The first part of Mercenary War

Situation on Mediterranean sea after First Punic War

First Punic War remained about 23 years and end capture by the Roman republic the biggest island on the Mediterranean sea that was to say Sicily. It was very huge bang for country, which called itself Kingdom of the Mediterranean sea but even this term wasn’t so difficult to realize. The worst term for Carthage was pay almost 3200 talents, when the financial situation in this nation was completely hopeless. Carthage was able to pay Roman republic but only when it didn’t pay them mercenaries. Carthage lost also on a next few years naval superiority on the Mediterranean sea. Sicily became first Roman province, which wasn’t lie on the Italian Peninsula. Absence of money on paid for Carthage mercenaries was one of the main reason of the next very curious war that was to say- Mercenary War. This war is also called the Libyan War and the Truceless War(obviously according to Polibius). In my opinion this war started because of Roman’s , who demand from Carthaginians immediately pay 1000 talents of gold. That was a huge problem for Carthage because it had to pay wages for about 20000 mercenaries, who returned from the Lilybaeum(city on the Sicily) under the command of Hamilcar Barca, who had resigned at the end of First Punic War from command under so huge army. All these things took place in early 240 BC. Roman republic especially immediately wanted to give money in order to Carthage hadn’t money on wages for mercenaries