Sicilia (Roman province)

Quick Facts: Who was Sicilia (Roman province)?

Subject:

Sicilia (Roman province)

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The first Roman province, encompassing the island of Sicily and its surrounding groups.

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Origins & Early Life

Sicilia (; Classical Latin: [sɪˈkɪ.li.a]; Ancient Greek: Σικελία, romanized: Sikelía) was the first province acquired by the Roman Republic, encompassing the island of Sicily. The western part of the island was brought under Roman control in 241 BC at the conclusion of the First Punic War with Carthage. A praetor was regularly assigned to the island from c. 227 BC.

Career & Major Achievements

The Kingdom of Syracuse under Hieron II remained an independent ally of Rome until its defeat in 212 BC during the Second Punic War. Thereafter the province included the whole of the island of Sicily, the island of Malta, and the smaller island groups (the Egadi islands, the Lipari islands, Ustica, and Pantelleria). During the Roman Republic, the island was the main source of grain for the city of Rome.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Extraction was heavy, provoking armed uprisings known as the First and Second Servile Wars in the second century BC. In the first century, the Roman governor, Verres, was famously prosecuted for his corruption by Cicero. In the civil wars which brought the Roman Republic to an end, Sicily was controlled by Sextus Pompey in opposition to the Second Triumvirate.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Sicilia (Roman province)

True or False: “True or false: Sicily was the first province acquired by the Roman Republic after the First Punic War.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): This is true; Sicily holds the distinction of being the initial province incorporated into the Roman Republic's direct control.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Sicilian Expedition — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Athenian military campaign in Sicily (415–413 BC) during the Peloponnesian War.
• Sicilian Vespers — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A successful 1282 rebellion in Sicily against the rule of King Charles I of Anjou.
• Sicilian Wars — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A series of conflicts between Carthage and Greek city-states over control of Sicily.
• Sicily — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Largest and most populous island in the Mediterranean Sea, a rich cultural heart of Italy.
• Sid Caesar — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Pioneering comic actor and writer, famous for shaping 1950s live television comedy.
• Sid Meier — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Pioneering game designer known for the Civilization series and strategy simulations.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sicilia (Roman province)