This passage recounts various events during the Roman-Carthaginian conflict, including battles, sieges, and naval disasters. It mentions Regulus, a Roman consul, who demanded Carthage's surrender, but was captured and later tortured to death after returning. The Romans faced multiple naval losses, yet they continued to build fleets and maintain their determination. A prolonged siege of Lilybaeum occurred, led by the Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca. Despite some setbacks and failed omens, the Romans remained resolute in their pursuit of victory.
1. After a significant battle at Cape Ecnomus, the Romans were free to land on African soil.
2. The Carthaginians focused on defending the city of Carthage, while the Romans took the city of Aspis and began raiding the countryside.
3. The Romans took over 20,000 slaves and a significant amount of booty.
4. The Senate sent orders to the Romans to send home the booty.
5. The Carthaginians decided to put an end to the Roman raids and prepared for battle.
6. The Carthaginians faced a multitude of issues, including loyalty problems due to a diverse force made up of many cultures.
7. The Carthaginians were outsmarted by a Spartan mercenary, Xanthippus, who repositioned their elephants and cavalry for a more effective battle strategy.
8. Regulus, the Roman consul, was captured during the battle and was forced to return to Carthage to convince the Roman Senate to surrender to the Carthaginians.
9. Regulus was tortured to death for keeping his promise, and he was immortalized as the leading symbol of Roman virtue.
10. The remaining Roman survivors, still in Africa, were rescued by the Roman fleet.
11. The Roman fleet was nearly destroyed in a storm, causing the loss of nearly 80% of the fleet and the drowning of hundreds of thousands of men.
12. Despite the disasters at sea, Rome decided to build another fleet within three months.
13. The Carthaginians attempted to retake Panormus, but the Romans countered the war elephants by throwing stuff at them and scaring them away.
14. The Carthaginians sent Hamilcar Barca, a military general, to Lilybaeum, a well-fortified city, to engage in guerrilla warfare.
15. The siege at Lilybaeum lasted for nine years and was a major setback for the Romans.
16. The Romans tried to break the deadlock by attacking the Carthaginian fleet at Drepana, but they were defeated.
17. The Carthaginians, realizing the Romans could not afford another fleet, decided to recall their Navy and repurpose them as merchant ships.
18. The Romans, undeterred, built another fleet with patriotic donations and went to sea again.
19. The Romans dealt the final blow to the Carthaginians at the battle of the Aegates.
20. The war ended in 241 BC with a punishing treaty for the Carthaginians, who were forced to pay a significant amount of silver over the next 10 years.
21. The Romans achieved their aim of gaining Sicily and took advantage of a weakened Carthage to grab Corsica and Sardinia as well.
22. The harsh terms imposed on the Carthaginians at the end of the war left a growing anger, which would eventually come back to haunt the Romans.