Gaius Atilius Regulus - Battle of Telamon

Battle of Telamon

The consul had been sent to Sardinia, from where he returned with his legions. After hearing stories about the Celtic (or Gaulish) invasion of Etruria, the consul returned hastily to engage in battle. Since Roman consuls of this era desired triumphs, Atilius decided to engage the Gauls on his own. By being the first to engage hi battle, he hoped to get the larger share of the credit of the victory. However, his plans miscalculated when the Roman cavalry encountered the more experienced Celtic cavalry and was cut to pieces.

According to Polybius. Histories, 2.27-2.28 (bold emphasis added)

Just at this time, Gaius Atilius, the other Consul, had reached Pisa from Sardinia with his legions and was on his way to Rome, marching in the opposite direction to the enemy. When the Celts were near Telamon in Etruria, their advanced foragers encountered the advance guard of Gaius and were made prisoners. On being examined by the Consul they narrated all that had recently occurred and told him of the presence of the two armies, stating that the Gauls were quite near and Lucius behind them. The news surprised him but at the same time made him very hopeful, as he thought he had caught the Gauls on the march between the two armies. He ordered his Tribunes to put the legions in fighting order and to advance thus at marching pace in so far as the nature of the ground allowed the attack in line. He himself had happily noticed a hill situated above the road by which the Celts must pass, and taking his cavalry with him, advanced at full speed, being anxious to occupy the crest of the hill before their arrival and be the first to begin the battle, feeling certain that thus he would get the largest share of credit for the result.

At first the battle was confined to the hill, all the armies gazing on it, so great were the numbers of cavalry from each host combating there pell-mell. In this action Gaius the Consul fell in the mellay fighting with desperate courage, and his head was brought to the Celtic kings; but the Roman cavalry, after a stubborn struggle, at length overmastered the enemy and gained possession of the hill.

Regulus's death did not dismay his officers who continued the battle without him and won possession of the hill. However, the Roman victory was due to the Gaulish decision to face the battle both ways (according to historian Dr Aryeh Nusbacher appearing in Time Commanders: Battle of Telamon) and thus divide their energies. The surviving consul Lucius Aemilius Papus obtained sole credit for the victory, and was awarded a triumph.

It is not known if Regulus was married or left any surviving issue. No Atilii Reguli appear in subsequent histories.