View source for Tiberius Sempronius Longus (consul 218 BC)

{{Short description|Ancient Roman politician and general}}
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'''Tiberius Sempronius Longus''' (c. 260 BC – unknown) was a [[Roman Republic|Roman]] [[Roman consul|consul]] during the [[Second Punic War]] and a contemporary of [[Publius Cornelius Scipio (consul 218 BC)|Publius Cornelius Scipio]] (father of [[Scipio Africanus]]). In 219 BC, Sempronius and the elder Scipio were elected as consuls for 218 BC. At the outbreak of the war in 218 BC, he was ordered to conduct the war effort in [[Sicily]] and [[Tunesia|Africa]], while Scipio was sent to the [[Iberian Peninsula]] to attack [[Hannibal]] himself. Sempronius was allocated two [[Roman legions]], 16,000 allied infantry, 1,800 allied cavalry, 160 [[quinquereme]]s and 20 lighter vessels. As soon as his army was assembled he moved his forces to Sicily. Striking from [[Marsala|Lilybaeum]] Sempronius [[Capture of Malta (218 BC)|captured]] [[Malta]] from the [[Carthage|Carthaginian]]s.<ref>[[Titus Livius]]. ''History of Rome'', Book XXI, section 51.</ref>
Shortly thereafter, with Scipio wounded and pursued by Hannibal's forces after the [[Battle of Ticinus]], the [[Roman Senate|Senate]] sent for Tiberius Sempronius Longus. Upon his arrival in December, and reportedly against Scipio's advice, Sempronius Longus led an ambitious attack at the [[Battle of the Trebia]]. His army charged into a trap and was [[pincer movement|enveloped]] by the forces of Hannibal's brother, [[Mago Barca|Mago]]. Although it was a crushing Roman defeat, Tiberius Sempronius Longus and a force of 10,000 [[infantry]]men fought their way through the rear Carthaginian lines and to safety.<ref>[[Livy|Titus Livius]]. ''History of Rome'', Book XXI, sections 55–56.</ref>
In January 217 BC Sempronius Longus returned to Rome to oversee the elections for the new consuls.<ref>[[Livy|Titus Livius]]. History of Rome, Book XXI, section 57</ref>  He was succeeded by [[Gaius Flaminius (consul 223 BC)|Gaius Flaminius]] and returned to his army at their winter encampment.<ref>[[Livy|Titus Livius]]. ''History of Rome''. Book XXI, section 63.</ref>
In 215 BC, Sempronius fought [[Hanno, son of Bomilcar|Hanno]] at Grumentum. His army killed 2,000 enemy men and captured 280 more, pushing Hanno out of [[Lucania]] back to [[Bruttium]] and allowing the towns of Vercellium, Vescellium, and Sicilinum to be recaptured for Rome.<ref>[[Livy|Titus Livius]]. ''History of Rome''. Book XXIII, section 37.</ref>
He is the father of [[Tiberius Sempronius Longus (consul 194 BCE)|Tiberius Sempronius Longus]], the consul of 194 BC.
==References==
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==External links==
*[http://www.attalus.org Public domain database of Roman history]
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{{succession box|title=[[List of Roman Republican consuls|Consul]] of the [[Roman Republic]]|before=[[Lucius Aemilius Paullus (General)|Lucius Aemilius Paulus]] and [[Marcus Livius Salinator]]||after=[[Gnaeus Servilius Geminus]] and [[Gaius Flaminius (consul 223 BC)|Gaius Flaminius]] and [[Marcus Atilius Regulus (consul 227 BC)|Marcus Atilius Regulus]] (Suffect)|years=''with [[Publius Cornelius Scipio (consul 218 BC)|Publius Cornelius Scipio]]''<br /> 218 BC}}
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[[Category:260 BC births]]
[[Category:210 BC deaths]]
[[Category:3rd-century BC Roman consuls]]
[[Category:Ancient Roman generals]]
[[Category:Sempronii|Longus, Tiberius]]
[[Category:Roman commanders of the Second Punic War]]