power of
the Carthaginians there she had entered into a firm alliance with the
Saguntines, whose country occupied what is now the district of Valencia.
By the terms of the last treaty between the two republics each was
forbidden to make war upon tribes in alliance with their rivals, and
Saguntum being thus under the jurisdiction of Rome, an attack upon it
would be almost equivalent to a declaration of war.

The position of the city was one of great strength. It stood on an
almost isolated rock at the foot of a spur of the mountains which
formed an amphitheatre behind it. Around it extended a rich and fertile
country, the sea was less than a mile from its walls, and the Romans
could thus quickly send succour to their allies. The rock on which the
town stood was well nigh inaccessible, falling sheer down from the foot
of the walls, and was assailable only on the western side, where the
rocks sloped gradually down to the plain. Here the walls were extremely
strong and lofty, and were strengthened by a great tower which dominated
the whole slope. It would be difficult to form approaches, for the rock
was bare of soil and afforded no cover of any kind.

Hitherto the Carthaginian generals had scrupulously respected the
territory of the Saguntines, but now that the rest of Spain was subdued
it was necessary to reduce this advanced post of Rome--this open door
through which Rome, now mistress of the sea, could at any moment pour
her legions into the heart of Spain.

The Saguntines were not ignorant of the danger which threatened them.
They had again and again sent urgently to Rome to demand that a legion
should be stationed there for their protection. But Rome hesitated at
despatching a legion of troops to so distant a spot, where, in case of a
naval reverse, they would be isolated and cut off.

Hannibal had not far to look for an excuse for an attack upon Saguntum.
On the previous year, while he had been engaged in his campaign
against the Carpatans, the Saguntines, taking advantage of his critical
position, had made war upon the town of Torbola, an ally of Carthage.
Torbola had implored the assistance of Hannibal, and he was now
preparing to march against Saguntum with his whole force without waiting
for the arrival of spring. His preparations had been silently made. The
Saguntines, although uneasy, had no idea of any imminent danger, and
the Carthaginian army collected in and around Carthagena were in entire
ignorance th