Longus, Sempro'nius
1. Ti.
Sempronius Longus, C. F. C. N., consul with P. Cornelius Scipio B. C. 218, the first year of the second Punic war. Sicily was assigned to him as his province, since the Romans did not dream that Hannibal would be able to cross the Alps, and invade Italy itself. Sempronius accordingly crossed over to Sicily, and began to prosecute the war against the Carthaginians with vigour.
He conquered the island of Melita, which was held by a Carthaginian force, and on his return to Lilybaeum was preparing to go in search of the enemy's fleet, which was cruising off the northern coast of Sicily and Italy, when he was summoned to join his colleague in Italy, in order to oppose Hannibal As it was now winter, Sempronius feared to sail through the Adriatic, and, accordingly, he crossed over the straits of Messana with his troops, and in forty years marched through the whole length of Italy to Ariminum. From this place he effected a junction with his colleague, who was posted on the hills on the left bank of the Trebia. As Sempronius was eager for an engagement, and Hannibal was no less anxious, a general battle soon ensued, in which the Romans were completely defeated, with heavy loss, and the two consuls took refuge within the walls of Placentia. (
Liv. 21.6,
17,
51-
56;
Plb. 3.40,
41,
60-
75; Appian,
Annib. 6, 7.)
Sempronius Longus afterwards commanded in Southern Italy, and defeated Hanno [HANNO, No. 15] near Grumentum in Lucania, B. C. 215. (
Liv. 23.37.)
He was decemvir sacris faciundis, and died B. C. 210. (
Liv. 27.6.)
