View source for Gaius Sempronius Blaesus (consul 253 BC)

{{Short description|Roman general and statesman, consul in 253 BCE}}
'''Gaius Sempronius Blaesus''' was a Roman statesman and general during the middle era of the [[Roman Republic]]. He was one of the two [[Roman consul|consuls]] of [[253 BC|253 BCE]], serving with [[Gnaeus Servilius Caepio (consul 253 BC)|Gnaeus Servilius Caepio]]. He was consul during the [[First Punic War]] against [[Ancient Carthage|Carthage]]. During his consulship Blaesus led a Roman fleet to Africa and [[Looting|pillaged]] the [[Punic people|Libyo-phoenician]] coast all the way to the island of [[Djerba|Menix]] before sailing back to [[Roman Italy|Italy]] via [[Palermo|Panormus]] on [[Sicily]]. On his way back to Italy his fleet was hit by a violent storm sinking 150 ships.<ref>[[Jona Lendering]], ''De Vergeten Oorlog'', p. 99; [[Adrian Goldsworthy]], ''The Fall of Carthage'', pp 116–117; [[Polybius]], ''[[The Histories (Polybius)|The Histories]]'', 1.39.1–6; [[Diodorus Siculus|Diodorus]], ''[[Bibliotheca historica]]'', 23.19.1; [[Joannes Zonaras|Zonaras]], 8, fr.14.</ref>
Despite the disaster at sea Blaesus was awarded a [[Roman triumph|Triumph]] for his African campaign.<ref>[[Jona Lendering]], ''De Vergeten Oorlog'', p. 99; [[Adrian Goldsworthy]], ''The Fall of Carthage'', p. 117; [[Diodorus Siculus|Diodorus]], ''[[Bibliotheca historica]]'', 23.19.1; [[Joannes Zonaras|Zonaras]], 8, fr.14.</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Sources==
* [[Jona Lendering]], ''De Vergeten Oorlog'', Utrecht, Uitgeverij Omniboek, 2022, {{ISBN|9789401918640}}.
* [[Adrian Goldsworthy]], ''The Fall of Carthage'', Weidenfeld&Nicolson, 2006, {{ISBN|9780304366422}}.
* [[Polybius]], ''[[The Histories (Polybius)|The Histories]]'', book 1.
* [[Diodorus Siculus|Diodorus]], ''[[Bibliotheca historica]]'', book 23.
* [[Joannes Zonaras|Zonaras]], book 4, fragment 14.
----
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Asina]]|before2=[[Aulus Atilius Caiatinus]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Roman Republican consuls|Roman consul]]|years=255 BCE<br />''with ''[[Gnaeus Servilius Caepio (consul 253 BC)|Gnaeus Servilius Caepio]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Gaius Aurelius Cotta (consul 252 BC)|Gaius Aurelius Cotta]]|after2=[[Publius Servilius Geminus]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sempronius Blaesus, Gaius}}
[[Category:3rd-century BC Roman consuls]]
[[Category:Roman commanders of the First Punic War]]
[[Category:Ancient Roman generals]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Year of death uncertain]]
[[Category:Sempronii]]
{{AncientRome-politician-stub}}