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Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Asina

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Third Century BCE Roman general and statesman, consul in 260 BCE
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Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Asina (lived 3rd century BC) was a Roman general and statesman who fought in the First Punic War.

Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Asina
Known forFirst Punic War
FatherLucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus
RelativesLucius Cornelius Scipio (brother)
FamilyCornelii Scipiones

Scipio Asina belonged to the patrician family of the Cornelii Scipiones. He was son of Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus and brother of Lucius Cornelius Scipio (consul 259 BC). His son was Publius Cornelius Scipio Asina, consul in 221 BC. Elected consul for the year 260 BC with Gaius Duillius, Scipio Asina had the honour of commanding the first Roman fleet launched onto the Mediterranean Sea.

While patrolling the waters of the Messina strait between Italy and Sicily, 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 gain glory for himself, he rushed to the islands without considering security. It is unclear if the Carthaginians planned the whole affair, but the Roman fleet was trapped in the harbor 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 surname Asina ("ass", literally "female donkey", in Latin), given by political opponents. Neither the humiliation, nor his loss, ended his career; in 254 BC, Scipio Asina was elected consul for the second time and, with his co-consul Aulus Atilius Caiatinus, succeeded in the conquest of Panormus (Palermo, now capital of Sicily).

See also

References

  1. Polybius, The Histories, 1.21.4-7; Zonaras, Extracts of History, 8, fr.10.
  2. Polybius, The Histories, 1.21
Political offices
Preceded byLucius Valerius Flaccus
Titus Otacilius Crassus 		Roman consul
260 BC
With: Gaius Duilius 		Succeeded byLucius Cornelius Scipio
Gaius Aquillius Florus
Preceded byServius Fulvius Paetinus Nobilior
Marcus Aemilius Paullus 		Roman consul II
254 BC
With: Aulus Atilius Caiatinus 		Succeeded byGnaeus Servilius Caepio
Gaius Sempronius Blaesus
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