Sack of Camarina ( 405 BC ) The Sack of Camarina took place in the spring of 405 BC in Sicily . Hermocrates had plundered Carthaginian possessions in Sicily from Selinus after 408 BC , and in response Carthage sent and army to Sicily under Hannibal Mago and Himilco II of the Magonid family which faced a coalition of Sicilian Greeks under the leadership of Syracuse . The Greeks were forced to abandon Akragas in the winter of 406 BC after a 8 month siege . Hannibal Mago had perished at Akragas from the plague during the siege , the Carthaginians sacked Akragas and wintered there , then attacked Gela in the spring of 405 BC . Dionysius I had become supreme commander of Syracuse by this time , but his army was defeated at Gela . Although Greeks casualties were light , Dionysius evacuated the city , which the Carthaginians plundered the following day . The Greek army had fellen back to Camarina after a forced march along with Gelan refugees the day after the sack of Gela . Dionysius ordered the citizens of Camarina to leave their city instead of organizing a defense . While retreating to Syracuse , part of the Greek army rebelled and occupied Syracuse , which Dionysius later managed to recapture . The Carthaginians sacked Camarina and encamped before Syracuse during the summer , and after a while a peace treaty was signed which confirmed Carthaginian control over Selinus , Akragas , Gela and Camarina , Greeks were allowed to settle in these cities while Dionysius was confirmed as the ruler of Syracuse . Carthage had reached the apex of her control in Sicily which she would not again reach until the death of Agathocles in 289 BC . Background . Carthage had stayed away from Sicilian affairs for almost 70 years following the defeat at Himera in 480 BC , during which time Greek culture had started to penetrate the Elymian , Sikanian and Sicel cities in Sicily . This all changed in 411 BC when the Elymian city Segesta was defeated by the Dorian Greek city Selinus . Segesta appealed to Carthage for aid , and the Carthaginian Senate agreed to intervene on behalf of Segesta . Hannibal Mago of Carthage led an army which took the city of Selinus by storm in 409 BC and then also destroyed the city of Himera . Syracuse and Akragas , the leading Greek cities in Sicily did not confront Carthage at that time and the Carthaginian army withdrew with the spoils of war . For 3 years , a lull fell on Sicily . No treaties had been signed between the Greeks and Carthaginians signaling a closure of hostilities . The Carthaginian Expedition of 406 BC The raids of the exiled Syracusan general , Hermocrates , on Punic territory around Motya and Panormus provoked Carthage into sending another army to Sicily in 406 BC under Hannibal Mago , who brought his cousin Himilco as his second in command . The leading Greek cities of Sicily , Syracuse and Akragas , had prepared for conflict by hiring mercenaries and expanding the fleet , along with keeping the city walls in good repair . Although Syracuse was involved in the Peloponnesian War and with disputes with her neighbors , their government sent an appeal for support to Magna Graecia and mainland Greece once the Carthaginians landed in Sicily . Akragas Falls . Hannibal besieged Akragas in the summer of 406 BC , which withstood the initial assault . While building siege ramps for future attacks the army was struck by plague and Hannibal along with thousands of Carthaginians perished . Part of the Carthaginian army under Himilco , Hannibal ’ s kinsmen and deputy , was defeated by the Greek relief army led by Daphnaeus , and the city was temporarily relieved . The Akragans were not happy with the decision of the generals ( who refrained from chasing the defeated Carthaginians ) and has 4 of them stoned to death . The Greeks then cut supplies to the Carthaginian camp and almost caused a mutiny in the Punic army . Himilco saved the situation by managing to defeat the Syracusan fleet and capturing the grain convoy bound for Akragas . The Greeks , faced with starvation , abandoned Akragas , which was sacked by Himilco . The siege had lasted for 8 months . After wintering at Akragas , Himilco moved on Gela . It is not known if the Carthaginians had received any reinforcement during the winter to make up their losses , but Himilco had left the Punic fleet at Motya , thus becoming dependent of a long supply line . A Tyrant takes over Syracuse . While the Carthaginians wintered at Akragas , Akragan refugees made accusations against the Syracusan generals after reaching that city . In the assembly , Dionysius , who had fought bravely at Akragas , supported these accusations . Although he was fined for breaking meeting rules , his friend Philistos paid the fine , keeping him eligible for political office . The assembly then deposed Daphnaeus and the other generals and appointed replacements , Dionysius among them . The Akragan refugees left Syracuse after this and ultimately found shelter in Leontini . Gela requested Syracuse for aid , as the Carthaginians were approaching that city . Power Politics . Dionysius started scheming to expand his power prior to sending help to Gela . He got the government to recall political exiles ( former followers of Hermocrates like himself – and potential allies ) , and then marched to Gela with 2 , 000 foot and 400 horse , which was then under the command of the Spartan Dexippus . Dionysius dabbled in the political feud of Gela and managed to condemn their generals to death . He gave his soldier double pay from the confiscated property of the dead generals , then returned to Syracuse with the army , happened upon a gathering of citizens enjoying a play and as the people came to greet him , Dionysius promptly accused his fellow generals of taking bribes from Carthage . The Syracusan government deposed the others the following and made Dionysius sole commander . Dionysius then marched to Leontini , held a military assembly , and after some stage manned theratics , got the citizens present to give him a bodyguard of 600 men , which he eventually increased to 1 , 000 mercenaries . Then he sent Dexippus away and had Daphnaeus and other Syracusan generals executed . The tyranny of Dionysius ( 405 - 367 BC ) had begun . After securing his political base , Dionysius turned his attention to countering the Carthaginian threat to Gela which had managed to repulse the Carthaginians without outside help . Gela abandoned . The political machinations of Dionysius had delayed aiding Gela , but once there Dionysius promptly took effective action . Encamping beside the mouth of River Gela , he kept harassing the Carthaginian supply lines for 3 weeks , but after his soldiers demanded direct action he devised a complex battle plan to lead a 3 pronged attack on the Carthaginian camp situated to the west of Gela . Clumsy coordination between the individual detachments of the Greek army caused a defeat in detail for its divisions instead of achieving a Double Envelopment of the Carthaginian force . At this moment Dionysius decided to evacuate Gela , although the Greek army was nearly intact despite the defeat and in high sprites . Leaving 2 , 000 light troops in Gela and keeping the campfires burning , the people of Gela and the rest of the army fell back to Camarina . Camarina : Location and defenses . The city of Camarina was located 112 km west from Syracuse , between the rivers Hipparis and Oanis . The city was built on the south bank of River Hipparis and was surrounded by a circuit wall , and had two harbors at the river mouth . The harbors were not big enough to accommodate a large fleet , and ships had to be beached on the shore . Founded by Syracuse in 598 BC , it rebelled against its mother city with the aid of Sicels and was sacked in 552 BC , becoming part of the Syracuse domain . Hippocrates conquered it in 492 BC , Gelo relocated its population to Syracuse in 484 BC . Resettled by Gela in 461 BC , it had allied with Leontini and Athens in 437 BC against Syracuse . It aided Syracuse during the Athenian Expedition . Camarina had sent soldiers to Akragas in 406 BC and to Gela in 405 BC . Camarina was located on the south bank of the river , which also acted as a moat for the city . It was closer to Syracuse than Gela , so Greek supply lines would be shortened considerably , and Dionysius also could use the cities of Acrae and Kasmenae as supply depots in addition to using the fleet to bring in provisions . The land north of the river had contained marshes , which would have caused difficulty for the Carthaginians as they would have a hard time approaching the city directly or camping near the town , if the marshes had not been drained before 405 BC . Opposing Forces . Carthage had initially sent an army probably numbering 50 , 000 men along with 120 triremes to Sicily in 406 BC . The army had suffered casualties at Akragas and Gela , plus the plague had also diminished its ranks . It is not known if Carthage had reinforced Himilco or Sicilians had sent reinforcements , so he could have commanded and army numbering 30 , 000 – 40 , 000 souls . The Punic navy was stationed at Motya , far from the area of operation . Dionysius had commanded an army of 30 , 000 foot and 1 , 000 horsemen at Gela along with 50 triremes . The losses at Gela were slight and the whole force had reached Camarina safely . Camarina had sent 500 hoplites , 600 light troops and 20 horse to Akragas in 406 BC , and cities like Camarina and Gela probably could muster between 3 , 000 – 6 , 000 soldiers . Volunteers from the Gelan refugees would have augmented the Greek numbers . Carthaginian Cohorts . The Libyans supplied both heavy and light infantry and formed the most disciplined units of the army . The heavy infantry fought in close formation , armed with long spears and round shields , wearing helmets and linen cuirasses . The light Libyan infantry carried javelins and a small shield , same as Iberian light infantry . The Iberian infantry wore purple bordered white tunics and leather headgear . The Heavy infantry fought in a dense phalanx , armed with heavy throwing spears , long body shields and short thrusting swords . Campanian , Sardinian and Gallic infantry fought in their native gear , but often were equipped by Carthage . Sicels and other Sicilians were equipped like Greek Hoplites . The Libyans , Carthaginian citizens and the Libyo - Phoenicians provided disciplined , well trained cavalry equipped with thrusting spears and round shields . Numidia provided superb light cavalry armed with bundles of javelins and riding without bridle or saddle . Iberians and Gauls also provided cavalry , which relied on the all out charge . Carthage at this time did not use elephants , but Libyans provided bulk of the heavy , four horse war chariots for Carthage , none were pre4sent with the army at Camarina . Carthaginian officer corps held overall command of the army , although many units may have fought under their chieftains . Greek forces . The mainstay of the Greek army was the Hoplite , drawn mainly from the citizens , but Dionysius had a large number of mercenaries from Italy and Greece as well . Sicels and other native Sicilians also served in the army as hoplites and also supplied peltasts . The Phalanx was the standard fighting formation of the army . The cavalry was recruited from wealthier citizens and mercenaries . Evacuation of Camarina . Dionysius had ordered the evacuation of Gela after his defeat probably because he did not wish to take the Carthaginians in a head on clash , as he was outnumbered , the Greek soldiers had refused to continue the harassing tactics he was using against the Carthaginian foragers and supply ships , and getting besieged in Gela during the winter would cut him off from Syracuse , were his political position was secure , but not solid and might lead to his opponents moving to depose him . Dionysius ordered the evacuation of Camarina probably for the same reasons the moment his army reached the city . The whole population moved out , carrying whatever they can and leaving behind the sick and the infirm and begun to trek towards Syracuse . Dionysius : brilliant strategist or traitor ? The rapid surrender of two Greek cities without a fight was detrimental for the reputation of an aspiring war leader , even if it was based on sound military reasoning and correct political judgment . Pursued by the fear of Carthaginians , but not the Carthaginians themselves , the refugees from Gela and Camarina headed towards Syracuse . The suffering of women , old folk and children on the road affected the mood of the soldiers escorting the throng , and rumors began to spread on the motives of Dionysius . The Greeks speculated that he was in league with Carthage because : The Greeks were convinced that Dionysius had made a secret pact with Carthage and intended to rule over Syracuse using the fear of Carthage as his cause and his mercenaries as his tool . As rumors to that effect spread among the Greek mass , and many began to contemplate the removal of Dionysius from power by any means necessary . Fragmentation of the Greek Army . The Italian Greeks were first to take action – they had suffered the most casualties at Gela and they now left the army and marched off to Messina . The cavalry of Syracuse , made of noblemen and former oligarchs , considered assassinating Dionysius , but he was too well guarded by his mercenaries for them to find an opportunity . They also left the army , rode to Syracuse , gained admittance without suspicion , then plundered the house of Dionysius and abused his wife , spread rumors that the Greeks had been defeated and Dionysius had fled . After securing the city , they shut the gates against all outsiders . Dilemma of Dionysius . Dionysius was now in a tight spot , caught between the hostile Carthaginians in the west and the rebels in the east who had occupied Syracuse , his political base and safe haven , and had the Carthaginians attacked they would probably have prevailed over the diminished Greek army . The speedy action of Dionysius , combined with Carthaginian inactivity and rebel incompetence , saved the day for him . Dionysius picked 100 horse and 600 foot from his mercenaries and left the refugees and marched to Syracuse . He reached the city at the dead of night . Finding the gates shut and refused admittance ; he burnt down the gate by setting fire to heaps of reeds and then entered the city . The rebels had neglected to man the gates properly , had not organized the remaining citizens for battle , and only a small number of the rebels faced Dionysius in the Agora and were massacred . Some of the remaining rebels were captured and executed ; some were exiled while many fled the city to gather at Inessa . The refugees reached Syracuse the following day , and the refugees from Gela and Camarina joined the Greeks of Akragas at Leontini , no longer willing to support Dionysius or live under his rule . Dealing with Carthage . Dionysius had managed to secure Syracuse , but he was not out of danger . The Sicels were neutral , Greeks at Leontini were hostile while Carthaginians were approaching the city . Had Himilco managed to bring the Sicels and the discontent Greeks against Syracuse Dionysius might have faced turmoil in Syracuse itself . However , The Carthaginian army was in no hurry , Himilco approached Syracuse at a leisurely pace , encamped by the marshes and did – nothing . This inactivity became politically embarrassing for Dionysius , as he had been elected warlord to fight the Carthaginians who now showed little interest in fighting . After some time Himilco sent a herald to dictate terms for peace , which was accepted by Dionysius . Peace of 405 BC . Reasons for signing the treaty instead of continuing the war are speculated as : The terms of the treaty were : Aftermath . It is a matter of speculation if Dionysius could have successfully defended Camarina in face of determined Carthaginian assault , but the general distrust Sicilian Greeks held him after the peace of 405 BC might not have taken place . This would often prove to be his undoing , The Greeks would often desert him in his future wars against Carthage . On the other hand , Himilco had succeeded in expanding Carthaginian control over Sicily to its largest extent . The Carthaginians left Sicily soon after the treaty was signed , while Greeks returned to repopulate Akragas , Camarina and Gela , but theses cities never reached their former prominence and never again threatened the position of Syracuse – which would help Dionysius in his wars against Carthage and the Sicels . The question whether Dionysius and Himilco had played a “ Fixed Game - Carthaginians were allowed to plunder the potential rivals of Syracuse in exchange of setting Dionysius in power can only be speculated on in absence of Carthaginian records . The plague was carried back to Africa , where it ravaged Carthage and weakens her for some time to come . Himilco was elected as “ king ” by 398 BC . He would lead the Carthaginian response to the activities of Dionysius in 398 BC . Gela and Camarina never recovered , Akragas regained some shambles of her former power but not her status as the wealthiest city in Sicily . Carthaginian rule over the newly gained territories were harsh and which caused them to rebel at the first opportunity . Peace in Sicily was to last until 404 BC when Dionysius started a war against the Sicels . As Carthage took no action , Dionysius increased his power and domain in Sicily and finally in 398 BC launched a war against the Carthaginians by attacking Motya . Ironically Carthage had helped keep Dionysius in power by providing him with Campanian mercenaries when the Syracusan rebels had him besieged in Syracuse . They would fall victim to repeated false promises of Dionysius over the next 37 years by helping him out .