Editing Second Punic War (section)

=== Macedonia, Sardinia and Sicily ===
During 215{{nbs}}BC the Macedonian king, [[Philip V of Macedon|Philip V]], [[Macedonian–Carthaginian Treaty|pledged his support]] to Hannibal,{{sfn|Miles|2011|p=243}} initiating the [[First Macedonian War]] against Rome in 215{{nbs}}BC. The Romans were concerned that the Macedonians would attempt to cross the [[Strait of Otranto]] and land in Italy. They strongly reinforced their navy in the area and despatched a legion to stand guard, and the threat petered out. In 211{{nbs}}BC Rome contained the Macedonians by allying with the [[Aetolian League]], a coalition of Greek city states which was already at war with Macedonia. In 205{{nbs}}BC this war ended with a negotiated peace.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|pp=253–260}}

A rebellion in support of the Carthaginians broke out on Sardinia in 213{{nbs}}BC, but it was quickly put down by the Romans.{{sfn|Miles|2011|p=288}}

[[File:Archimedes before his death with the Roman soldier, Roman mosaic.jpg|thumb|alt=a colourful mosaic of a sword-armed soldier gesturing to a seated man in ancient-style robes|{{center|Archimedes before being killed by the Roman soldier – copy of a Roman mosaic from the 2nd century}}]]

Prior to 215 BC Sicily remained firmly in Roman hands, blocking the ready seaborne reinforcement and resupply of Hannibal from Carthage. [[Hiero II of Syracuse|Hiero II]], the old tyrant of Syracuse of forty-five-years standing and a staunch Roman ally, died in 215{{nbs}}BC and his successor [[Hieronymus of Syracuse|Hieronymus]] was discontented with his situation. Hannibal negotiated a treaty whereby Syracuse came over to Carthage, at the price of making the whole of Sicily a Syracusan possession. The Syracusan army proved no match for a Roman army led by [[Marcus Claudius Marcellus|Claudius Marcellus]] and by spring 213{{nbs}}BC [[Siege of Syracuse (213–212 BC)|Syracuse was besieged]].{{sfn|Edwell|2015|pp=327–328}}{{sfn|Bagnall|1999|p=200}} Both Polybius' and Livy's accounts of the siege focus on [[Archimedes]]' invention of war machines to counteract Roman siege warfare, which was already made difficult by the strong defences of the city.{{sfn|Edwell|2015|p=328}}

A large Carthaginian army led by [[Himilco (fl. 3rd century BC)|Himilco]] was sent to relieve the city in 213{{nbs}}BC{{sfn|Miles|2011|p=288}}{{sfn|Edwell|2015|p=329}} and several further Sicilian cities deserted the Romans.{{sfn|Miles|2011|p=288}} In the spring of 212{{nbs}}BC the Romans stormed Syracuse in a surprise night assault and captured several districts of the city. Meanwhile, the Carthaginian army was crippled by [[Plague (disease)|plague]]. After the Carthaginians failed to resupply the city, the rest of Syracuse fell in the autumn of 212{{nbs}}BC; Archimedes was killed by a Roman soldier.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|pp=264–266}}

Carthage sent more reinforcements to Sicily in 211{{nbs}}BC and went on the offensive. In 211 BC Hannibal sent a force of Numidian cavalry to Sicily, which was led by the skilled Liby-Phoenician officer Mottones, who inflicted heavy losses on the Roman army through hit-and-run attacks. A fresh Roman army attacked the main Carthaginian stronghold on the island, [[Agrigentum]], in 210{{nbs}}BC and the city was betrayed to the Romans by a discontented Carthaginian officer. The remaining Carthaginian-controlled towns then surrendered or were taken through force or treachery{{sfn|Edwell|2015|p=330}}{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|pp=266–267}} and the Sicilian grain supply to Rome and its armies was resumed.{{sfn|Rawlings|2015|p=311}}