Capture of Malta (218 BC)


The capture of Malta was the successful invasion of the Carthaginian island of Malta by forces of the Roman Republic led by Tiberius Sempronius Longus in the early stages of the Second Punic War in 218 BC.

Background

Malta had been Carthaginian territory since 480 BC. During the First Punic War, the island suffered a devastating raid by a Roman army under Gaius Atilius Regulus Serranus in 257 BC, but it remained under Carthaginian rule.
When the Second Punic War 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 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 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 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.