{"slug": "first-punic-war", "label": "First Punic War", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Punic_War", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6286", "qid": "Q6286", "description": "First War between Rome and Carthage", "entries": 10, "years": 9, "span": [-263, -220], "span_label": ["264 BCE", "221 BCE"], "topics": [{"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 6}, {"title": "Deaths", "count": 3}, {"title": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "count": 1}], "also_known_as": [], "related": [{"slug": "roman-republic", "label": "Roman Republic", "shared": 7}, {"slug": "sicily", "label": "Sicily", "shared": 6}, {"slug": "carthage", "label": "Carthage", "shared": 6}, {"slug": "marsala", "label": "Marsala", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "italy", "label": "Italy", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "hamilcar-barca", "label": "Hamilcar Barca", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "syracuse-sicily", "label": "Syracuse, Sicily", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "hiero-ii-of-syracuse", "label": "Hiero II of Syracuse", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "palermo", "label": "Palermo", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "trapani", "label": "Trapani", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "roman-consul", "label": "Roman consul", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "roman-senate", "label": "Roman Senate", "shared": 1}], "items": [{"year": -263, "year_label": "264 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Start of war between the Romans and the Carthaginians-First Punic War", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1325948843#Roman_Republic", "title": "264 BC", "revid": 1325948843, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Republic"}}, {"year": -263, "year_label": "264 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The tyrant of Syracuse, Hiero II, once more attacks the Mamertines. They ally themselves with a nearby Carthaginian fleet and hold off the Syracusans. However, when the Carthaginians do not leave, the Mamertines appeal to Rome for an alliance, hoping for more reliable protection. Although initially reluctant to assist, lest it encourage other mercenary groups to mutiny, Rome is unwilling to see Carthaginian power spread further over Sicily and encroach on Italy. Rome therefore enters into an alliance with the Mamertines. By this action, the First Punic War begins and will embroil Rome in a conflict with Carthage that will continue for 23 years.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1325948843#Roman_Republic", "title": "264 BC", "revid": 1325948843, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Republic"}}, {"year": -255, "year_label": "256 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Rome aims for a quick end to hostilities in the First Punic War and decides to invade the Carthaginian colonies in Northern Africa to force the enemy to accept terms. A major fleet is built, including transports for the army and its equipment, and warships for their protection. Carthage under Hamilcar tries to intervene but a force under the Roman general and consul Marcus Atilius Regulus and his colleague Lucius Manlius Vulso Longus defeat the Carthaginian fleet in the Battle of Cape Ecnomus off the southern coast of Sicily.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1232457970#Roman_Republic", "title": "256 BC", "revid": 1232457970, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Republic"}}, {"year": -249, "year_label": "250 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "In the Punic War, the Romans shift their attention to the southwest of Sicily. They send a naval expedition toward the Carthaginian city of Lilybaeum. En route, the Romans seize and burn the Carthaginian held cities of Selinous and Heraclea Minoa. The Romans then begin the siege of Lilybaeum.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1278897656#Roman_Republic", "title": "250 BC", "revid": 1278897656, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Republic"}}, {"year": -246, "year_label": "247 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "By this stage in the Punic War, Carthage has lost to Rome all its Sicilian possessions except Lilybaeum (now Marsala) and Drepanum (now Trapani). In the winter of 248/7, Hamilcar Barca takes over the chief command of the Carthaginian forces in Sicily at a time when the island is almost completely in the hands of the Romans. Landing on the north-west of the island with a small mercenary force, he seizes a strong position on Mount Ercte (Monte Pellegrino, near Palermo), and not only successfully defends himself against all attacks, but also carries his raids as far as the coast of southern Italy.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1297567119#Carthage", "title": "247 BC", "revid": 1297567119, "section": "Events › By place › Carthage"}}, {"year": -240, "year_label": "241 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "March 10", "text": "March 10 – Battle of the Aegates: The Carthaginian fleet sent to relieve the Roman blockade of the Sicilian cities of Lilybaeum and Drepanum is totally defeated near the Aegates Islands off western Sicily by the Roman fleet led by Roman consul and commander Gaius Lutatius Catulus. The result is a decisive Roman victory which forces an end to the protracted First Punic War, to Rome's distinct advantage.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1304843215#Roman_Republic", "title": "241 BC", "revid": 1304843215, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Republic"}}, {"year": -231, "year_label": "232 BCE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "Despite the opposition of the Roman Senate and of his own father, the Roman political leader Gaius Flaminius wins the passage of a measure to distribute land among the plebeians. The Romans decide to parcel out land north of Rome (the Ager Gallicus) into small holdings for its poorer citizens whose farms have fallen into ruin during the First Punic War.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1319908071#Roman_Republic", "title": "232 BC", "revid": 1319908071, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Republic"}}, {"year": -229, "year_label": "230 BCE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Adherbal, admiral of the Carthaginian fleet who has battled for domination of the Mediterranean Sea for Carthage in the First Punic War against Rome", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1304215922#Deaths", "title": "230 BC", "revid": 1304215922, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": -227, "year_label": "228 BCE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Hamilcar Barca, Carthaginian general who has assumed command of the Carthaginian forces in Sicily during the last years of the First Punic War with Rome, helped Carthage win the Mercenary War and brought extensive territory in the Iberian Peninsula under Carthaginian control (b. c. 270 BC)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1326026286#Deaths", "title": "228 BC", "revid": 1326026286, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": -220, "year_label": "221 BCE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Lucius Caecilius Metellus, Roman consul and general during the First Punic War (b. c. 290 BC)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1246108993#Deaths", "title": "221 BC", "revid": 1246108993, "section": "Deaths"}}]}