First Punic War (264-241) begins with
the Crisis at Messana, when Hiero II
attacks the Mamertines. Appius Claudius
Caudex sent to Sicily to protect Messana
from the Carthaginians. The Romans finally
move on Messana. By the end of the year,
Carthage and Syracuse had been expelled
from the neighbourhood of Messana, and
Hiero was shut up in Syracuse.There was
no triumph for Claudius upon his return to
Rome
The Roman Assembly voted to
accept the new alliance with
Messana and send an army to
Sicily, although Romans were
tired of war
263
Consuls M. Valerius and M. Otacilius
Crassus go to Sicily with 40,000
men. Several Carthaginian towns
taken. M. Valerius attacks Syracuse
with a large army. Hiero defects to
the Romans. Valerius received
cognomen Messalla for diplomatic
success, and was voted a triumph
The Carthaginian strategy:
hold impregnable defensive
points, control the sea,
allow Rome to exhaust
itself. Fortune will
eventually secure victory.
262
The struggle for Agrigentum (262-261): A Carthaginian relief force
was beaten off. Romans realize that the war has widened significantly
and to win it they must drive Carthage out of Sicily. To do so, they
must have sea power.
261
Carthaginians within the city withdrew and the Romans finally took
the city. Agrigentum sacked, people sold as slaves. Their action
aroused more hatred than fear. Carthage no longer willing to meet
Romans in the field. The Romans now began to attack Greek cities
allied with the Carthaginians. Carthage made better progress in Sicily
on anti-Roman sentiment, sent in Hamilcar.
Punic naval squadrons raid the Italian coast. Rome decides to develop
a navy 100 quinquiremes and 20 triremes equipped ships with new
"secret weapon" the corvus, (‘raven’ or ‘crow’) a spiked boarding
bridge, which converts a sea battle into a land battle.
260
First Naval Engagements. Carthaginian navy defeated a Roman naval
squadron at Lipara Islands and Scipio 'Asina' captured..
Sea battle at Mylae the Roman admiral Gaius Duilius defeated a
Carthaginian squadron of more maneuverable ships by
grappling and boarding. The Roman fleet is using the
corvus.143 Roman ships defeated 130 Carthaginian ones,
capturing 31 and sinking 14. Relieved Segesta
259
Consul L. Cornelius Scipio captures
Corsica, but attack on Sardinia fails.
Corsica and Sardinia - stalemate but
it did not suffice to loosen their
grasp on Sicily. Scipio wins a
triumph. Carthage gains in Sicily -Aquillius left there as proconsul.
Another Roman naval victory.
258
C. Sulpicius defeats a Punic fleet off
Sulci; wins a triumph. In Sicily,
Atilius Regulus attacks Panormus and
Polybius says the Romans
used a beached
Carthaginian ship as a
model.
Great celebration at Rome.
Duilius built a victory
monument in the Roman
forum, fragments of which
are preserved today.
Carthage reduced to three
The Carthaginians crucified
strong points all in the extreme their unsuccessful
west of Sicily, but continues
commander Hannibal
her war strategy. Victory at
Thermae.
captures Mytistratus.
257
A third Roman naval victory, off
Sardinia abandoned by Rome.
Tyndaris. Atilius celebrates a naval C. Atilius Regulus raids Malta
triumph. The Romans decide that an and sinks 18 enemy vessels.
invasion of the Carthaginian
homeland in Africa was necessary to
end the war.
256
Roman fleet increased to 250 warships plus 80 transports.
Carthaginian fleet grows to slightly smaller number. L. Manlius Vulso
and M. Atilius Regulus in action off Sicily capture 50 vessels, sink 30
more, losing 24. Battle of Ecnomus: A large Roman fleet led by both
consuls sailed out in and repelled the entire Carthaginian fleet off
Cape Ecnomus (off south Sicily, near modern Licata) by using the
corvus again.
Invasion of Africa Carthage besieged.
Before the winter one consul
returns to Italy with part of the
troops.
255
After one campaign the
Carthaginians were ready to sue for
peace. The terms offered by the
Roman consul Marcus Atilius
Regulus were intolerably harsh.
Carthage fights back and they rejected the terms. A Spartan general,
Xanthippus, and mercenaries defeat Regulus at the Battle of Bagradas.
The Carthaginians were to
show on several occasions
that when forced into a
corner, they would fight
back with great
determination.
Roman fleet of 250 defeats Carthaginian fleet of 200 off Cape
Hermaeum. A Roman naval disaster - storm on the way home off
Pachynus destroyed all but 80 of the Roman fleet - Regulus’ army is
lost at sea. Rome rebuilds navy
Last invasion of Italy by the
Gauls.
254
Carthage recaptures Agrigentum. Roman fleet is rebuilt to 220 ships.
The Romans capture the important fortress port of Panormus
(Palermo) falls -- Carthage reduced to minor holdings in northeastern
Sicily, but when Carthage moved reinforcements onto the island, the
war again came to a standstill.
253
Stalemate in Sicily Carthage at war with Numidia. Hanno the Great II
expands territory in North Africa.
The Roman fleet Made a fruitless cruise of the African coast, missing
the tide, beached the fleet and then were wrecked in another gale at
Cape Palinurus (Lucania) and lost 150 ships.
252
For fear of the elephants brought to Sicily by the Carthaginians and
the lack of ships there was little activity. Romans capture more towns
in Sicily, including Lipara and Thermae.
251
Late in the year, after Gaius Furius had gone back to Rome, Lucius
251 or 250 BC. the
Metellus won a victory capturing 100 elelphants
Romans rebuild their fleet
yet again, 50 new ships
managing 120 vessels.
250
Carthaginian defeat at Panormus, followed by a siege of Lilybaeum
(Marsala) City of Lilybaeum holds, however, during an 8 year siege.
The Carthaginians asked for peace, but the Romans again refused.
Carthaginians again destroy Selinunte. Hasdrubal is later recalled and
executed.
Regulus sent to Rome to
negotiate an exchange of
prisoners.
249
Major naval defeat of the Roman fleet at Drepanum.
Remaining Roman fleet under L. Junius Pullus shipwrecked near
Camarina. Junius marches ashore on Sicily and takes a strategic
crossroads at Mt. Eryx.
248
Sieges of Lilybaeum and Drepana continue. Hiero's treaty expired
Rome gave him friendship for all time
247
Sieges continue. Hamilcar raids
South Italian coast. Rome abandons
sea ventures. Rome and its allies
continued the was but were
exhausted and nearly bankrupt.
In in one of the most
incomprehensible decisions of
antiquity, Carthage decided to
lay up its fleet and concentrate
on seizing control of the North
African interior to the
southwest of Carthage.
Hannibal (the grace of
Baal), the son of Hamilcar
Barca, born
247- Hamilcar Barca arrives in Sicily, assumes control of the Carthaginian
244: Brundisium founded.
243 forces and renews the attack. The Italian coast is raided frequently. By
244 Hamilcar is active on Mr Eryx in guerrilla-type warfare. The
Romans made no more progress than Hamilcar Barca. Mt. Eryx is
finally taken by Hamilcar (under siege since 249)
242
Rome builds 200 war ships. Successful ground and naval assaults are
launched against Carthaginian fortresses at Lilybaeum and Drepanum
in Sicily.
241
A fleet of 200 warships was equipped and sent out to renew the
blockade of Lilybaeum under C. Lutatius Catulus. Decisive Roman
naval victory at the Aegates Islands (March 10, 241). This victory,
by giving the Romans undisputed command of the sea, rendered
certain the ultimate fall of the Punic strongholds in Sicily.
The Gallic allies of
Carthage defect to Rome.
Carthaginian home government told Sicily is organized as a province Construction of the Via
Hamilcar to negotiate peace The last by the Lutatii, Gaius and
Aurelia from Rome to Pisa.
Carthaginian fortresses surrender.
Quintus.
The Carthaginians crucified the naval
commander Hanno.
Roman victory The Roman victor, the consul C. Lutatius Catulus,
settled initial peace terms after Rome increased the harshness of the
terms. This officially ended the First Punic War.
Roman intervention by
Torquatus to suppress
unrest at Falerii.
Official Terms of the Treaty:
1. All Carthaginian claims on Sicily were given up to the Romans.
2. Over 10 years, the Carthaginians had to pay a substantial indemnity (3200 talents;
talent=75 lbs. of silver; roughly 240,000 lbs. of silver, which, according to
modern calculations, is around $50 million)