Punic Wars > Mamertines
Mamertines
Background
The Mamertines were a group of mercenaries and pirates who played a significant role in the events leading up to the First Punic War and during the conflict itself. The Mamertines were originally a group of Campanian mercenaries who had served in the armies of Syracuse, a Greek city-state in Sicily. After being disbanded, they turned to piracy and raiding, establishing themselves as a formidable force in the region.
Siege of Messana (c. 288–287 BC):
The Mamertines seized the city of Messana (modern-day Messina) in northeastern Sicily during a period of political unrest. They took advantage of the internal strife in the city and expelled or killed the Greek inhabitants, establishing themselves as the ruling faction.
Alliance with Rome and Carthage:
The Mamertines initially sought an alliance with the nearby city-state of Syracuse but were rebuffed. Fearing retaliation from Syracuse and the neighboring Carthaginians, the Mamertines sought alliances with external powers, including Rome and Carthage.
Conflict with Syracuse:
The Mamertines' control of Messana brought them into conflict with Syracuse, which also had territorial ambitions in Sicily. The Mamertines appealed to Rome for assistance against Syracuse, leading to Roman intervention in Sicily and the outbreak of the First Punic War. The Mamertines' alliance with Rome drew them into the wider conflict between Rome and Carthage. They fought alongside Roman forces in Sicily, engaging in battles against both Carthaginian and Syracusan armies.
Following the conclusion of the First Punic War, the Mamertines retained control of Messana and continued to play a role in Sicilian affairs. However, their power declined over time, and they were eventually absorbed into the broader political landscape of Sicily under Roman rule. The Mamertines' actions in seizing Messana and their subsequent alliances with Rome and Carthage were instrumental in setting the stage for the First Punic War. While their influence waned in the centuries that followed, their role in Sicilian history during this turbulent period remains significant.
