Punicus facts for kids

Punicus (who was also called Púnico in Portuguese and Spanish) was an important leader of the Lusitanians. They were an ancient tribe from what is now western Hispania, or the Iberian Peninsula. Punicus became their first military chief during the Lusitanian War. He led his people to their first big wins against the powerful Romans.

Who Was Punicus?

Some people think Punicus came from a place called Herminius Mons. This is like his later countryman Viriathus. But others are not so sure about this idea. Some believe he might have been from Braga. If so, he would have been a Bracari person, not a Lusitanian.

It is likely that Punicus worked as a mercenary. A mercenary is a soldier who fights for money. He might have fought for people from Phoenicia or Carthage in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula. Lusitanians and other tribes often did this. He might even have been part of a war between Carthage and the Numidians. The Numidians were led by Masinissa, who was a friend of Rome.

Punicus Leads a Rebellion

In 155 BC, Punicus started a rebellion among the Lusitanians. They began to attack and take things from Roman lands. To stop this uprising, Roman leaders called praetors and proconsuls marched with a large army. These leaders were Calpurnius Piso and Manius Manilius. They had about 15,000 Roman soldiers, called legionaries.

But Punicus defeated them! He caused the Romans to lose around 6,000 men. This big victory helped Punicus make friends with the nearby Vettones tribe. He then moved south and attacked Roman areas near the Mediterranean Sea. This included Hispania Baetica and lands belonging to the Blastophoenicians. These people were under Roman rule. During his campaign, a Roman official named Terentius Varro also died.

The End of Punicus's Leadership

Punicus's time as a leader ended suddenly in 153 BC. He was killed by a thrown stone. After his death, his second-in-command, Caesarus, took over. Caesarus continued the fight against the Romans.

What Does the Name Punicus Mean?

The name Punicus comes from the word "Punic." This is a Latin word that means "Phoenician." It was borrowed from an ancient Greek word, Phonikeos.

Some historians think Punicus got this name later in life. He might have earned it after gaining military experience in southern Hispania. This area still had a lot of Punic culture. Another idea is that he might have been Phoenician by birth. Or perhaps he was a Lusitanian with Phoenician family roots. It's also possible that his name just sounded like Punicus to the Roman writers who wrote about him.

An old book from the 1700s says Punicus had another name: "Appimanus."

See also

In Spanish: Púnico (Lusitania) para niños

• Caesarus
• Viriathus
• Olyndicus