The Roman Republic, in order to initiate its invasion of Africa, constructs a major fleet, comprising transports for the army and its equipment, and warships for protection.

Carthage attempts to intervene with a fleet of three hundred and fifty ships (according to Polybius), but is defeated in 256 by Lucius Manlius Vulso Longus and Marcus Atilius Regulus in the Battle of Cape Ecnomus off the southern coast of Sicily.

The Roman army, commanded by the consul Marcus Atilius Regulus, lands in Africa and begins ravaging the Carthaginian countryside as a result of the favorable outcome of the naval battle off Cape Ecnomus.

The invaders are so successful that the other consul, Lucius Manlius Vulso Longus, is recalled to Rome, leaving Regulus behind to finish the war.

Regulus is at first victorious, winning the Battle of Adys and forcing Carthage to sue for peace.

The terms are so harsh that negotiations fail and, in response, the Carthaginians replace the outmatched general Hamilcar with new leadership in the person of Xanthippus, a Spartan mercenary, to reorganize the army.

Defeating the Roman army and capturing Regulus, along with five hundred of his men, at the Battle of Tunis, Xanthippus then manages to cut off what remains of the Roman army from its base by reestablishing Carthaginian naval supremacy.

The remainder of the army is evacuated by the Roman navy, only to be lost in a storm at sea.

There is no further trustworthy information about Regulus.

According to tradition, he remained in captivity until 250 BCE, when after the defeat of the Carthaginians at the Battle of Panormus he was sent to Rome on parole to negotiate a peace or an exchange of prisoners.

On his arrival, he instead strongly urged the Roman Senate to refuse both proposals and continue fighting, and honored his parole by returning to Carthage where he was executed.