The Third Punic War is said to be an "outrage" by historians in later years.
The Second Punic War is also known as the Hannibal War. From the perspective of Rome, the expression that it was attacked and then attacked back holds true, but many historians say that it is appropriate to regard the third as an invasion on the Roman side.
Carthage was erased from the ground without becoming an ally or even a province.
The leader of the Third Punic War was Marcus Porchius Kato Kensorius, the Great Kato.
Let's take a look at such a big Kato this time.
Consul from the commoner
The Roman Republic was basically an aristocratic society, but the Likinian-Licinian law and the Hortensian law, which appear in world history textbooks, have made it possible for ordinary people to take important positions. rice field.
Under such circumstances, the Great Cato was on the Roman career course called Cursus Honorm with the backing of the Valerianus family, a prestigious Roman aristocrat.
Cursus Honorum is a route that leads to Consul, which was the highest authority in Rome at that time, via Aedile and Puerator, and the Great Cato went smoothly on this course even though he was a commoner.
Conflict with Scipio Africanus
The confrontation between the Great Cato and Scipio, the hero who saved Rome, is well known in Roman history and has great significance.
There are several circumstances of the conflict.
First of all, the prestigious Cornelius family and the Valerianus family, to which Scipio belongs, were in a hostile relationship. Scipio becomes a political enemy as a large Kato under the auspices of the Valerianus family.
In fact, Cato the Elder was the first to accuse his brother, not Scipio Africanus. Therefore, in history, a series of trials called the Scipio trial can be seen as an internal conflict of the prestigious Roman aristocrats.
Next, there were some in the Senate who were worried about Scipio's behavior. It is certain that his actions have been seen as over-rights since the time of the Second Punic War. In an emergency, he was appointed to the Consul in his thirties. Originally, a consul can only take office if he is 40 years old or older.
It is said that Fabius Maximus, who is called the Italian shield, was particularly repulsive to Scipio.
Greater Kato was a military commander under Maximus during the Second Punic War, so this may also have an effect.
The Senate is most afraid of the emergence of dictators.
That is why Julius Caesar was later assassinated.
After that, of course, there would have been jealousy for Scipio.
As a result, Scipio was not found guilty. However, Scipio will leave the political world on this occasion.
After the death of Scipio, the Roman Senate will be led by the Great Cato.
Anyway, I think Carthage should be destroyed
It seems that the Great Cato really wanted to destroy Carthage.
He seems to have often addressed the Senate, but at the end he repeatedly said, "Anyway, I think Carthage should be destroyed."
In a famous episode, Kato visited the Senate with a Carthaginian fig and said, "There is a country that can make such a stunning fig just three days from Rome."
The Cornelius family's small Scipio (Publius Cornelius Scipio Nashika) argued against this, saying that "Carthage should survive anyway."
The power of Kato in the Genro Hospital was so powerful that no one could stop it.
He neutralized and destroyed Carthage.
All the inhabitants were sold as slaves, the walls were demolished, and the city was completely destroyed.
Salt was sprinkled on the site, and Carthage disappeared from the map.
Great Cato died in 149 BC without seeing the destruction of Carthage.
He was born in 234 BC, so he lived until he was 85 years old.
Cato the Elder is said to be the health of steel, and he rarely got sick.
Personal evaluation of the big Kato
There are many republican Roman sympathizers. Later Roman historians also respected republican Rome, and there are many who make republican Rome an ideal nation, including Edward Gibbon during the heyday of the British Empire.
However, from around the Third Punic War, Rome clearly began to be confused.
Until now, Rome has almost always been an ally in the conquered territories. Carthage did not make it an ally, but it was not the first to take such strict measures.
However, it is also true that it created the greatest threat of Hannibal.
Rome, which has lost its forgiveness, then moves toward a period of turmoil called the first century of civil war.
Kato was a conservative who valued the Roman Republic more than anyone else. Therefore, an innovator like Scipio could not forgive.
Rome heads for imperial rule after a century of civil war.
History is ironic that a man who loved the republic more than anyone else triggered the collapse of the republic.