How Did Carthage Raise its Mercenary Armies? DOCUMENTARY

In this history documentary we continue to explore ancient Carthage. While prior episodes have looked at its social structure or military campaigns in this episode we marry the two by seeing how Carthage raised its mercenary armies.

We begin with a brief history of Carthage and the Punic military. This begins in its early colonial years when the small town boasted but a small, unremarkable militia. Within a few centuries however the city would blossom and begin to deploy more formidable forces of infantry, cavalry, and chariots. It would be these which fought the early Punic Wars against the Greeks in Sicily. However upon facing devastating losses of citizen life in these conflicts, Carthage reformed its military to rely more on its auxiliaries, allies, and mercenaries. It would be this new army that would win it a vast Empire and come face to face with the Romans.

With this in mind we look at how war was declared, how troops were mustered, and how armed forces were deployed to various theaters of war. Such an understanding will hopefully enrich your study of Carthaginian history and the Punic Wars with Rome.

You can learn more about the armies of Carthage through our Units of History episodes:

Sources and Suggested Reading:
"The Library of History - Book 19, 20" by Diodorus Siculus
"Philippic Histories - Book 21, 22, 23, 24" by Justinus
"The Carthaginians" by Dexter Hoyos
"Carthage's Other Wars" by Dexter Hoyos
"Carthage Must Be Destroyed" by Richard Miles

Credit:
Research = Vaughn Fenton
Script = Vaughn Fenton
Narration = Invicta
Art = Penta Limited

0:00 Intro
2:32 Carthage's Military Evolution
6:35 The Call to War
10:44 Mustering the Troops
11:30 The Auxiliaries
12:55 The Allies
13:40 The Mercenaries
17:26 The Navy
19:31 The Supplies
20:34 Deployment for War

#history
#documentary
#military

[InvictaHistory]

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[scipio]

Great topic! I always thought that this was a huge disadvantage that Carthage had in contrast to Rome. Though, apparently they did it because they found that there were economic advantages.

What would somebody have to pay you to march over the Alps into the greatest military power in the region and straight into a hoard of trained legionares?

[jonbaxter]

I wish Carthage understood you can't just throw money at a problem sometimes.

[Daniel_McDonald]

I appreciate how this video provides a detailed history of Carthage's military strategy and organization. It's fascinating to learn about the importance of economic stability in raising armies, and the impact of financial downturns on military strength. It's also interesting to see how Carthage evolved over time, from a small colony ruled by appointed governors to an oligarchic republic with a robust military force. The presentation of this history is engaging and informative. Though I found the segue to contemporary economic trends and the Masterworks sponsorship a bit jarring, I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn about Carthage and its military traditions. Thanks for sharing!

[patrickcurrie]

A Gaelic mercenary marine on a Carthagian war ship? Incredible! Can you imagine that man's life? The traveling he must of done, the wonders and stories he would bring back home?

Fantastic episode, thank you!

[robincole]

"When dragons belch and hippos flee
My thoughts, Ankh-Morpork, are of thee
Let others boast of martial dash
For we have boldly fought with cash
We own all your helmets, we own all your shoes
We own all your generals - touch us and you'll lose.

Morporkia! Morporkia!
Morporkia owns the day!
We can rule you wholesale
Touch us and you'll pay.

We bankrupt all invaders, we sell them souvenirs
We ner ner ner ner ner, hner ner hner by the ears
Er hner we ner ner ner ner ner
Ner ner her ner ner ner hner the ner
Er ner ner hner ner, nher hner ner ner (etc.)
Ner hner ner, your gleaming swords
We mortgaged to the hilt

Morporkia! Morporkia!
Hner ner ner ner ner ner
We can rule you wholesale
Credit where it's due."

[williamromine]

There is something kind of fishy with the sponsor of this, and many other, videos recently. Most of the time, advertisment is used to get customers. In this instance, the sponsor has a waiting list of people trying to invest, but not only is the sponsor trying to get more customers, it's letting them "jump the line", and get in ahead of all these other investors who are on a waiting list. I'm glad it has sponsored this video, however I suggest that anyone thinking of investing check it out thoroughly. It probably is all on the up and up, but all investments are risks, and you should know what those risks are.

[jayaguilar]

You should do a video on games played by roman soldiers while on duty like ludus latrunculi or merels. As a security guard, i found it hilarious to know roman soldiers would often play a board game while on watch. It got to the point that even when they didnt have the access to a board they would carve one in the stone of wherever they were working. And to this day these game board carvings can be found all over the old world.

[ivandicivan]

Carthaginian army mosty wasn't composed of actual mercenaries, but of combination of citizens (who were mostly used as heavy cavalry), subject levies and allias/vassals, mercenaries in proper sense did exist but were rare.
Carthaginian Northern African subjects (Lybo-Phoenicians who were Punic and Lybians, whose elite was partially punicized) made core of their army (heavy infantry and heavy cavalry). These people came from areas that were under carthaginian rule, they had status of carthaginian subjects, paid taxes to carthage, were recruited, organized and equiped by the state. Many of thoese people became carthaginian half-citizens after Truceless war, since many cities in Northern Africa gained that status.
Hamilcar moved many of them to Iberia where he would create semi-autonomous province, to which these people would de facto be citizens (although to Carthage they would still be half-citizens).
Barcas gave land to these soldiers, and Hannibal in his speaches clearly says that he plans to give his soldiers land in Italy after he defeats Romans. There can be no way that these people are mercenaries, they were citizen army.

[abdraoufalti]

Huge thanks for this valuable information about Carthaginian army ❤❤❤
Love your videos

[AlthewizardofOz]

Fantastic video, of the highest quality! Carthage is always a very understudied subject yet I sense there is a massive interest to learn more about this civilization. Please consider making more videos on Carthage...I certainly would watch!

[OCinneide]

Watching a video like this it seems all really straight forward, but then when you start reading history books about Carthage you realise just how much we don't know (and every author stresses that over and over... and over and over again). Most sources about Carthage come from their enemies. Usually they were building a strawman with their writing being tailored for a domestic audience. So it is so difficult to know how Carthage actually operated.

[badgamemaster]

Roman General: Field your armies, Carthaginians, show us the might of your people

Carthaginian General: We are too RICH too fight our self.

[ohNojames]

I’d love to read or watch an alternate history of Carthage winning the Punic wars. I’ve played it in Imperator Rome but I’d love a good story.

[robbabcock_]

Wonderful stuff! This channel seems to get better each week.⚔🔥🙌

[bartomiejzakrzewski]

Reconstructions, narration, informations are so good and demand a lot o work. I think Invicta and King and Generals are equals in content and the best ancient hitory makers on YT

[vitorpereira]

“If one holds his state based on mercenaries, he will be neither secure nor peaceful; for they are divided, disloyal, ambitious and without discipline… have neither the fear of God nor are loyal to fellow men…”

— Niccolo Machiavelli

[ethanarnold]

Another awesome and fascinating video, Invicta!

[mohammedsaysrashid]

A wonderful historical coverage about Carthaginian mercenaries military raising .thanks for sharing....foundations of strong economic power require width commercial (outer & internal) activities ...outer commercial expansion requires marine dominant...for that Carthaginian empires created its war fleets besides its commercial fleets...thanks (Invicta) channel ...for sharing

[napoleonibonaparte]

Carthage: Outsourcing on a massive scale before it was cool.