A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

REG ULUS. REGULLfS. 643
2. M. ATILIus REGULUS, probably son of No. 1., power of the Romans, and among others Tunis, at
was consul B. c. 294, with L. Postumius Megellus, the distance of only 20 miles from the capital.
and carried on war with his colleague against the To add to the distress of the Carthaginians, the
Samnites. The events of this year were related Numidians took the opportunity of recovering
very differently by the annalists. According to the their independence, and their roving bands comaccount which Livy followed, Regulus was first de- pleted the devastation of the country. The Carfeated with great loss near Luceria, but on the fol- thaginians in despair sent a herald to Regulus to
lowing day he gained a brilliant victory over the solicit peace. But the Roman general, who was
Samnites, of whom 7200 were sent under the yoke. intoxicated with success, would only grant it on
Livy says that Regulus was refused a triumph, but such intolerable terms that the Carthaginians rethis is contradicted by the Fasti Capitolini, accord- solved to continue the war, and hold out to the
ing to which he triumphed de Volsonibus et Samni- last. In the midst of their distress and alarm,
tibus. The name of the Volsones does not occur success came to them from an unexpected quarter.
elsewhere. Niebuhr conjectures that they may be Among the Greek mercenaries who had lately arthe same as the Volcentes, who are mentioned rived at Carthage, was a Lacedaemonian of the
along with the Hirpini and Lucani (Liv. xxvii. name of Xanthippus, who appears to have already
15), or perhaps even the same as the Volsinii or acquired no small military reputation, though his
Volsinienses. (Liv. x. 32-37; Zonar. viii. 1; name is not mentioned previously. He pointed
Niebuhr, Hist. of Rome, vol. iii. pp. 389, 390.) out to the Carthaginians that their defeat was
3. M. ATILIUS, M. F. L. N. REGULUS, was con- owing to the incompetency of their generals, and
sul for the first time in B. C. 267, with L. Julius not to the superiority of the Roman arms; and he
Libo, conquered the Sallentini, took the town of inspired such confidence in the people, that he was
Brundusium, and obtained in consequence the forthwith placed at the head of their troops. Rehonour of a. triumph. (Eutrop. ii. 17; Flor. i. 20; lying on his 4000 cavalry and 100 elephants, XanZonar. viii. 7; comp. Liv. Epit. 15.) Eleven years thippus boldly marched into the open country to
afterwards, B. c. 256, he was consul a second time meet the enemy, though his forces were very inwith L. Manlius Vulso Longus, and was elected in ferior in number to the Romans. Regulus was
the place of.Q Caedicius, who had died soon after neither able nor willing to refuse the battle thus
he came into office. This was the ninth year of offered; but it ended in his total overthrow.
the first Punic war. The Romans had resolved to Thirty thousand of his men were slain; scarcely
make a strenuous effort to bring the contest to a two thousand escaped to Clypea; and Regulus
conclusion, and had accordingly determined to in- himself was taken prisoner with five hundred
vade Africa with a great force. The two consuls more. This was in the year B. c. 255. (Polyb.
set sail with 330 ships, took the legions on board i. 26-34; Liv. Epit. 17, 18; Eutrop. ii. 21, 22;
in Sicily, and then put out to sea from Ecnomus in Oros. iv. 8; Zonar. viii. 12, 13; Aurel. Vict. de
order to cross over to Africa. The Carthaginian Fir. Ill. 40.)
fleet, however, was waiting for them under the com- Regulus remained in captivity for the next five
mand of Hamilcar and Hanno at Heraclea Minoa, years, till B. c. 250, when the Carthaginians, after
and immediately sailed out to meet them. In the their defeat by the proconsul Metellus, sent an
battle which followed, the Romans were victorious; embassy to Rome to solicit peace, or at least an
they lost only twenty-four ships, while they de- exchange of prisoners. They allowed Regulus to
stroyed thirty of the enemy's vessels, and took accompany the ambassadors on the promise that he
sixty-four with all their crews. The passage to would return to Rome if their proposals were deAfrica was now clear; and the Carthaginian clined, thinking that he would persuade his countryfleet hastened home to defend the capital. The men to agree to an exchange of prisoners in order to
Romans, however, did not sail straight to Car- obtain his own liberty. This embassy of Regulus
thage, but landed their forces near the town of is one of the most celebrated stories in Roman
Clypea or Aspis, which they took, and there esta- history. The orators and poets related how Reblished their head quarters. From thence they gulus at first refused to enter the city as a slave of
devastated the Carthaginian territory with fire and the Carthaginians; how afterwards he would not
sword, and collected an immense booty fromnt the give his opinion in the senate, as he had ceased by
defenceless country. On the approach of winter, his captivity to be a member of that illustrious
Manlius, one of the consuls, returned to Rome body: how, at length, when he was allowed by
with half of the army, by order of the senate; his countrymen tok speak, he endeavoured to diswhile Regulus remained with the other half to suade the senate from assenting to a peace, or even
prosecute the war. He carried on operations with to an exchange of prisoners, and when he saw
the utmost vigour, and was greatly assisted by the them wavering, from their desire of redeeming him
incompetency of the Carthaginian generals. The fiom captivity, how he told them that the Carthaenemy had collected a considerable force, which ginians had given him a slow poison, which would
they inltrusted to three commanders, Hasdrubal, soon terminate his life; and how, finally, when
Bostar, and Hamilcar; but these generals avoided the senate through his influence refused the offers
the plains, where their cavalry and elephants would of the Carthaginians, he firmly resisted all the
have given them an advantage over the Roman persuasions of his friends to remain in Rome, and
army, and withdrew into the mountains. There returned to Carthage, where a martyr's death
they were attacked by Regulus, and utterly de- awaited him. On his arrival at Carthage he is
feated with great loss; 15,000 men are said to said to have been put to death with the most exhave been killed in battle, and 5000 men with cruciating tortures. It was related that he was
eighteen elephants to have been taken. The Car- placed in a chest covered over in the inside with
thaginian troops retired within the walls of the iron nails, and thus perished; and other writers
city, and Regulus now overran the country with- stated in addition, that after his eyelids had
out opposition. Numlerous towns fell into the beell cut off, he was first thrown into a dark dullT 2