Polybios erwähnt keine Absprache mit Hasdrubal über Sagunt an der Stelle, wo er den Iberos-Vertrag das erste Mal behandelt. Aber später scheint er diese anzudeuten.
Digital kenne ich Polybios nur auf Englisch.
Polybius ? Histories ? Book*1
Ich weiß nicht, ob man daraus hier was zitieren darf, wenn nicht, bitte löschen.
Buch II, 13, 7:
13 We have said nothing of affairs in Spain during these years. Hasdrubal had by his wise and practical administration made great general progress, and by the foundation of the city called by some Carthage, and by others the New Town, made a material contribution to the resources of Carthage,
2 especially owing to its favourable position for action in Spain or Libya. On a more suitable occasion we will describe its position and point out the services it can render to both these countries.
3 The Romans, seeing that Hasdrubal was in a fair way to create a larger and more formidable empire than Carthage formerly possessed, resolved to begin to occupy themselves with Spanish affairs.
4 Finding that they had hitherto been asleep and had allowed Carthage to build up a powerful dominion, they tried, as far as possible, to make up for lost time.
5 For the present they did not venture to impose orders on Carthage, or to go to war with her, because the threat of a Celtic invasion was hanging over them, the attack being indeed expected p273from day to day.
6 They decided, then, to smooth down and conciliate Hasdrubal in the first place, and then to attack the Celts and decide the issue by arms, for they thought that as long as they had these Celts threatening their frontier, not only would they never be masters of Italy, but they would not even be safe in Rome itself.
7 Accordingly, after having sent envoys to Hasdrubal and made a treaty, in which no mention was made of the rest of Spain, but the Carthaginians engaged not to cross the Ebro in arms, they at once entered on the struggle against the Italian Celts.
Buch III, 15, 5:
15 But the Saguntines sent repeated messages to Rome, as on the one hand they were alarmed for their own safety and foresaw what was coming, and at the same time they wished to keep the Romans informed how well things went with the Carthaginians in Spain.
2 The Romans, who had more than once paid little attention to them, sent on this occasion legates to report on the situation.
3 Hannibal at the same time, having reduced the tribes he p37intended, arrived with his forces to winter at New Carthage, which was in a way the chief ornament and capital of the Carthaginian empire in Spain.
4 Here he found the Roman legates, to whom he gave audience and listened to their present communication.
5 The Romans protested against his attacking Saguntum, which they said was under their protection, or crossing the Ebro, contrary to the treaty engagements entered into in Hasdrubal's time.
6 Hannibal, being young, full of martial ardour, encouraged by the success of his enterprises, and spurred on by his long-standing enmity to Rome,
7 in his answer to the legates affected to be guarding the interests of the Saguntines and accused the Romans of having a short time previously, when there was a party quarrel at Saguntum and they were called in to arbitrate, unjustly put to death some of the leading men. The Carthaginians, he said, would not overlook this violation of good faith for it was from of old the principle of Carthage never to neglect the cause of the victims of injustice.
8 To Carthage, however, he sent, asking for instructions, since the Saguntines, relying on their alliance with Rome, were wronging some of the peoples subject to Carthage.
9 Being wholly under the influence of unreasoning and violent anger, he did not allege the true reasons, but took refuge in groundless pretexts, as men are wont to do who disregard duty because they are prepossessed by passion.
10 How much better would it have been for him to demand from the Romans the restitution of Sardinia, and at the same time of the tribute which they had so unjustly exacted, availing themselves of the misfortunes of Carthage, and to threaten war in p39the event of refusal!
11 But as it was, by keeping silent as to the real cause and by inventing a non-existing one about Saguntum, he gave the idea that he was entering on the war not only unsupported by reason but without justice on his side.
12 The Roman legates, seeing clearly that war was inevitable, took ship for Carthage to convey the same protest to the Government there.
13 They never thought, however, that the war would be in Italy, but supposed they would fight in Spain with Saguntum for a base.
Ich finde es relativ weitgehend, Hannibal den Krieg mit Rom als länger geplantes Event zuzuschreiben. Im Hinterkopf hatte er den Krieg aber sicherlich. Er reagierte schnell, zielsicher und quasi mental gut vorbereitet, als der Krieg erklärt wurde.
Natürlich war Rom anmaßend mit seinen Forderungen gegen Karthargo. So sind imperialistische Mächte oft. Allerdings hatte Rom einen langen, schweren Krieg mit dieser Macht Karthargo hinter sich und mußte zuschauen, wie sie eine erneute, evtl. sogar stärkere Machtbasis schuf. Von Karthargos friedliebenden Ansichten konnte Rom kaum überzeugt sein.
Daß Hannibal nicht gottgegeben zwangsläufig auf seinen Interessen hätte beharren müssen, zeigt z.B. das berühmte Kreisultimatum des römischen Gesandten Popilius gegenüber Antiochos IV. im Jahre 168. Der Grieche war so schlau zurückzuweichen und blieb daher König im eigenen Reich. Hannibal war wohl ein größerer Hasardeur (oder: mutiger, wenn man es positiv wenden will). Gebracht hat es ihm wenig, aber hinterher ist man natürlich immer schlauer.
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