Mutiny at Sucro
| Sucro | |
|---|---|
| ancient Mediterranean fort | |
 Sucro
|
|
| Coordinates: 39°9′50″N 0°15′6″W / 39.16389°N 0.25167°WCoordinates: 39°9′50″N 0°15′6″W / 39.16389°N 0.25167°W | |
| Country |
 Spain
|
| Autonomous community |
 Valencian Community
|
| Province | Valencia |
| Comarca | Ribera Baixa |
| Judicial district | Sueca |
| Elevation | 2 m (7 ft) |
| Demonym(s) | Cullerenc, cullerenca Cullerà, cullerana |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Official language(s) | Spanish |
| Website | Official website |
The Roman army's mutiny at Sucro, a no longer existing ancient fort in Spain, took place in early 206 BC, during the Roman conquest of Hispania in the Second Punic War against Carthage. The mutineers had several grievances, including not having received the pay due to them and being under-supplied. The proximate causes of the mutiny had existed for years, but had not been addressed to the soldiers' satisfaction. Matters came to a head after rumors spread that their commanding general, Scipio Africanus, had become gravely ill. But the stories proved to be without foundation; he succeeded in suppressing the mutiny and executed its ringleaders.
Ancient scholars considered the mutiny to be the most important event of Africanus's early military career.
One source says Sucro is at or near present-day Alzira, a few kilometres east of the mouth of the Sucro/Jucar River. According to another source Sucro is a place half-way between Cartagena and the Ebro River now called Cullera, also near Alzira. Additional sources also verify that it is Cullera. Yet another source says it is a place midway between Cartagena and Tarraco. Yet another source says the Sucro camp of 8,000 soldiers was established near the mouth of the Sucro River in a line of communication to New Carthage that Africanus set up, and was just south of Saguntum.
The mutiny happened when Africanus, who had a fortification of some 8,000 militants camped at Sucro, became seriously ill while occupying New Carthage. The military revolt broke out because the rumor about Africanus' health eventually became so exaggerated that it was reported that Africanus was either dead or very near death. The soldiers at Sucro heard the rumor and planned a mutiny, instigated by some 35 ringleaders who propagated the alleged news. They thought that the great general would not be around much longer. They were frustrated by many aspects of their service and if the revolt turned out successfully, they would then have a chance to voice their concerns.
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Wikipedia