- 241 BC
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Events
By place
Greece
* The
Eurypontid King ofSparta ,Agis IV , is called away from Sparta whenAratus of Sicyon , temporarily Sparta's ally, requests Agis' aid in his war against theAetolia ns. Upon his return, Agis finds that his supporters are discontented with the rule of his uncle, Agesilaus, and are disillusioned by the delay in implementing the Agis IV's reforms. As a result, theAgiad king of Sparta,Leonidas II , gains power, supported by mercenaries. Rather than engage in a war with Leonidas, Agis takes sanctuary in a temple, but is enticed out, summarily tried and then executed, along with his mother and grandmother.
*Archidamus V , son of the Spartan King, Eudamidas II, and grandson ofArchidamus IV , flees toMessenia after the murder of his brother Agis IV.
* As general of theAchaean League ,Aratus of Sicyon defeats the Aetolians at Pellene and then pursues a policy of establishing democracies in thePeloponnese .Roman Republic
*
March 10 — The Carthaginian fleet sent to relieve the Roman blockade of the Sicilian cities ofLilybaeum andDrepanum is totally defeated near the Aegates Islands off western Sicily by the Roman fleet led by Romanconsul and commander,Gaius Lutatius Catulus . The result is a decisive Roman victory which forces an end to the protractedFirst Punic War , to Rome's distinct advantage.
* The Carthaginians underHamilcar Barca are forced to accept severe peace terms and agree to evacuate Sicily. As part of the treaty with Rome, Carthage agrees to abandon all its claims on Sicily, to refrain from sailing her warships in Italian waters and to pay an indemnity of 3,200 talents. However, the Carthaginian army is allowed to return home with its arms. Rome is now the dominant power in the WesternMediterranean basin.Carthage
* A mercenary army of some 20,000 is transported from Sicily to Carthaginian territory, by Carthaginian commander, Gesco. On arrival in Carthaginian territory, the mercenaries submit a demand to
Hanno the Great for payment of their contracts. Hanno attempts, unsuccessfully, to convince the mercenaries to accept smaller payments due to Carthage's impoverished post-war conditions. Negotiations break down. The mercenaries take up arms, march onTunis , occupy it, and threaten Carthage directly.
* Given their strong position, the mercenaries inflate their demands and demand payment for the non-mercenaryLibya n conscripts in the army as well. Gesco is sent to negotiate with the mercenaries at Tunis.Pergamum
*
Attalus I Soter succeeds his uncle,Eumenes I , to the throne ofPergamum .Egypt
* Peace is finally reached between Ptolemy III and Seleucus II. Ptolemy manages to keep the
Orontes River region inSyria andAntioch as well asEphesus inAsia Minor andThrace andCilicia .Births
*
Antiochus III the Great , younger son ofSeleucus II Callinicus , the 6th ruler of theSeleucid Empire (d.187 BC )Deaths
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Agis IV ,Eurypontid King ofSparta who has failed in his attempt to reform Sparta's economic and political structure (b. c.265 BC )
*Eumenes I , ruler ofPergamum from263 BC , liberator of his city from the overlordship of theSeleucids
*Arcesilaus , Greek philosopher, who has become the sixth head of the Greek Academy founded by Plato (b. c.316 BC )
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