Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Asina
Encyclopedia
Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Asina (lived 3rd century BC) was a Roman
politician involved in the First Punic War
.
Scipio Asina was a patrician member of the Scipio
nes branch of the famous Cornelii, a family with a history as old as the Roman Republic
itself. He was son of Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus
and brother of Lucius Cornelius Scipio (consul 259 BC)
. Elected senior consul
for the year 261 BC, Scipio Asina had the honour of commanding the first Roman fleet launched to the Mediterranean Sea
.
While patrolling the waters of the Messina strait between Italy and Sicily
with the first vessels, Scipio Asina received the information that Lipara, in the Lipari Islands, was about to change to the Roman side. Eager to secure such an important port and to cover himself with glory, he rushed to the islands without considering security. It is not sure if the Carthaginians planned the whole affair, but the Roman fleet was trapped in the harbour by Hannibal Gisco
. Without naval warfare experience, the crews panicked and escaped to land, leaving the ships unattended and Scipio Asina to be made prisoner by the Carthaginians. Although there was hardly any fighting, the encounter is known as the Battle of the Lipari Islands
.
His mishap earned him the pejorative cognomen of Asina ("donkey" in Latin
), given by witty political opponents. Neither the humiliation, nor that he was the first Roman admiral to lose a battle, ended his career; in 254 BC, Scipio Asina was elected consul for the second time and, with his partner Aulus Atilius Caiatinus, succeeded in the conquest of Panormus, (Palermo, now capital of Sicily).
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
politician involved in the First Punic War
First Punic War
The First Punic War was the first of three wars fought between Ancient Carthage and the Roman Republic. For 23 years, the two powers struggled for supremacy in the western Mediterranean Sea, primarily on the Mediterranean island of Sicily and its surrounding waters but also to a lesser extent in...
.
Scipio Asina was a patrician member of the Scipio
Scipio (cognomen)
Scipio is a Roman cognomen representing the Cornelii Scipiones, a branch of the Cornelii family. Any individual male of the branch must be named Cornelius Scipio and a female Cornelia. The nomen, Cornelius, signifies that the person belongs to the Cornelia gens, a legally defined clan composed of...
nes branch of the famous Cornelii, a family with a history as old as the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
itself. He was son of Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus
Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus
Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus was one of the two elected Roman consuls in 298 BC. He led the Roman army to victory against the Etruscans near Volterra...
and brother of Lucius Cornelius Scipio (consul 259 BC)
Lucius Cornelius Scipio (consul 259 BC)
Lucius Cornelius Scipio , consul in 259 BC during the First Punic War was a consul and censor of ancient Rome. He was the son of Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus, himself consul and censor, and brother to Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Asina, himself twice consul...
. Elected senior consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
for the year 261 BC, Scipio Asina had the honour of commanding the first Roman fleet launched to the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
.
While patrolling the waters of the Messina strait between Italy and Sicily
Sicily
Sicily 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,...
with the first vessels, Scipio Asina received the information that Lipara, in the Lipari Islands, was about to change to the Roman side. Eager to secure such an important port and to cover himself with glory, he rushed to the islands without considering security. It is not sure if the Carthaginians planned the whole affair, but the Roman fleet was trapped in the harbour by Hannibal Gisco
Hannibal Gisco
Hannibal Gisco was a Carthaginian military commander in charge of both land armies and naval fleets during the First Punic War against Rome...
. Without naval warfare experience, the crews panicked and escaped to land, leaving the ships unattended and Scipio Asina to be made prisoner by the Carthaginians. Although there was hardly any fighting, the encounter is known as the Battle of the Lipari Islands
Battle of the Lipari Islands
The Battle of the Lipari Islands or Lipara was the first encounter between the fleets of Carthage and the Roman Republic during the First Punic War...
.
His mishap earned him the pejorative cognomen of Asina ("donkey" in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
), given by witty political opponents. Neither the humiliation, nor that he was the first Roman admiral to lose a battle, ended his career; in 254 BC, Scipio Asina was elected consul for the second time and, with his partner Aulus Atilius Caiatinus, succeeded in the conquest of Panormus, (Palermo, now capital of Sicily).
See also
- Scipio-Paullus-Gracchus family treeScipio-Paullus-Gracchus family treeThe Scipio-Paullus-Gracchus family tree includes the Roman Scipio, Paullus and Gracchus families.See also: List of family trees...