- This is about the Roman general and consul; for other Romans of that name, see Marcus Atilius Regulus (disambiguation).
Marcus Atilius Regulus (died c. 250 BC), a general and consul (for the second time) in the ninth year of the First Punic
War (256 BC). Regulus defeated the Salentini and captured Brundisium (now Brindisi) during his first term as consul in 267 BC.
He was one of the commanders in the Roman naval expedition that shattered the Carthaginian
fleet at Cape Ecnomus, and landed an army on Carthaginian territory. The invaders
were so successful that the other consul, Lucius Manlius Vulso Longus, was
recalled to Rome, leaving Regulus behind to finish the war.
After a severe defeat at Adys near Carthage, the Carthaginians were inclined towards
peace, but the terms proposed by Regulus were so harsh that they resolved to continue the war. The Cathaginians replaced the
outmatched general Hamilcar with new leadership and in 255
BC, Regulus was completely defeated at the Battle of Tunis. He was taken prisoner
by the Spartan mercenary general Xanthippus along
with 500 of his men.
There is no further trustworthy information about him. According to tradition, he remained in captivity until 250 BC, when after the defeat of the Carthaginians at the Battle of
Panormus he was sent to Rome on parole to negotiate a peace or an exchange of prisoners.
On his arrival, he instead strongly urged the Roman Senate to refuse both proposals and
continue fighting, and honored his parole by returning to Carthage where he was executed by being placed in a spiked
barrel, which was then let roll down a hill (Horace, Odes,
iii. 5).
The traditional story made of Regulus is one of the best known examples of honour and patriotism to later Romans; most
historians, however, regard this account as insufficiently attested, as Polybius does not
mention it. The tale may have been invented by Roman annalists as propaganda, to incite
hatred towards Carthage and justify cruel treatment of the Carthaginian prisoners.
Family
Atilius Regulus was the son of the eponymous consul of 294 BC,
and was descended from an ancient Calabrian family. According to later Roman historians, he was married to one Marcia, who
tortured several Carthaginian prisoners to death on hearing of her husband's death. He had at least two sons and one daughter by
Livy's account; both sons became consuls - Marcus in
227 BC and Gaius in 225 BC
(killed in battle against the Gauls).
A brother Gaius Atilius Regulus was also consul in 257 BC and
250 BC.
References
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