{"slug": "utica-tunisia", "label": "Utica, Tunisia", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utica%2C_Tunisia", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q166523", "qid": "Q166523", "description": "archaeological site in Tunisia", "entries": 6, "years": 6, "span": [-306, -202], "span_label": ["307 BCE", "203 BCE"], "topics": [{"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 6}], "related": [{"slug": "roman-republic", "label": "Roman Republic", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "numidia", "label": "Numidia", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "scipio-africanus", "label": "Scipio Africanus", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "hiero-ii-of-syracuse", "label": "Hiero II of Syracuse", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "carthage", "label": "Carthage", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "tunisia", "label": "Tunisia", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "syracuse-sicily", "label": "Syracuse, Sicily", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "agathocles-of-syracuse", "label": "Agathocles of Syracuse", "shared": 1}], "items": [{"year": -306, "year_label": "307 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Agathocles, the tyrant of Syracuse, (who has been campaigning in North Africa for several years) launches a surprise attack on Utica. He captures around 300 citizens outside the walls and tries to negotiate a surrender of the city; Utica refuses. Agathocles then uses the prisoners as human shields by binding them to his siege engines.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1359452513#North_Africa", "title": "307 BC", "revid": 1359452513, "section": "Events › By place › North Africa"}}, {"year": -239, "year_label": "240 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Libyan forces loyal to the mercenaries besiege the towns of Utica and Hippacritae, which refuse to defect to the mercenaries.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1191165485#Carthage", "title": "240 BC", "revid": 1191165485, "section": "Events › By place › Carthage"}}, {"year": -238, "year_label": "239 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Carthage is besieged by the mercenary armies, while the city of Utica revolts and attempts to secede from Carthage. Carthage appeals to Hiero II of Syracuse and to Rome for aid against the mercenaries. However, the mercenary leaders reject the efforts of Roman mediators.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1212004865#Carthage", "title": "239 BC", "revid": 1212004865, "section": "Events › By place › Carthage"}}, {"year": -237, "year_label": "238 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Hamilcar's armies capture a number of rebel Libyan cities. The Libyan settlements that have rebelled surrender to Carthage, with the exception of Utica and Hippacritae.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1342094383#Carthage", "title": "238 BC", "revid": 1342094383, "section": "Events › By place › Carthage"}}, {"year": -203, "year_label": "204 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Roman forces under Publius Cornelius Scipio besiege Utica in Carthaginia. Scipio is unable to stop the combined forces of the Carthaginians under Hasdrubal Gisco and the Numidians under their chief, Syphax, and he is forced to lift his siege of Utica.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1300115585#Carthage", "title": "204 BC", "revid": 1300115585, "section": "Events › By place › Carthage"}}, {"year": -202, "year_label": "203 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Roman general, Publius Cornelius Scipio, while undertaking peace negotiations with the Carthaginians at Utica, makes a surprise attack on the Carthaginian camp and destroys it. Then, sweeping down on the forces that the Carthaginians and their allies, the Numidians, are trying to muster on the Great Plains near the upper Bagradas River (in modern Tunisia), he smashes that army in the Battle of the Great Plains. The Numidian king, Syphax, and the Carthaginian leader, Hasdrubal Gisco, manage to escape separately.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1325743211#Carthage", "title": "203 BC", "revid": 1325743211, "section": "Events › By place › Carthage"}}]}