249 BC
Encyclopedia
Year 249 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar
. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Pulcher and Pullus (or, less frequently, year 505 Ab urbe condita
). The denomination 249 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini
calendar era
became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.
Roman calendar
The Roman calendar changed its form several times in the time between the founding of Rome and the fall of the Roman Empire. This article generally discusses the early Roman or pre-Julian calendars...
. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Pulcher and Pullus (or, less frequently, year 505 Ab urbe condita
Ab urbe condita
Ab urbe condita is Latin for "from the founding of the City ", traditionally set in 753 BC. AUC is a year-numbering system used by some ancient Roman historians to identify particular Roman years...
). The denomination 249 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini
Anno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
calendar era
Calendar era
A calendar era is the year numbering system used by a calendar. For example, the Gregorian calendar numbers its years in the Western Christian era . The instant, date, or year from which time is marked is called the epoch of the era...
became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.
Roman Republic
- The Battle of DrepanaBattle of DrepanaThe naval Battle of Drepana took place in 249 BC during the First Punic War near modern Trapani, western Sicily between the fleets of Carthage and the Roman Republic.-Prelude:...
involves the Romans, under the command of the Roman consuls, Publius Claudius PulcherPublius Claudius PulcherPublius Claudius Pulcher was a Roman general. His father was Gaius Claudius. He was the brother of the famous Roman politician Appius Claudius Caudex . He was the first of the Claudii to be given the cognomen "Pulcher" .He was curule aedile in 253 BC and consul in 249...
and Lucius Iunius Pullus, attacking the Carthaginian fleet, under the command of AdherbalAd HerbalAdherbal or Ad Herbal was name of two different Carthaginian commanders:*Ad Herbal was the admiral of the Carthaginian fleet who battled for domination of the Mediterranean Sea for Carthage in the First Punic War against Rome, 264 BC-241 BC...
, in the harbour of Drepanum (modern TrapaniTrapaniTrapani is a city and comune on the west coast of Sicily in Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Trapani. Founded by Elymians, the city is still an important fishing port and the main gateway to the nearby Egadi Islands.-History:...
, SicilySicilySicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
). The Romans are badly defeated and lose 93 of their 123 vessels. - Following the disastrous defeat at the Battle of DrepanaBattle of DrepanaThe naval Battle of Drepana took place in 249 BC during the First Punic War near modern Trapani, western Sicily between the fleets of Carthage and the Roman Republic.-Prelude:...
of Roman forces, Publius Claudius PulcherPublius Claudius PulcherPublius Claudius Pulcher was a Roman general. His father was Gaius Claudius. He was the brother of the famous Roman politician Appius Claudius Caudex . He was the first of the Claudii to be given the cognomen "Pulcher" .He was curule aedile in 253 BC and consul in 249...
is fined 120,000 asses and his colleague, Lucius Iunius Pullus, commits suicide. Aulus Atilius CalatinusAulus Atilius CalatinusAulus Atilius Calatinus , was a politician and general in Ancient Rome. He was the first Roman dictator to lead an army outside Italy , when he led his army into Sicily. He was consul in 258 BC and again in 254 BC, a praetor and triumphator in 257 BC, and finally a censor in 247 BC...
is then elected dictator and leads an army into Sicily, becoming the first dictator to lead a Roman army outside Italy. The Roman forces at Lilybaeum are relieved, and EryxEryxIn Greek mythology, Eryx was a king of the city of Eryx in Sicily. He was either the son of Poseidon or Aphrodite and King Butes of the Elymian people of Sicily. Eryx was an excellent boxer but died when Heracles beat him in a match....
, near Drapana, is seized.