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Post by Otto Kretschmer on Feb 6, 2022 13:39:28 GMT
ISOT includes both North African and European possessions of Carthage. How much do they manage to conquer in Europe before Muslims come? Can they defeat Muslims? If not, can they evacuate at some of their population somewhere else?   Byzantium is busy fighting with Persia and cannot afford to send troops to North Africa. Visigoth remnants are weak. Italy is also weak after the Gothic Wars. The Franks can likely hardly raise an army more than 25,000 street ng |
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stevep
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Post by stevep on Feb 6, 2022 16:30:14 GMT
Small problem. They lost their lands in Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica during and immediately after the 1st Punic War, which ended in 241BC. It was only after that they established their considerable holdings in Spain so they never had such an empire at one time.
With either their forces pre the 1st Punic War ~265BC - see map which suggests they did hold a part of southern Spain but only parts of Corsica and Sardinia or pre 2nd Punic War, ~218BC again see map they are going to face a number of problems. Religion will be a big one as their virtually surrounded by Christian states which will be a shock. Also they have taken lands from the Byzantine empire and also in the latter case large chunks of the Visigothic kingdom which will give them enemies. Albeit that in 622 the empire has only just started its big fight back against the Persian invasions and Avars so may not be in much of a position to do anything.
A 265BC date would give them possibly more security as they have a powerful navy as well as an overwhelmingly mercenary army - although that includes a fair number of forces from subordinate states like the Numidian kingdom. The latter state gives them possibly more land forces because of what they can recruit from their Spanish lands plus a certain general, provided he can get the government to support him. They also have a large merchant fleet, especially in the former case, although many of its markets will have disappeared. However they are 800+ year technologically behind the world they find themselves in. This is probably less important now than at a later date but still going to be significant in some areas.
Steve
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