249 BC

Millennium:	1st millennium BC
Centuries:	4th century BC – 3rd century BC – 2nd century BC
Decades:	270s BC 260s BC 250s BC – 240s BC – 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC
Years:	252 BC 251 BC 250 BC – 249 BC – 248 BC 247 BC 246 BC

249 BC by topic
Politics
State leaders – Sovereign states
Birth and death categories
Births – Deaths
Establishments and disestablishments categories
Establishments – Disestablishments

Events

The Battle of Drepana involves the Romans, under the command of the Roman consuls, Publius Claudius Pulcher and Lucius Iunius Pullus, attacking the Carthaginian fleet, under the command of Adherbal, in the harbour of Drepanum (modern Trapani, Sicily). The Romans are badly defeated and lose 93 of their 123 vessels.
Following the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Drepana of Roman forces, Publius Claudius Pulcher is fined 120,000 asses and his colleague, Lucius Iunius Pullus, commits suicide. Aulus Atilius Calatinus 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 Eryx, near Drapana, is seized.