the Litana forest in Gallia Cisalpina, Albinus was ambushed by a force of Boii warriors, who annihilated most of his army at the Battle of Silva Litana. Albinus and the remainder of his legions tried to escape over a nearby bridge, but they were slaughtered by a Boii detachment that guarded the crossing. The consul-elect was decapitated, and his skull was then clad in gold and made into a sacrificial bowl. As Livy tells us: When news of Albinus’ death reached Rome, it caused such an alarm that the shops were closed and hardly anyone ventured out of their homes. The Senate ordered the aediles to go around the city and order the citizens to re-open their shops and stop the unofficial public mourning. Albinus’ replacement as consul was Marcus Claudius Marcellus. See also Postumia gens Sources Ancient Livy, History of Rome, Rev. Canon Roberts (translator), Ernest Rhys (Ed.); (1905) London: J. M. Dent & Sons, Ltd. Polybius, Histories, Evelyn S. Shuckburgh (translator); London, New York. Macmillan (1889); Reprint Bloomington (1962). Modern Broughton, T. Robert S., The Magistrates of the Roman Republic, Vol I (1951) Smith, William, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, Vol I (1867). Notes 270s BC births 215 BC deaths 3rd-century BC Roman consuls Ancient Roman generals Ancient Romans killed in action Deaths by decapitation Elected officials who died without taking their seats Lucius 520 Roman commanders of the Second Punic War Year of birth uncertain