Explanation: Carthage was the name of the city/polity that was Rome's greatest foe during the period of the Mid-Republic. Ultra-conservative Roman senator Cato the Elder reached the point in his wrath for Carthage that, during one period of peace, he would end his every speech to the Senate with "Furthermore, I believe Carthage must be destroyed", no matter what the topic was; often shortened in remembering to "CARTHAGO DELENDA EST" - "Carthage must be destroyed", until a final war was finally provoked destroying the much-reduced city-state.
According to popular myth (certainly untrue - the myth was first recorded in the 19th century AD), Rome was so pissed that they salted the land after burning the city in the Third (and final) Punic War.