Livy on the First Punic War

The Roman historian Titus Livius or Livy (59 BCE - 17 CE) is the writer of the authorized version of the history of the Roman republic. Many of the 142 books of the History of Rome from its beginning are now lost; however, we do have an excerpt, the Periochae. In books 16-19, he described the First Punic War (264-241), in which the Romans conquered Sicily. The Periochae were translated by Jona Lendering.

The First Punic War

From book 16

[Per.16] A description is offered of the origins of the Carthaginians and the early history of their city.

Against them and against king Hiero of the Syracusans, the Senate decided to offer help to the Mamertines.^note[264 BCE. The Mamertines were a group of mercenaries from Campania, who had supported Agathocles, the tyrant of Syracuse, and had, after his death, captured Messina. They had concluded an alliance with Carthage against the defender of the western Greeks, Pyrrhus of Epirus, and continued to raid the area of the Strait of Messina. King Hiero of Syracuse declared war, and the Mamertines asked support from Rome. When Rome agreed, it risked war against Syracuse and had intervened in a city that the Carthaginians considered to be theirs.] There had been much debate between those for and against it. For the first time, the Romans crossed the sea with an army and they fought successfully against Hiero. When he sued for peace, it was granted.^note[263 BCE.]

From book 17

[Per.17] Consul Gnaeus Cornelius was cornered by a Carthaginian navy and was captured under the pretext of negotiations.

Consul Gaius Duillius successfully fought against the Carthaginian navy,^note[260 BCE: the naval battle of Mylae. In the same year, the Romans captured Acragas.] and was the first Roman leader to celebrate a a naval triumph.^note[An honorific inscription survives.] Therefore, he was given a lasting right to have himself accompanied by a torch carrier and a flutist when he returned home from dinner.

Consul Lucius Cornelius Scipio fought successfully in Sardinia and Corsica against the Sardines, Corsicans and the Carthaginian commander Hanno.^note[259 BCE.]

Consul Atilius Calatinus, carelessly led his troops to a place where they were surrounded by Carthaginians, but escaped by the courage and energy of the military tribune Marcus Calpurnius, who made a sortie with 300 soldiers and diverted the enemy's attention.^note[258 BCE.]

The Carthaginian  general Hannibal was crucified by his own men after the navy he commanded had been defeated.

Consul Atilius Regulus crossed to Africa after he had defeated the Carthaginians in a naval battle.^note[256 BCE. After the naval battle off Cape Ecnomus, in southern Sicily, near modern Licata.]

From book 18

[Per.18] In Africa, Atilius Regulus killed a serpent of portentous dimensions, and suffered great losses among his soldiers. But although he had fought successfully against the Carthaginians in several battles, the Senate did not send him a successor. He complained in a letter to the Senate, in which he compared his request to a piece of land that had been left by its workers. In the person of Regulus, Fortuna wanted to to give an example of both sides of fate: he was defeated and captured by Xanthippus, a Spartan leader that had been invited by the Carthaginians to support them.^note[255 BCE.] After this, the Roman commanders pursued the war successfully on land and sea, although the effects were spoiled by shipwreck of the fleet.^note[In 255, immediately after the defeat of Regulus, the Romans won a naval victory near Cape Hermaeum, but their fleet was wrecked near Cape Pachynus. Next year, they took Panormus,{{Palermo.] and in 253, they lost another fleet at Palinurus.}}

[...]

The Carthaginians sent Regulus to the Senate to conduct peace negotiations or (if he could not obtain peace) the exchange of prisoners. Although he was bound by an oath to return to Carthage if he did not obtain the exchange, he advised the Senate against both proposals. When he returned to imprisonment, he was executed by the Carthaginians.

From book 19

[Per.19] Caecilius Metellus fought successfully against the Carthaginians [commanded by Hasdrubal] and organized a spectacular triumph, in which 13 enemy leaders and 120 elephants were to be seen.^note[251 BCE.] Consul Claudius Pulcher fought without success against the Carthaginian navy after evil omens (he had ordered to drown the holy chickens if they refused to eat).^note[249 BCE.] He was recalled by the Senate, ordered to appoint a dictator, and chose Claudius Glicia, a man of the lowest kind. Although he was forced to lay down his office, he was to attend the games in a purple-bordered toga.

Aulus Atilius Calatinus was the first dictator to lead an army out of Italy. Prisoners were exchanged with the Carthaginians. [...]

Claudia (the sister of the Publius Claudius who had fought so badly after his contempt for the omens) said, when she returned from the games and was hindered by the crowds: "Oh, that my brother were still alive and commanded a navy!" Because of this, she was fined. [...]

The war against the Carthaginians was conducted successfully by several commanders. The ultimate victory was won by consul Gaius Lutatius near the Aegatian isles, where he defeated the Carthaginian navy. When the Carthaginians sued for peace, it was granted.^note[241 BCE.]