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Scipio starts for Messana with 17 ships a few days in atlvaiic-e of liis main fleet. At Messana an offer is made to put
the island of Lipara into his hands, and he s.iils thither with his 17 ships.
Hannibal, at Panonnns, getting to know of Scipio's movements, sends Boodes with 20 ships by night, and in tlif
morning Heipio finds himself blockaded in the harbovir of Lipara. The crews of the Roman ships are panic-stricken,
rnn their ships ashore and take to flight. Scipio is thus obliged to surrcmler him.self and his ships.
Hannibal then sets out himself with M ships to watch for the main Roman Heet. He falls in with them
unex])ectedly round a promontory on the Italian coast, is defeated with the loss of most of his ships, and barely
escajjcs witii his life.
The Roman licet arrives at Messana and, learning of Scipio's misfortiine, at once sends for the other consul, Duilius,
making in the meantime preparations for fighting the Punic fleet.
from Segesta ;
Duilius determines at once to attack the Carthaginian fleet, which was now plundering the coast near Mylae.
Hannibil was read3' to meet tiiem, and with his i;?(( sliips comes down on the Romans. The latter, with the help of
their new tactics with the Corri, throw the Carthaginians into disorder, and inflict a crushing defeat. The remnants
of the fleet fly back to Panornnis, from whence Hannilial takes them back to Carthage.
The immediate effect of the victory was to enable Uuilius to relieve Segesta ; and on his way back to the fleet he
carries Macella by assault.
Haniilcar, from Panormus, surprises and kills some J,OUO Sicilian allies of the Roman army near Himera.
259. — Lucius Scipio, consul, is sent to Corsica, where he takes the chief town, Aleria, expels the Caithaginians and forces
tlie Corsicans to give hostages.
He then goes to Sardinia, and blockades the mouth of a harbour in which Hannibal, w ho had been sent there from
Carthage after his defeat at M\'lae, was lying at anchor. He inflicts such great loss on the Carthaginians that they
nuitiny and crucify Hannibal.
(iaius Aquillius Florns, the other consul, was in Sicily, besieging Mytistratus.
Haniilcar was strengthening Drepanum, to w Inch he transfers tlie inhabitants of Eryx.
258.— Mytistratus is taken by the consul, A. Atilius Calatimis, the Carthaginian garrison escaping by night. Hippana (site
uncertain), Camarina ami Enna also fall to the Romans ; but an attack on the i.sland of Lipara is repulsed.
Thn otlier consul, (iaius Sulpicius Patercuhis, after engaging in some successful operations in Sardinia, sails to the
African coast, destroys part of a fleet sent to oppose him, and makes several descents on the coast. He is finally
forced by Hanno to retire.
257. —This year the consul (Jaius Atilius Regulus starts with his fleet and has an engagement with the enemy off Tyndaris,
opposite Lipara, which was of an indecisive character.
256. — Unusual efforts are now made by both sides ; the Romans, to transfer the war to Africa, the Carthaginians, to
destroy the Roman fleet before it reaches their shores.
The Roman consuls, M. Atilius Regulus and L. M.'V'ulso, set sail from Messana with 330 ships ; while the
Carthaginians, with 350 sail, were at the jiort of Lil^'baeum.
The Romans sail along the eastern and southern coast to Ecnonnis ; the Carthaginians, under Haniilcar and Hanno,
move slowly forward to Heraclea .Minoa, in order to bar the way of the Romans.
The battle which follows, called that of Ecnomus, though it was fought nearer to Heraclea, is a decisive victory
for the Romans.
In a few days the Roman fleet sails straight for the Hermaeum promonlory in .\frica. Coasting along to the southeast,
the Romans lay siege to Clupea, « hich soon siurenders, and is occupied by a Roman garri.son. From here
the consuls ravage the country towards (Jarthage.
The Carthaginians, waking to the fact that tlie invasion was not a mere raid, but that Regulus with his legions was
to remain behind while the other consul returned to Rome w-ith his legions and booty, now make efforts to save
themselves.
Hasdrubal and Bostarus are apiiointed their generals, while Haniilcar, with a force, is brought over from Heraclea.
But their combined efforts do not prevent Regulus from advancing, and they suffer a severe defeat.
Regulus marches on Tunes, wliicli he occupies, and makes it his headquarters for plundering up to the walls
of Carthage.
The Numidians at the same time harass the Carthaginians, who flock into the city, which is now threatened with
famine and pestilence.
255. — Negotiations are attempted, but the terms proposed by Regulus are so .severe that the Carthaginians reject them.
In despair the Carthaginians .ippoint .Xanthippus, a (iieek mercenary, to take command. A battle is forced on the
Romans in the plain, where Xanthippus, witli his cavalry and elephants, utterly routs the Romans and Regulus is
Third taken prisoner. Only '2,000 Romans escape to Clupea, where they ha