# Marcus Attilius Regulus — The City of God character guide

> Marcus Attilius Regulus in The City of God by Augustine of Hippo.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Regulus, Marcus Regulus

**First appearance:** 0002-part-i-book-i

## Who they are

Roman general and consul, famous for his stoic return to Carthage and death.

## In the story

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xv)

Roman general who endured captivity and torture to keep his oath to the gods, serving as an example of pagan piety that did not prevent suffering.

### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxiv)

Praised as a Roman hero who endured captivity and torture rather than commit suicide, setting an example of virtue.

### [Book II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-book-ii)

Cited as a virtuous Roman who suffered despite his piety, illustrating the injustice of the gods.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxiii)

Roman general who suffered terribly despite his piety, used as a counterexample to Marius.

### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxix)

Cited as an example of virtuous Roman ancestors whose virtue is perfected by true piety.

### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xviii)

Roman general captured in the first Punic war; his captivity and death are cited as evidence of the gods' indifference.

### [Of the Destruction of the Saguntines, Who Received No Help from the Roman Gods, Though Perishing on Account of Their Fidelity to Rome](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xx)

Cited as an example of an individual who perished due to keeping his oath, paralleling the Saguntines.

### [Chapter XX: Concerning Virtue and Faith, Which the Pagans Have Honoured with Temples and Sacred Rites](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xx)

Referenced indirectly as an example of virtue, though not named explicitly in this excerpt.

### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xviii)

Roman who returned to Carthage to keep his oath and was tortured to death, exemplifying faithfulness.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/marcus_attilius_regulus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters