The capture of Malta was the successful invasion of the

Carthaginian The term Carthaginian ( la, Carthaginiensis ) usually refers to a citizen of Ancient Carthage. It can also refer to: * Carthaginian (ship), a three-masted schooner built in 1921 * Insurgent privateers; nineteenth-century South American privateers, ...

island of Malta (then known as Maleth, Melite or Melita) by forces of the Roman Republic led by Tiberius Sempronius Longus in the early stages of the

Second Punic War The Second Punic War (218 to 201 BC) was the second of three wars fought between Carthage and Rome, the two main powers of the western Mediterranean in the 3rd century BC. For 17 years the two states struggled for supremacy, primarily in Ital ...

in 218 BC.

Background

Malta had been Carthaginian territory since 480 BC. During the

First Punic War The First Punic War (264–241 BC) was the first of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage, the two main powers of the western Mediterranean in the early 3rd century BC. For 23 years, in the longest continuous conflict and grea ...

, the island suffered a devastating raid by a Roman army under Gaius Atilius Regulus in 257 BC, but it remained under Carthaginian rule. When the

broke out in 218 BC, a Carthaginian force of around 2,000 men under the command of Hamilcar, son of Gisco garrisoned the Maltese Islands. Despite the Carthaginian defeat at the

Battle of Lilybaeum The Battle of Lilybaeum was the first clash between the navies of Carthage and Rome in 218 BC during the Second Punic War. The Carthaginians had sent 35 quinqueremes to raid Sicily, starting with Lilybaeum. The Romans, warned by Hiero of Syracuse ...

, the Romans were concerned that a Carthaginian-led revolt might break out in Sicily. In order to prevent this, Malta – Carthage's nearest base to Sicily – had to be captured.

Capture

Roman Consul Tiberius Sempronius Longus had over 26,000 men under his command, and he sailed his fleet from

Lilybaeum Marsala (, local ; la, Lilybaeum) is an Italian town located in the Province of Trapani in the westernmost part of Sicily. Marsala is the most populated town in its province and the fifth in Sicily. The town is famous for the docking of Giuse ...

in order to capture Malta. Vastly outnumbered, Hamilcar surrendered the main city Maleth and his garrison to the Romans, without much of a fight. The fleet returned to Lilybaeum after a few days, where those who had been captured (with the exception of the nobles) were sold as slaves.

Analysis

The main source about the invasion is an account by Livy. The role of the Maltese inhabitants during the invasion is unclear, and some historians suggest that they might have turned over the Carthaginian garrison to the Romans. The islands were in no position to resist the invasion, and surrendering without a fight was beneficial for the population since it spared the islands from destruction whilst also increasing the possibility for future economic gain. Archaeological evidence suggests a significant demographic continuity between the periods of Carthaginian and Roman rule of Malta. The Maltese Islands were given some degree of autonomy under Roman rule, possibly as a reward for the islanders' shift of allegiance.

Notes

References

Bibliography

* * * {{Punic Wars navbox, state=autocollapsed 218 BC Malta Malta Invasions of Malta Malta in the Roman era