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FIRST PUNIC WAR
CONQUEST IN THE
MEDITERRANEAN
264-241 BCE
Causes of the First Punic War
1. Existence of bored and ambitious Roman
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patricians, looking for military glory and excuses
to find it.
Rome’s alliances with Greek poleis, Carthage’s
chief rivals.
Hunger for the spoils of war to which the Romans
had become accustomed.
Rome’s traditional fear of powerful neighbours
and perceived vulnerability.
Carthaginian pride, which had to respond to
Roman aggression.
Carthaginian miscalculation of the potential
aggressiveness of Rome.
Early Stages – Mamertine Crisis
 We discussed last lesson the Mamertine Appeal and the outbreak of war in
Sicily, however, here is a good overview:
 Syracuse hired the Mamartines, a group of mercenaries from Campania to
help them with conflict in Sicily.
 Mamertines deserted in 289 and captured Messana.
 In 265 Hiero King of Syracuse retakes Messana.
 Fully entrenched, the Mamartines asked for help from a Carthaginian fleet
anchored nearby.
 Carthaginian army lands and helped in the repulse of Syracusan attack.
 Carthaginians subsequently refused to leave Messana, the Mamartines
appealed for help from Rome, thus sparking a fierce debate in the Senate.
 Rome agrees to support the Mamertines and help remove the Carthaginian
forces from Messana – Rome gains possession of Messana.
 Syracuse/Carthage form alliance against Rome but are defeated. Syracuse
following defeat allies with Rome and help take control of Sicily – eventually
taking the city of Agrigentum in 262 BCE
Rome builds a navy
 At the beginning of the First Punic War Rome was
without a considerable navy – triremes (three-decked
ships).
 Roman strategy centred on taking Sicily and removing
Carthage. However, they had no navy in support.
 Carthaginians took back the coastal cities that Rome had
taken with their superior ships (quinquerimes)
 The Romans knew that their soldiers were better than
the Carthaginians in a hand-to-hand encounter. Rome
added two key features to their ships;
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Grappling hooks to bring ships together,
Corvus (drawbridge) boarding device.
Victory at Mylae (260 BCE)
 With a new navy and advances in technology
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(drawbridge and grappling hook) Rome set out to defeat
the Carthaginians at sea.
Carthaginians commanded by Hamilcar – approx 130
ships
Rome commanded by Duilius (consul) – approx 120
ships
Rome uses its new technology effectively (hooks, corvus,
and drawbridges) to capture 50 Carthaginian ships and
win the battle.
Rome gains naval superiority in the First Punic War (but
not maintained – Carthage challenges).
Rome invades Africa (255-256 BCE)
 Autumn 256, Atilius Regulus leads the Romans in invasion and
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inflicts a defeat then delays fighting until Spring rather than the
optimum winter months.
Carthage beefed up her armies by putting the Greek mercenary
Xanthippus in charge of training. He now recruited citizens for
the army.
When the Romans attacked in 255, the Carthaginians were ready
with phalanx, elephants, and cavalry and massacred the
Romans—only 2000 escape.
The survivors were rescued by the blockading Roman fleet and
attempted to return to Sicily but 170 ships were lost in a sudden
storm.
The Romans gave up the idea of invading Africa and
concentrated on Sicily.
Sicily: Romans captured Panormus in 254 and now controlled
all Sicily except for Lilybaeum and Drepana in the west.
Hamilcar Barca arrives in Sicily (247 BCE)
 Hamilcar Barca (Hannibal’s father) arrives
in Sicily as General of Carthaginian military.
 Storms destroy Roman fleets and disaster
strikes the Roman armies on the battelfield.
 Hamilcar is able to make considerable
advances against the Romans who look close
to defeat.
 However, Carthaginian government fails to
adequately support Hamilcar Barca, and
they cause a stalling of success.
So how does Rome win?
 It is in the midst of failure that we are able to see the
strong elements of the Roman character—patriotism,
fortitude, and steadfast perseverance.
 Rome at this point has lost one-sixth of its population,
countless wealth, yet still persisted in its war in Sicily.
 Wealthy citizens advanced their money to build a new
fleet – 200 ships were built and placed under the consul
C. Lutatius Catulus. Naval victory at the Aegates Islands
(241 BCE) – Carthage garrison at Lilybaeum surrenders
to Rome.
 Carthage following defeat at Aegates Islands sue for
peace.
Peace and Reparations
 The terms of the Treaty of Lutatius designed by the Romans
were particularly heavy for Carthage, which had lost bargaining
power following its defeat at the Aegates islands. Both sides
agreed upon:
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Carthage evacuates Sicily and small islands west of it (Aegadian
Islands).
Carthage returns their prisoners of war without ransom, while
paying heavy ransom on their own.
Carthage refrains from attacking Syracuse and her allies.
Carthage transfers a group of small islands north of Sicily (Aeolian
Islands and Ustica) to Rome.
Carthage evacuates all of the small islands between Sicily and Africa
(Pantelleria, Linosa, Lampedusa, Lampione and Malta).
Carthage pays a 2,200 talent (66 tons) of silver indemnity in ten
annual installments, plus an additional indemnity of 1,000 talents
(30 tons) immediately.