tunis he sate down by the mouth of the River Macaris and his Superiours at Carthage making new Levies joyned Hanno in Commission with him These two after several passages at length agreed to fight one set battel with the Enemy who consenting a bloody contest ensued wherein at length the
Syria most capable to receive his multitudes and opportune for the horse to charge in and for some time here he continued but Alexander delaying his march he was perswaded by his Courtiers that he dared not to adventure any further or look him in the face and because Winter approached he would lose no time and therefore sending away his money and stuff of most value with such as were not fit for War unto Damascus he hasted into Cilicia where he supposed Alexander to have possessed himself of the difficult passages as not daring to try battel in open field Supposing that he pretended sicknesse and hid himself in the straights he passed over the Mountain and went to Issus most imprudently passing by and leaving him at his back Taking this place and therein such of the Enemy as being sick and weak were there left he cut off their hands and then searing their Arms sent them away to tell their King what they had seen for he thought now the Enemy to have left Issus and fled for fear of him and for that reason hasted over the Hill Pinarus thinking to fall upon him in the Rear Alexander knowing for certain that he was passed by took thence occasion to encourage his Souldiers who now could not be overmatched by multitudes and sending a party of horse to view the straights returned thither by night and repossessed himself of them Then refreshing his men for the rest of the night he set a strong watch upon the Rock and in the morning went down into the path and set his Army in order for a battel The battel of Issus 34. This being done the Armies joyned ere long and Alexander seeing where Darius was made towards him which when Oxyathres the brother of Darius saw to prevent him he placed a Company of most valiant hors-men before the Chariot which cut off many of Alexander his men who pressed forwards But the Macedonians giving way to none in valour with great violence broke in amongst them and then a mighty slaughter followed and a great heap of Carkases lay before Darius his Chariot Many of the most noble Captains amongst the Persians fell some of the Macedonians and Alexander himself received a wound in his Thigh Darius his Chariot horses being wounded with spears began to fling threatned the overturning of him when fearing he should be taken alive he leaped out and mounting an horse ready for him he cast away his Royal apparel and shifted for himself after which his horse was put to the rout and ran away The Infantry discouraged herewith made no considerable opposition the great multitudes being unserviceable in so straight and precipitous a place and being put to the rout so hindred the flight and trode one another down that more damage accrued hence than from the meer strength of the Enemy Of the Persian horse Arrianus writeth 10000 to have been slain and of the foot 90000. with whom others consent as to the number of the horse but as to the foot there is little agreement some accounting more and others lesse 40000 are reported to have been taken 35. Of Alexander's men 504. Curtius saith were wounded 32 foot-men were slain and of hors-men 150. which some reckon lesse by 20. though another increaseth them to 300. Alexander following the Chace was forced to passe with his phalange over the Enemies dead bodies and with 1000 horse did great execution but was not able to reach Darius who rode upon a Mare that had a Foal left at home and therefore ran with more speed he being accustomed to have some kept for such necessities His Tents were easily taken and therein his Mother Wife Son and two daughters but of money not above 30000 Talents the rest being sent before-hand to Damascus The women hearing that Alexander was returned with the Robe of Darius made great lamentation which he understanding sent Leonatus to them to put them out of fear as to his death to promise them the maintenance of their former dignity and a Visit from him to be made the next morning As soon as it was light he went to them with Hephaestion his greatest favourite both whom when the Mother of Darius saw and knew not which was the King she made reverence to Hephaestion as seeming to her from the worth of his Clothes to be the greater person which when she understood to have been amisse was troubled at it and asked his pardon to which he answered smiling Be not troubled Mother for he also is Alexander A. M. 3672. Olymp. 111. ann 4. Darii 4. Alexand. 4. This battel of Issus was fought in the moneth Maemacterion Nicostratus or Nicocrates being Archon at Athens in the fourth year of the 111 Olympiad the foâ—â—th of the reign of Darius and the fourth of Alexander A. M. 3672. 36. Alexander after this victory marched for Syria and sent Parmenio before him to Damascus to seize upon Darius his Treasure Curtius lib. 3. which by Cophenes the Keeper thereof was betrayed into his hands and for that was rewarded with death by one of his Complices who sent his head to Darius Of Coyn here was found 2600 Talents besides 500 pound weight of Bullion and a World of other riches Of men and women 30000 were also taken with 7000 beasts that carried burthens Darius his Lieutenants revolt to Alexander Then was Parmenio sent to seize upon the Persian Fleet and others to take in the Cities of Syria which upon the report of the successe of the battel at Issus was easily done the Governours of Darius yielding themselves with their Treasures As Alexander travelled into Syria many petty Kings met him adorned with their Diadems Justin lib. 11. Curtius lib. 4. whereof some he received into friendship and others he deprived of their principalities as they had deserved of him When he came to the Citie Marathon he received Letters from Darius wherein he desired the ransom of his Wife Mother and Children with some other conditions of peace but such as rather became a Conquerour than one that had now been thrice shamefully beaten His offers scorned by Alexander not vouchsafing in his direction to Alexander the Title of King He disdained his offers justified his War from the invasion of Greece by the former Persian Kings and the treachery of Darius himself who hired one to murder him as Philip his father had formerly been by some set on by them He promised him his relations without Ransom if he would come himself as a Suppliant for them and safe conduct he both knowing as he said to overcome and shew favour to the Conquered And the next time he wrote he bad him remember that he did it not onely to a King but to his own King also 37. Alexander marched to Byblus Arrianus lib. 2. Curtius lib. 4. Justin lib. 11. which yielded to him upon composition and thence to Sidon the inhabitants of which being so hardly used formerly by Ochus in hatred
of Mercenaries in constant pay and making Provision of all sorts of Ammunition for that he foresaw that the Carthaginians disapproving of the peace made by Amilcar would within a short while renew the War Ad ann 1. Olymp. 117. The year after seeing himself sufficiently furnished he resolved then not to expect them but begin himself yet desiring first to clear his way by removing whatever might hinder him from the neighbouring Cities He breaketh it he first attempted Messene whither the Exiles of Syracuse had fled and he first prevailed with them to expel these and then to admit him into the Town where he killed 600 of the chiefest of them and most adverse to his power Thence he went to Agrigentum A. M. 3693. Ol. 117. ann 1. V. C. 442. Seleuci 1. Ptol. Lagi 12. thinking to make also a prey of it but sixty ships of the Carthaginians with Forces having lately come thither he forbore to attempt any thing and drew his forces into the Territories of the Carthaginians where he took in divers Castles In the mean while Dinocrates the principal man amongst the Exiles sent to Carthage desiring aid before Agathocles should reduce all Sicily into his power and having gathered his Companions together and raised a pretty Force sent Nymphodorus to the Town of the Centorippini held then by Agathocles but being promised to have it betrayed into his hands under condition they should be left to their own liberty He got by the night into the Town but the Garrison having timely knowledge of it cut him off and all his followers which had entred and Agathocles punished the Conspirators But Dinocrates being called by the Inhabitants of Galaria with 3000 foot and 2000 horse marched thither where Agathocles his faction being cast out he pitched his Tents without the Town but he sent two of his Captains against him with 5000 men who at length put him and his whole Army to flight and recovering the place animadverted upon the Revolters Agathocles being elevated with this successe hearing the Carthaginians were seized on an Hill marched thither intending to fight them with all the power he could make but they declining an engagement in a Triumphant manner he returned unto Syracuse 6. The year following Ad ann 2. the Carthaginians shipped a great Army for Sicily under Conduct of Amilcar a man of high Nobility but such a Tempest seized on the Fleet that 260 Vessels loaded with men and Provisions miscarried which made them cover their Walls with black as it was the custom upon some great and publick disaster The Carthaginians receive a great losse by shipwrack But Amilcar being an industrious man gathering together the Relicks of the shipwrack listed more men after his arrival and made up a compleat Army of 40000 foot and well nigh 5000 horse Agathocles perceiving himself too weak to encounter the Enemy at present took care how to secure his Towns and Castles from revolting and especially Gela near to which the Enemy then lay To send in a great party at once he thought might awaken the Towns-men too much and put them upon some attempt disadvantageous to himself so that he got some Soldiers in at several times till they amounted to a number too strong for the other and then going thither accused the Inhabitants of Treachery and took occasion to make a Massacre of 4000 of them the goods of whom he seized with all the Silver and Gold of those that remained Then pitched he his Tents against the Carthaginians encamped on an Hill where the Castle of Phalaris the Tyrant of old time was reported to be whence it got the name of Ecnomos i. e. wicked or unlawfull A River ran betwixt the two Camps concerning which a rumour having been of old time spread that a great multitude of men should perish near unto it this hindred both the Armies from ingaging till such time as excursions being made on both sides the Africans broke out of their Trenches to rescue the prey which Agathocles foreseeing had placed many men in ambush upon the River who falling upon the Carthaginians as they pursued their friends drove them back and with great slaughter gave the chace unto their Camps Agathocles judging this a fit season for an ingagement arose with his whole Army and fell upon them in their trenches into which he brake and there maintained for sometime a hot dispute till the Enemy repulsed him at that place by help especially of Slingers natives of the Islands Baleares who being exercised after the fashion of that Country in slinging of stones forced back the Syracusians by throwing at them those of a pound weight Yet he broke in in other places and had almost done his work when fresh supplies to the Enemy arrived out of Africk which falling on him in his rear turned the fate of the day clear against him and put his men to flight of which great execution was done by 5000 Africans that gave the chace Overthrew Agathocles many also killing themselves by drinking over hastily out of extremity of the heat which then raged through the influence of the Dog Star So that he lost no fewer than 7000 men 600 onely of the Carthaginians being slain 7. Agathocles getting together his straglers betook himself to Gela having given out that he determined for Syracuse with all speed so that 300 Africans entering Gela and fearing nothing were all cut off by him Then shut he himself up there that the Carthaginians laying siege to the place the Syracusians might have time enough to victual their City and indeed Amilcar thought first of all to besiege it but afterwards understanding what force was in it changed his purpose and rook in several Towns and Castles and behaved himself so lovingly as many within a short time revolted to him Agathocles then withdrew to Syracuse which he furnished with all sorts of provisions for the enduring of a siege intending to leave a party for defence thereof and remove the War into Africk by passing all his Army over thither For considering that the Carthaginians had almost got all Sicilie Ad ann 3. and his confederates generally revolted to them who were most potent now both at Sea and Land he judged it though the most venturous yet the safest way to invade the Enemy in his own Territories which being a suddain and most unusual thing he should daunt him therewith and drive his Subjects into an open revolt and force him to call back the Army out of Sicilie They having almost got all Sicilie into their hands he resolveth to divert them by invading Africk Communicating therefore this purpose to no man living he left Syracuse to the Government of his brother Antander and severing all the relations of the City one from another that no mutiny or sedition might arise in his absence taking part of them along with him as hostages he raised money by seizing the estates of Orphans into his hands which
affoard no passage for Horse or Elephants The place of it self was precipitious but lately by a falling of earth it was become so to the depth of 1000 foot He laboured then to bring his men through other wayes never before trodden but at length the Snow making them impassible he was forced to betake himself to the levelling of the Rock They made a great fire wherewith the Rock being heated they putrified it with Vinegar then did they cleave it and so diminished the descent by moderate turnings that not onely the beasts of burthen but the Elephants also might safely passe Passeth over the Alps into Italy Four dayes were spent about the Rock and by this time almost all the beasts were wasted for on the top was little grasse and that covered with Snow Coming lower certaing valleys afforded pasture where the cattel were refreshed and rest was given to the weary Soldiers Thence descended Annibal into the Plain in the fifth moneth after he had parted from new Carthage built by Asdrubal and now called Cartagena in Spain having passed over the Alpes in fourteen dayes In the passage he lost a great part of his Army bringing into the Country of the Insubres but 10200 African Foot 8000 of the Spanish and 6000 Horse 34. Scipio the Consul having Spain for his Province was by Sea going thither when he understood that Hannibal was near the River Rhodanus There he intended to have given him a stop but missing of him he returned on shipboard and hasted to Italy there to meet him before his men had yet refreshed themselves Defeateth Scipio the Consul They met and joyned battel wherein the Consul had the worst being wounded and preserved alive by the valour of his young son afterwards named Africanus The Roman Senate when first they received intelligence that Hannibal had passed the Alpes sent for the other Consul Sempronius out of Sicily to the aid of his Collegue According to order he brought over his Army and united it with Scipio's at the River Trebia Having had the better in some skirmishes with certain parties of Annibal he desired to make trial of a battel that his Collegue being sick he might have all the glory of Victory and though Scipio alleged that by delaying to fight the Galls might be farther drawn in and their own Soldiers better exercised yet lest the battel should be deferred till the coming of the next Consuls he resolved to fight alone Annibal feared nothing more than that they should refuse to fight because as yet the Galls continued his and he knew the best of the Roman Captains to be unable to act and his own Army fresh and chearful In the battel which shortly followed the Romans were overthrown being drawn out by a party that Hannibal sent to provoke them ere they had armed their bodies against the extremity of the mid-winter season either by meat or other provision so that ingaging with cold and hunger And Sempronius his Collegue and beset with their enemies whereof as in the former battel the Numidians to their great terror fell upon their rear they were defeated though with great slaughter of the Enemy through whose ranks 10000 broke and escaped to Placentia the rest being either slain taken or drowned in the River The Carthaginians having pursued them to the River Trebia returned to their Camp so stupified with cold that they were scarce sensible of the Victory For rain mixed with snow and intollerable cold killed many men and almost all the beasts and Elephants 35. At this time things went better with the Romans in Spain and Sicily In the former Cnaeus Scipio being sent thither by his brother the Consul upon his return into Italy overthrew Hanno the Carthaginian and took in a good part of the Country wherein was also new Carthage For the following year C. Flaminius who being Tribune had preferred the Agrarian Law was the second time made Consul together with Cn. Servilius Geminus He had a good gift in speaking but no skill in War being yet heady and impatient of advice Hannibal having all this while made the Country of the Galls the seat of War resolved to change it and after some consultation about his way into Etruria resolved upon that of the Fens as short and unexpected to the Enemy though more troublesome to passe Being forced to march three or four whole dayes through water this sorely distressed all his men except the Galls many of the beasts were left in the mud and the hoofs of the Horses came off He himself riding on an Elephant that was onely left escaped with his life but was sorely pained in his eyes one whereof he lost utterly Being arrived at dry ground he hoped by some means or other to intrap the Consul understanding what his disposition was He passed by his Camp and went further into the Country which inraged Flaminius who thought himself slighted by the Enemy When amongst the Romans some told him that he must not rashly pursue but use great caution especially by reason of the Horse but above all things stay for his Collegue and not hazard a battel without the conjunction of both Armies he was so far from following their advice that he could not bear their words Rising with all his forces he had neither respect to time nor place onely seeking to fight as if nothing had been more certain than the Victory with hope whereof he he so elevated the vulgar that a rable followed the Camp greater in number than the Army it self and furnished with chains bonds and other things wherewith to keep fast those prisoners and booty whereof they doubted not to become Masters 36. Annibal marching through Etruria wasted it with fire and sword Lege praeter Polyb. Liv. Plutarch in vita Fabii Coâ—n Nepot Annib. Appian in Annibalicis Florum l. 2. c. 6. the more to inrage his Enemy and at length came to the Lake called Thrasymenus and Thrasymene near to which are certain mountains and betwixt them and it a narrow way leading to a valley beset with them and a ridge of hills And Flaminius at the Lake Thrasymene These hills he made choice of wherein to place his men bestowing them round about so that Flaminius following him into the valley was fallen upon round about and slain with many of his men ere almost they knew who hurt them by reason of a mist which then was risen from the Lake Within the valley fell 15000 and near upon 6000 escaped to a Village where they were forced to yield themselves Annibal gathering all his prisoners together to the number of 15000 kept in custody the Romans Val. Max. l. 1. c. 6. exemp 6. Entrop Orosium but dismissed the Latines without ransome The body of the Consul saith Valerius Maximus was sought for by Annibal to be buried even his body who as much as in him lay had buried the Roman Empire Cn. Servilius the other Consul who kept Ariminum a Country of