|
According to the Greek historian Polybius
of Megalopolis (c.200-c.118), the First Punic War (264-241) between
Carthage
and Rome was "the longest and most severely contested war in history".
And indeed, it lasted almost a quarter of a century and probably, a million
people lost their lives. In the end, Rome had conquered the island of Sicily,
and had become a Mediterranean superpower.
| 265 |
|
Q. Fabius Q.f. Maximus Gurges; L. Mamilius Q.f. Vitulus
|
Hiero defeats the Mamertines
at the Longanus
Mamertines appeal to the Carthaginians
and then to Rome
Alliance between Hiero and Carthage |
|
| 264 |
|
Ap.
Claudius C.f. Caudex; M. Fulvius Q.f. Flaccus
|
Outbreak of war
Claudius crosses to Sicily, and lifts the siege of Messana |
|
| 263 |
|
M'. Valerius M.f. Maximus (Messalla); M'. Otacilius
C.f. Crassus
|
Both consuls
campaign in Sicily
Hiero makes peace with Rome |
|
| 262 |
|
L. Postumius L.f. Megellus; Q. Mamilius Q.f. Vitulus
|
| Both consuls lay siege to Acragas, defended by Hannibal |
|
| 261 |
|
L. Valerius M.f. Flaccus; T. Otacilius C.f. Crassus
|
Defeat of Hanno
and fall of Acragas
Carthaginian navy raids Italy
Romans decide to build fleet |
|
| 260 |
|
Cn. Cornelius L.f. Scipio Asina; C. Duillius M.f.
|
Scipio captured at the Aeolian Islands
Duillius wins the naval battle of Mylae |
|
| 259 |
|
L. Cornelius L.f. Scipio; C. Aquillius M.f. Florus
|
Scipio attacks Corsica and Sardinia
Aquillius campaigns in Sicily |
|
| 258 |
|
A. Atilius A.f. Caiatinus; C. Sulpicius Q.f. Paterculus
|
Caiatinus campains in Sicily
Paterculus attacks Sardinia and wins battle off Sulci |
|
| 257 |
|
C. Atilius M.f. Regulus; Cn. Cornelius P.f. Blasio
II
|
Regulus wins battle off Tyndaris and raids Malta
Blasio commands in Sicily |
|
| 256 |
L. Manlius A.f. Vulso Longus; Q. Caedicius Q.f.
Suff. M. Atilius M.f. Regulus II
|
Both consuls defeat Carthaginians off Ecnomus
and proceed to Africa, where Regulus remains, defeating Hasdrubal
in the battle of Adys and capturing Tunis
Abortive negotiations with Carthage |
|
| 255 |
|
Ser. Fulvius M.f. Paetinius Nobilior; M. Aemilius
M.f. Paullus
|
Regulus defeated and captured near Tunis
Consuls bring fleet to rescue survivors, winning victory off Cape Hermaea
and raiding Cossyra, but are caught in a storm off Camarina on return |
|
| 254 |
|
Cn. Cornelius L.f. Scipio Asina II; A. Atilius A.f.
Caiatinus II
|
Hasdrubal arrives on Sicily
Both consuls campaign in Sicily, capturing Panormus and other towns |
|
| 253 |
|
Cn. Servilius Cn.f. Caepio; C. Sempronius Ti.f. Blaesus
|
| While Caepio commands in Sicily, Blaesus raids Africa, nearly losing
his fleet on the Syrtis, and losing half of it in storm off Cape Palinurus |
|
| 252 |
|
C. Aurelius L.f. Cotta; P. Servilius Q.f. Geminus
|
Roman fleet reduced to sixty ships
Both consuls command in Sicily, capturing Thermae and Lipara |
|
| 251 |
|
L. Caecilius L.f. Metellus; C. Furius C.f. Pacilus
|
Both consuls command in Sicily
Carthaginians reinforce army there |
|
| 250 |
|
C. Atilius M.f. Regulus II; L. Manlius A.f. Vulso
II
|
Metellus defeats Hasdrubal at Panormus
Both consuls commence siege of Lilybaeum |
|
| 249 |
|
P. Claudius Ap.f. Pulcher; L. Junius C.f. Pullus
|
Claudius loses battle off Drepana
Junius loses fleet in storm near Camarina |
|
| 248 |
|
C. Aurelius L.f. Cotta II; P. Servilius Q.f. Geminus
II
|
Both consuls continue to besiege Lilybaeum and Drepana
Carthalo raids Italy |
|
| 247 |
|
L. Caecilius L.f. Metellus II; N. Fabius C.f. Licinus
|
Metellus continues with siege of Lilybaeum
Buteo continues with siege of Drepana, where he captures the island
of Pelias
Hamilcar
Barca arrives in Sicily and raids Bruttium |
|
| 246 |
|
M'. Otacilius C.f. Crassus II; M. Fabius C.f. Licinus
|
Siege of Lilybaeum and Drepana continued
Skirmishing around Heirkte |
|
| 245 |
|
M. Fabius M.f Buteo; C. Atilius A.f. Bulbus
|
Siege of Lilybaeum and Drepana continued
Skirmishing around Heirkte |
|
| 244 |
|
A. Manlius T.f. Torquatus Atticus; C. Sembronius
Ti.f. Blaesus II
|
Siege of Lilybaeum and Drepana continued
Skirmishing around Heirkte |
|
| 243 |
|
C. Fundanius C.f. Fundulus; C. Sulpicius C.f. Galus
|
Siege of Lilybaeum and Drepana continued
Hamilcar moves to Eryx
Continued skirmishing |
|
| 242 |
|
C. Lutatius C.f. Catulus; A. Postumius A.f. Albinus
|
Catulus sent to Sicily in command of new fleet
He is wounded at Drepana |
|
| 241 |
|
A. Manlius T.f. Torquatus Atticus II; Q. Lutatius
C.f. Cerco
|
| Lutatius Catulus defeats Hanno
in the battle of Aegates Islands (10 March), and with his brother, Lutatius
Cerco, negotiates peace with Gesco;
Sicily become's the first Roman province,
governed by a praetor |
|
Table based on J.F. Lazenby, The First Punic
War (1996).
|
(©**)
|