How long did Hannibal’s siege of Saguntum last?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Illustration of Hannibal the Carthaginian general wearing a metal helmet and armor, holding a shield decorated with a horse. — Hannibal Hannibal, engraving by John Chapman, 1800.

The siege of Saguntum led by Hannibal lasted for eight months.1

Hannibal initiated the attack in 219 BCE against the independent Iberian city, which maintained a relationship of friendship with Rome despite being located south of the Ebro River. Although the city offered a stubborn defense, Hannibal eventually captured it, an action that the Romans viewed as a violation of their interests and a direct cause for the declaration of the Second Punic War.21