Tauromenium, present Taormina, had undoubtedly continued to form a part of the kingdom of Syracuse until the death of Hieron, and only passes under the government of Rome when the whole island of Sicily is reduced to a Roman province.

However, we have scarcely any account of the part it took during the Second Punic War, though it would appear, from a hint in Appian, that it submitted to Marcellus on favorable terms; and it is probable that it is on this occasion it obtained the peculiarly favored position it is to enjoy under the Roman dominion.

We learn from Cicero that Tauromenium was one of the three cities in Sicily that enjoyed the privileges of a civitas foederata or allied city, thus retaining a nominal independence, and was not even subject, like Messana, to the obligation of furnishing ships of war when called upon.