In the speech below to the Roman people during the First Punic War, Marcus Regulus warned the Roman people not to agree to the Carthaginian treaty that would have ended the First Punic War in defeat and humiliation for Rome, but instead urged the Roman people to continue the fight until they achieved victory. As he was a prisoner of the Carthaginians at the time of the speech and had told them that he would argue in favor of their terms, he returned back to Carthage to be tortured to death, as he had vowed to them that he would if the treaty was not accepted. His gripping speech, and example of his martyrdom for the Roman State inspired the Roman People to redouble their efforts and win the war, forever changing world history.
Speech of Regulus, quoted by Zonaras:
'I know, to be sure, that manifest destruction awaits me, for it is impossible to keep the Carthaginians from learning the advice I have given; but even so, I esteem the public advantage above my own safety. If any one shall say. "Why, then, do you not run away, or stay here!" He shall be told that I have sworn to them to return, and I will not transgress my oaths, not even when they have been given to enemies. My reasons for this attitude are various, but the principal one is that if I abide by my oath, I alone shall suffer disaster, but if I break it, the whole city will be involved.'
About Regulus:
Marcus Atilius Regulus (died c. 250 BC), a general and consul (for the second time) in the ninth year of the First Punic War (256 BC). Regulus defeated the Salentini and captured Brundisium (now Brindisi) during his first term as consul in 267 BC.
He was one of the commanders in the Roman naval expedition that shattered the Carthaginian fleet at Cape Ecnomus, and landed an army on Carthaginian territory. The invaders were so successful that the other consul, Lucius Manlius Vulso Longus, was recalled to Rome, leaving Regulus behind to finish the war.
After a severe defeat at Adys near Carthage, the Carthaginians were inclined towards peace, but the terms proposed by Regulus were so harsh that they resolved to continue the war. The Cathaginians replaced the outmatched general Hamilcar with new leadership and in 255 BC, Regulus was completely defeated at the Battle of Tunis. He was taken prisoner by the Spartan mercenary general Xanthippus along with 500 of his men.
There is no further trustworthy information about him. According to tradition, he remained in captivity until 250 BC, when after the defeat of the Carthaginians at the Battle of Panormus he was sent to Rome on parole to negotiate a peace or an exchange of prisoners. On his arrival, he instead strongly urged the Roman Senate to refuse both proposals and continue fighting, and honored his parole by returning to Carthage where he was executed by being placed in a spiked barrel, which was then let roll down a hill (Horace, Odes, iii. 5).
The traditional story made of Regulus was one of the best known examples of honor and patriotism to later Romans.
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