Gisco (died 239 BC) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gisco
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| Died | 239 BC Near Utica, Tunisia |
| Allegiance | Carthaginian Republic |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | First Punic War:
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Gisco was a Carthaginian general from the ancient city-state of Carthage, which is now part of Tunisia. He was an important leader during the final years of the First Punic War (264–241 BC). He also played a key role in the events that led to the Mercenary War.
Gisco's exact birth date and age when he died are not known. We also don't know much about what he did before he became famous near the end of the First Punic War.
When Carthage lost the First Punic War in 241 BC, Gisco was in charge of their main military base in Sicily, called Lilybaeum (modern Marsala). The main Carthaginian commander, Hamilcar Barca, was ordered to make a peace treaty. He was very angry and left, so Gisco, as the next highest-ranking general, took over the talks with the Romans. These talks led to the Treaty of Lutatius, which officially ended the war.
After the war, the Carthaginian soldiers who had fought in Sicily were sent back to Africa. They were very upset about not being paid. Gisco, who was well-liked by the troops, was quickly called back to help solve the problem. It seemed like the situation was getting better, but then things went wrong. Gisco and his officers were taken prisoner, and their money was stolen.
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Gisco's Military Career
Gisco was a citizen of Carthage, a powerful city-state that controlled much of North Africa's coast, parts of Spain, and several islands like Sicily. He became well-known during the last years of the First Punic War.
The First Punic War
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The First Punic War started in 264 BC between Carthage and Rome. These were the two strongest powers in the western Mediterranean Sea. For 23 years, they fought for control, mostly on the island of Sicily and in the waters around it.
In 250 BC, the Romans began a siege of Carthage's main base in Sicily, Lilybaeum. The Romans tried hard to attack the city, but they were pushed back. By 248 BC, Carthage only held two cities on Sicily: Lilybaeum and Drepana. These cities were well-protected and could get supplies by sea, which the Romans couldn't stop easily.
After many years of war, both Carthage and Rome were running out of money and soldiers. Rome built a new fleet of about 200 warships with money loaned from its richest citizens. Carthage also built a larger fleet to bring supplies to Sicily. However, the Roman fleet, led by Gaius Lutatius Catulus, attacked and defeated the Carthaginian fleet in the Battle of the Aegates Islands. This was a major Roman victory.
Gisco is first mentioned as the commander of Lilybaeum around this time. The fighting around Lilybaeum became quiet. The Romans knew they couldn't capture the city by storm. They built strong walls to stop Carthaginian attacks and to make it harder for themselves to attack the city again. The main fighting then moved to the north.
The Treaty of Lutatius
After their fleet was defeated, Carthage decided not to build another one. They knew their soldiers in Sicily would soon run out of food and surrender. So, they ordered Hamilcar to make a peace treaty with Rome, accepting whatever terms he could get. Hamilcar refused to do this, perhaps because he didn't want to be linked to Carthage's defeat. So, Gisco, as the next most senior general, was left to negotiate the peace terms.
Gisco began talks with Catulus, the Roman commander who had won the Battle of the Aegates. Catulus wanted to end the war quickly before his term as consul (a Roman leader) ended. Gisco and Catulus agreed that Carthage would give up its control of Sicily. Carthage would also release all Roman prisoners without asking for money. In return, Rome would release Carthaginian prisoners if a ransom was paid. Carthage also agreed to pay Rome 2,200 talents of silver (about 56,000 kg) over 20 years.
Rome rejected these terms at first. A group of ten Roman officials was sent to settle the matter. Gisco quickly agreed to more concessions. Carthage would also give up several islands near Sicily. The payment was increased to 3,200 talents (about 81,000 kg) of silver. The first 1,000 talents had to be paid right away, and the rest within 10 years. This final agreement was called the Treaty of Lutatius. Hamilcar then gave command in Sicily to Gisco, who officially told Carthage about the agreement.
The Mercenary War
After the peace treaty, the Carthaginian soldiers in Sicily left the island and gathered at Lilybaeum. Gisco was in charge of sending these 20,000 men back to Carthage. Most of these soldiers were not Carthaginians; they were foreigners hired to fight. Gisco sent them back in small groups, hoping they would be paid quickly and sent home.
However, the Carthaginian government decided to wait until all the troops arrived. They then tried to pay them less than what they were owed. As each group arrived, they stayed in Carthage, enjoying city life after years of war. But before all 20,000 soldiers arrived, they were moved to Sicca Veneria, about 180 km away. They demanded a large part of their back pay before they would go.
The soldiers, now free from strict military rules, complained among themselves. They refused to accept less than their full pay. Frustrated by the Carthaginian negotiators, all 20,000 troops marched to Tunis, about 16 km from Carthage. The Carthaginian government panicked and agreed to pay them in full. But the soldiers then demanded even more money.
Gisco, who was respected by the army, was brought from Sicily in late 241 BC. He arrived at the camp with enough money to pay most of what was owed. He started giving out the money and promised the rest would be paid soon. It seemed like the anger was calming down, but then something went wrong.
Two rebel leaders, Spendius (a former Roman slave) and Matho (a Berber upset about taxes), were declared generals. News of this experienced, anti-Carthaginian army spread quickly. Many cities and towns joined the rebellion. They sent supplies, money, and more soldiers. The pay dispute had turned into a full-scale revolt that threatened Carthage itself.
Carthage, tired from the long war, struggled at first. Their army was led by Hanno, who was not a good field commander. Later, Carthage raised another army of about 10,000 men, led by Hamilcar. Hamilcar faced a rebel force of 25,000 men, who still held Gisco and his officers as prisoners. Hamilcar defeated this rebel army at the Battle of the Bagradas River.
Hamilcar then worked to bring rebellious towns and cities back under Carthaginian control. He used a mix of diplomacy and force. He was followed by a larger rebel force that stayed in rough areas, fearing Hamilcar's cavalry and elephants. Around 239 BC, Hamilcar moved his army into the mountains southwest of Utica. He tried to make the rebels fight, but his army became surrounded. The Carthaginians were saved when a Numidian leader named Naravas, who admired Hamilcar, switched sides with his 2,000 cavalry. This was a disaster for the rebels. In the battle that followed, they lost 10,000 killed and 4,000 captured.
Gisco's Death
Since leaving Carthage, Hamilcar had treated captured rebels well. He offered them a choice: join his army or go home freely. He made the same offer to the 4,000 rebels captured in the recent battle. The rebel leaders saw this kind treatment as the reason Naravas had switched sides. They worried their army would fall apart, and they knew they would not get such good terms themselves. To stop any chance of good feelings between the two sides, they harmed Gisco and 700 other Carthaginian prisoners in a very cruel way until they died.
In response, Hamilcar killed his 4,000 prisoners. From this point on, neither side showed any mercy. The fighting became incredibly brutal, so much so that the historian Polybius called it the "Truceless War." Any prisoners taken by the Carthaginians were trampled to death by elephants. The rebels killed many captured Carthaginians in a cruel way. In 238 BC, at the Battle of the Saw, Hamilcar captured Spendius and nine of his main officers during a meeting and had them killed in a cruel way.
See also
In Spanish: Giscón para niños
