Siege of Aspis

Part of the First Punic War

Date	Early 255 BC
Location	Aspis
Result	Roman victory

Belligerents

Roman Republic

Carthage

Commanders and leaders

Marcus Atilius Regulus

First Punic War

Messana Agrigentum Lipari Islands Mylae Sulci Tyndaris Cape Ecnomus Aspis Adys Tunis Cape Hermaeum Panormus 1st Drepana Lilybaeum 2nd Drepana Mt Ercte 1st Mt Eryx 2nd Mt Eryx Aegates Islands

The Siege of Aspis (or Clupea), which was the first fighting on African land during the First Punic War, was fought in 255 BC between Carthage and the Roman Republic.

Background

After defeating the Carthaginian navy sent to stop them from reaching Africa at the battle of Cape Ecnomus, the Romans landed close to Aspis, to the south of Carthage.

Battle

The Romans moved to besiege Aspis by building a trench and palisade to defend their ships. Carthage was not yet prepared to fight on land and the city fell after the garrison made a short resistance.^[1] By taking Clupea, the Romans controlled the area of land opposite to Carthage and secured their rear in order to scour the enemy before them.^[2] The Romans forced Aspis to surrender, and having left in the place a proper garrison, they sent some messengers to Rome to inform them of their success and to receive the instructions with regard to the next measures to be pursued. They then decamped with all their forces, and marched through the country to waste and plunder it.^[3]

Aftermath

After defeating the Carthaginians, the Romans dispatched most of their fleet back to Rome except for a number of 15,000 infantry and 500 cavalry . The rest of the army, under the command of Marcus Atilius Regulus, remained in North Africa. Moving inland and plundering on their way, they stopped at the city of Adys. The resulting siege of Adys gave the Carthaginians time to gather an army, only to have that army defeated at the Battle of Adys.^[1]

References

1 2 Siege of Aspis, 256 B.C. Rickard, J (10 May 2007), Siege of Aspis, 256 BC. Retrieved on December 13, 2008.
↑ "Roman invasion of Africa". The History of Rome. London: Carey, Lea & Blanchard. 1837. p. 109. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
↑ James Hampton, ed. (1823). "The General History of Polybius - Chapter III". The General History of Polybius I (5th ed.). London: W. Baxter. p. 35. Retrieved December 14, 2008.

Punic Wars

First Punic War	Messana Agrigentum Lipari Islands Mylae Sulci Tyndaris Cape Ecnomus Aspis Adys Tunis Cape Hermaeum Panormus 1st Drepana 1st Lilybaeum 2nd Drepana Mount Ercte 1st Mt. Eryx 2nd Mt. Eryx Aegates/Egadi Islands

Mercenary War	Utica Bagradas River Hamilcar's victory with Naravas Carthage "The Saw" Tunis

Second Punic War	Saguntum Crossing of the Alps Lilybaeum Rhone Ticinus Trebia Cissa Lake Trasimene Ebro River Ager Falernus Geronium Cannae 1st Nola Dertosa 2nd Nola Cornus 3rd Nola 1st Beneventum Syracuse 1st Tarentum 1st Capua 2nd Beneventum Silarus 1st Herdonia Upper Baetis 2nd Capua 2nd Herdonia Numistro Asculum 2nd Tarentum Baecula Grumentum Metaurus New Carthage Ilipa Guadalquivir Carteia Crotona Utica Great Plains Cirta Po Valley Zama

Third Punic War	Lake Tunis 1st Nepheris Port of Carthage 2nd Nepheris Carthage

Military history

Coordinates: 36°51′N 11°6′E / 36.850°N 11.100°E / 36.850; 11.100

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