Gaius Atilius Regulus (Consul 257 BC)

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Gaius Atilius Regulus was a member of the plebeian dynasty of the Atilians , who was a high-ranking representative of the Roman Republic in 257 and 250 BC. Officiated as consul .

Life

According to Zonaras , the Byzantine excerptor of the history of Cassius Dio , Gaius Atilius Regulus is said to have been a brother of the two-time consul Marcus Atilius Regulus , but the Fasti Capitolini , contradicting this claim, state that the grandfather of Gaius Atilius Regulus used the prenomen Marcus, that of Marcus Atilius Regulus, however, had led the prenomen Lucius.

Nothing is known about the early stages of Gaius Atilius Regulus's cursus honorum . For the first time it came in 257 BC. To the consulate, with Gnaeus Cornelius Blasio as an official colleague. At this time the Romans fought the First Punic War against Carthage . Regulus and Blasio were assigned the theater of war in Sicily . After Regulus anchored with the Roman fleet at Tyndaris , a Carthaginian squadron sailed by not far from his position, which he then attacked. But since he drove impetuously ahead of the rest of his fleet with only ten ships, the Carthaginians seized the opportunity to attack him with his small vanguard. They managed to sink nine Roman ships, while the consul was able to get himself out of the danger zone with his admiral's ship. Since the main part of the Roman fleet had arrived in the meantime, Regulus renewed the attack and was now able to take ten enemy ships and partly sink them. The rest of the Carthaginian squadron withdrew to the Aeolian Islands . This report by Polybius , who is the main source for this warlike encounter, differs from that of Zonara in particular in that, according to the latter, both consuls were involved in the ship battle. Despite the unclear outcome of the fight, Regulus was able to celebrate a triumph on his return to Rome .

250 BC BC Regulus became consul for the second time; this time Lucius Manlius Vulso Longus was his counterpart. After the victory of the proconsul Lucius Caecilius Metellus at Panormus , Regulus and his comrade in office were sent to Sicily with a newly equipped fleet in order to successfully end the 14-year war against the Punians as soon as possible. According to Polybius, the Roman fleet consisted of 200 ships, while Diodorus gives the slightly different number of 240 ships and 60 cargo ships. The consuls began the siege of Lilybaeum , the most important base of the Punians in Sicily. The Carthaginian commander Himilkon organized a skillful and valiant defense of the port city and soon received reinforcements. Furthermore, weakened by hostile attacks, hunger and disease, the Romans had to confine themselves to mere containment at the end of the year.

The later fate of Regulus and the year of his death are unknown due to the lack of further mentions in the sources.

literature

Remarks

  1. ^ Zonaras, Epitome Historion 8, 15.
  2. ↑ Fasti Capitolini ad annum 257 and 250 BC Chr .: Gaius Atilius M. f. M. n. Regulus ; on the other hand, Fasti Capitolini ad annum 256 BC. Chr .: Marcus Atilius M. f. L. n. Regulus .
  3. ↑ Polybios, Historíai 1:25 ; Fasti Capitolini ad annum 257 BC Chr .; among others
  4. ↑ Polybios, Historíai 1, 25, 1-4; Zonaras, Epitome Historion 8, 12; among others
  5. ↑ Fasti Capitolini ad annum 250 BC Chr .; Polybios, Historíai 1, 39, 15; Zonaras, Epitome Historion 8, 15; Orosius , Historiae adversus paganos 4, 10, 2; among others
  6. ↑ Polybios, Historíai 1, 41, 3.
  7. ^ Diodor, Bibliothéke historiké 24, 1, 1.
  8. ↑ Polybios, Historíai 1, 41-48; Diodor, Bibliothéke historiké 24, 1, 1–4; Zonaras, Epitome Historion 8, 15; Orosius , Historiae adversus paganos 4, 10, 2.
personal data
SURNAME Atilius Regulus, Gaius
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Regulus, Gaius Atilius
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Roman consul 257 and 250 BC Chr.
DATE OF BIRTH 4th century BC BC or 3rd century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 3rd century BC Chr.