Editing 241 BC

{{Refimprove|date=February 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2011}}
{{Year nav|-241}}
{{BC year in topic|241}}
__NOTOC__
Year '''241 BC''' was a year of the [[Roman calendar|pre-Julian Roman calendar]]. At the time it was known as the '''Year of the Consulship of Atticus and Cerco''' (or, less frequently, '''year 513 ''[[Ab urbe condita]]'''''). The denomination 241 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the [[Anno Domini]] [[calendar era]] became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

== Events ==
<onlyinclude>

=== By place ===

==== Greece ====
* The [[Eurypontid]] King of [[Sparta]], [[Agis IV]], is called away from Sparta when [[Aratus of Sicyon]], temporarily Sparta's ally, requests Agis' aid in his war against the [[Aetolia]]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 Agis IV's reforms. As a result, the [[Agiad]] 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 of [[Archidamus IV]], flees to [[Messenia]] after the murder of his brother Agis IV.
* As general of the [[Achaean League]], [[Aratus of Sicyon]] defeats the Aetolians at Pellene and then pursues a policy of establishing democracies in the [[Peloponnese]].

==== Roman Republic ====
* [[March 10]] &ndash; [[Battle of the Aegates]]: The [[Carthage|Carthaginian]] fleet sent to relieve the [[Roman Republic|Roman]] blockade of the [[Sicily|Sicilian]] cities of [[Lilybaeum]] and [[Drepanum]] is totally defeated near the [[Battle of Aegates Islands|Aegates Islands]] off western Sicily by the Roman fleet led by [[Roman consul]] and commander [[Gaius Lutatius Catulus]]. The result is a decisive Roman victory which forces an end to the protracted [[First Punic War]], to Rome's distinct advantage.
* The Romans capture Sicily<ref>{{cite book | page=23 | first=John E. | last=Stambaugh | place=Baltimore | year=1988 | publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press | title=The Ancient Roman City | isbn=0-8018-3574-7}}</ref>
* The Carthaginians under [[Hamilcar Barca]] are forced to accept severe peace terms and agree to evacuate Sicily. As part of [[Treaty of Lutatius|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 [[Talent (weight)|talents]]. However, the Carthaginian army is allowed to return home with its arms. Rome is now the dominant power in the Western [[Mediterranean]] basin.
*The [[Falisci]] people of [[Falerii Veteres]] revolt against Rome, but is crushed in six days. Falerii Veteres is destroyed and the people resettled to the less defensible [[Falerii Novi]].

==== Carthage ====
* A mercenary army of some 20,000 is transported from Sicily to Carthaginian territory, by Carthaginian commander, [[Gisco (died 239 BC)|Gisco]]. Upon 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 on [[Tunis]], occupy it, and threaten Carthage directly.
* Given their strong position, the mercenaries inflate their demands and request payment for the non-mercenary [[Libya]]n conscripts in the army as well. Gesco is sent to negotiate with the mercenaries at Tunis. Negotiations break down, Gisco is captured, and the [[Mercenary War]] commences.

==== Pergamum ====
* [[Attalus I Soter]] succeeds his uncle, [[Eumenes I]], to the throne of [[Pergamum]]. He defeats the [[Galatians (people)|Galatians]] at the [[Battle of the Caecus River]].

==== Egypt ====
* Peace is finally reached between [[Ptolemy III Euergetes|Ptolemy III]] and [[Seleucus II Callinicus|Seleucus II]]. Ptolemy manages to keep the [[Orontes River]] region in [[Syria]] and [[Antioch]] as well as [[Ephesus]] in [[Asia Minor]] and [[Thrace]] and [[Cilicia]].

==== China ====
* Five of the seven major warring states: [[Chu (state)|Chu]], [[Zhao (state)|Zhao]], [[Wei (state)|Wei]], [[Yan (state)|Yan]], and [[Han (Warring States)|Han]], form an alliance to fight the rising power of [[Qin (state)|Qin]]. [[King Kaolie of Chu]] is named the leader of the alliance, and [[Lord Chunshen]] the military commander, with Pang Nuan of Zhao also serving as a general. The coalition penetrates as far as the Qin town of Zui, west of the strategic [[Hangu Pass]] and in the Qin heartland of [[Guanzhong]], but they are defeated. Afterwards, Chu moves its capital east to [[Shouchun]], further away from the threat of Qin. Qin counterattacks, sacking the Wei city of Chaoge.
</onlyinclude>

== Births ==
* [[Antiochus III the Great]], younger son of [[Seleucus II Callinicus]], the 6th ruler of the [[Seleucid Empire]] (d. [[187 BC]])

== Deaths ==
* [[Agis IV]], [[Eurypontid]] King of [[Sparta]] who has failed in his attempt to reform Sparta's economic and political structure (b. c. [[265 BC]])
* [[Agesistrata]], Spartan Queen Consort
* [[Arcesilaus]], Greek philosopher, who has become the sixth head of the Greek Academy founded by Plato (b. c. [[316 BC]])
* [[Eumenes I]], ruler of [[Pergamum]] from [[263 BC]], liberator of the city from the overlordship of the [[Seleucids]]
* [[Tiberius Coruncanius]], Roman [[Roman consul|consul]] and military commander for the battles against [[Pyrrhus of Epirus]]

== References ==
{{Commonscat}}
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:241 Bc}}
[[Category:241 BC| ]]