Mamertīni

, a mercenary band of soldiers which pa ed from Camp an i a into Sicily, at the request of Agathocles. When they were in the service of Agathocles, they claimed the privilege of voting at the election of magistrates at Syracuse, and had recourse to arms to support their unlawful demands. The sedition was appeased by the authority of some leading men, and the Camp an i ans were ordered to leave Sicily. In their way to the coast they were received with great kindne by the people of Me an a, and soon returned perfidy for hospitality. They conspired against the inhabitants, murdered all the males in the city, and married their wives and daughters, and rendered themselves masters of the place. After this violence they a umed the name of Mamertini, and called their city Mamertina , from a provincial word, which in their language signified martial or warlike . The Mamertines were afterwards defeated by Hiero, and totally disabled from repairing their ruined affairs. Plutarch , Pyrrhus , .