24.1
After his return to
Bruttium, Hanno, with the assistance and guidance of the Bruttians, made an
attempt on the Greek cities. They were steadfast in their adherence to Rome,
and all the more so because they saw that the Bruttians, whom they feared
and hated, were taking sides with the Carthaginians. Rhegium was the first
place he attempted, and several days were spent there without any result.
Meanwhile the Locrians were hastily carrying their corn and wood and
everything else they might want out of the fields into the city, not only for
safety, but also that no plunder whatever might be left for the enemy. Every
day larger numbers of people poured out of all the gates, till at last only
those remained in the city whose duty it was to repair the walls and gates
and provide a store of weapons on the ramparts. Against this miscellaneous
crowd of all ranks and ages wandering through the fields mostly unarmed,
Hamilcar sent his cavalry with orders not to injure any one but simply to
scatter them in flight and then cut them off from returning to the city. He had
taken up his position upon some high ground where he had a view of the
country and the city, and he sent orders to one of the Bruttian cohorts to go
up to the walls and invite the principal men of the place to a conference, and
if they consented they were to endeavour to persuade them to betray the
city, promising them, if they did so, Hannibal's friendship. The conference
took place, but no credence was placed in what the Bruttians said, until the
Carthaginians showed themselves on the hills and a few who escaped to the
city brought the news that the whole population was in the hands of the
enemy. Unnerved by terror they replied that they would consult the people,
and a meeting was at once convened. All who were restless and discontented
preferred a fresh policy and a fresh alliance, whilst those whose kinsfolk had
been shut out of the city by the enemy felt as much pledged as though they
had given hostages. A few were in favour of maintaining their loyalty to
Rome, but they kept silence rather than venture to defend their opinion. A
resolution was passed with apparent unanimity in favour of surrendering to
the Carthaginians. L. Atilius, the commandant of the garrison, and his men
were conducted down to the harbour and placed on board ship for
conveyance to Regium; Hamilcar and his Carthaginians were received into
the city on the understanding that a treaty with equal rights should be at once
concluded. This condition was within a very little of being broken, for the
Carthaginians charged the Locrians with treachery in sending away the
Romans, whilst the Locrians pleaded that they had escaped. Some cavalry
went in pursuit in case the tide in the straits should either delay the departure
of the ships or drift them ashore. They did not overtake those whom they
were in pursuit of, but they saw some other ships crossing the straits from
Messana to Regium. These were Roman soldiers who had been sent by
Claudius to hold the city. So the Carthaginians at once retired from Regium.
By Hannibal's orders peace was granted to the Locrians; they were to be
independent and live under their own laws; the city was to be open to the
Carthaginians, the Locrians were to have sole control of the harbour, and the
alliance was to be based on the principle of mutual support: the
Carthaginians were to help the Locrians and the Locrians the Carthaginians
in peace and in war.