Middle Roman Republic, Northern Border (201-146 BC): Sardinia and Corsica (198-163 BC)

In 198 BC Sardinia was governed by the praetor ⁰²Porcius Cato the Elder (85; fl.214-149 BC). He introduced new standards of strict public morality with his own frugality and rejection of ceremony providing a stark contrast with the oppressive opulence of provincial magistrates. He reduced official operating costs, walked his trips with a single assistant, controlled usury, banished moneylenders, and ensured that justice was administered with strict impartiality.

The three main tribes on the islands were: the Corsi in Corsica and northeast Sardinia; the Balari in central to northwest Sardinia, and the Iliensi in central to south Sardinia. During the Romans’ involvement with Liguria, the Iliensi and the Balari broke out into an insurrection. In 181 BC the praetor ⁰²Pinarius Rusca, after defeating the Corsi, crossed over to Sardinia and suppressed rather than put down the revolt.

In 178 BC the Ilienses and Balari laid waste to the settled parts of the island. In 177 BC the praetor of the previous year Titus Aebutius was retained on Sardinia, and the consul ¹¹Sempronius Gracchus (fl.187-154 BC) was given the island as his province. The fighting was spread over two years. Twelve thousand natives were supposedly slain and some eighty thousand were rounded up and sold as slaves. During the next few years there was more fighting in Corsica until in 163 BC the island was finally pacified by Sempronius, consul for a second time, and his colleague ⁰¹Juventius Thalna.