There was much debate in the Senate, since Rome was not initially in favour of supporting a band of brigands. However, eventually Rome decided that it was not a good idea to have Carthage control the strategic city of Messana, which was a trade bridge between Italy and Sicily, and so Rome sent help to the Mamertines.

Consul Appius Claudius Caudex was appointed to take military operations in Sicily, and he sent an initial small force in advance of his consular army to Messana. The Mamertines, supported by the Romans, pushed the Carthaginian garrison out of the city. Seeing the opportunity, Syracuse allied itself with the Carthaginians and besieged the city, until the combined forces were defeated by the arrival of the Roman consular army. Thus the First Punic War had started.

CLASH AT MESSANA

The following scenarios allow you to fight the initial actions of the First Punic War with . We also give a brief outline of the suggested forces for other systems. In these scenarios