Battle of the Aegates Islands

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The Battle of the Aegates Islands or Aegusa (Aegadian Islands, off the western coast of the island of Sicily, 10 March 241 BC) was the final naval battle fought between the fleets of Carthage and the Roman Republic during the First Punic War. The result was a decisive Roman victory which forced an end to the protracted conflict, to Roman advantage.

Contents

1 Prelude
2 Aegates Islands
3 End of the First Punic War
4 References

Prelude

First Punic War
Messina - Agrigentum – Lipari Islands – Mylae – Sulci – Tyndaris – Cape Ecnomus – Adys – Tunis – Panormus – Drepana – Lillybaeum - Siege of Drepana - Mt Ercte - 1st Mt Eryx - Raid of Tarentum - 2nd Mt Eryx - Aegates Islands
The years preceding the battle were of relatively quiet development within the First Punic War. Rome lacked a fleet — the ships it had possessed at the beginning of the war had been largely destroyed in the Battle of Drepana and in the storm that followed — Carthage, however, took little advantage of this situation. Hostilities between Roman and Carthaginian forces gradually stalled, becoming concentrated in small scale land operations in Sicily. The Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca was slow to complete his advantage on the island and, probably due to this, from 242 BC Rome eventually decided to build another fleet and regain naval supremacy.

First Punic War
Messina - Agrigentum – Lipari Islands – Mylae – Sulci – Tyndaris – Cape Ecnomus – Adys – Tunis – Panormus – Drepana – Lillybaeum - Siege of Drepana - Mt Ercte - 1st Mt Eryx - Raid of Tarentum - 2nd Mt Eryx - Aegates Islands

This resolution notwithstanding, after 20 years of war the finances of the Republic were in a calamitous state, the treasury empty. A popular movement quickly formed to counter this difficulty in a typically Roman manner: wealthy citizens, either alone or in groups, decided to show their patriotism and finance the construction of one ship apiece. The result was a fleet of approximately 200 quinqueremes, built, equipped and crewed without public expense.

The new fleet was completed in 242 BC and entrusted to the consul Gaius Lutatius Catulus, assisted by the praetor Quintus Valerius Falto. The reversals of fortune suffered in past naval defeats and difficulties served as invaluable acquired experience. The Roman ships were now more resistant to adverse weather conditions, with the corvus having been abandoned. Catulus and Falto also endeavoured to drill the crews in manoeuvres and exercises before leaving secure waters. The result was a fleet at the peak of condition and fighting ability.

In Carthage meanwhile, the news of enemy activity was not allowed to be left unanswered. A new Carthaginian fleet was also built, numbering about 250 warships (although probably undermanned), and launched to the Mediterranean under the command of Hanno (the general defeated at Agrigentum and Cape Ecnomus).

Aegates Islands

Catulus' first move was to besiege the Sicilian port city Lilybaeum once more, by blocking its harbour and the connection to Carthage. The intent was seemingly to cut Hamilcar Barca's supply and communication lines. The Carthaginian fleet arrived to relieve the blockade soon afterwards. Hanno called a halt near the Aegates Islands to wait for a favourable breeze that would speed him to Lilybaeum. The Carthaginian fleet was spotted by Roman scouts, however, and Catulus abandoned the blockade to meet his enemies.

On the morning of March 10, the wind blew to favour the Carthaginians and Hanno immediately set sail. Catulus measured the risk of attacking with the wind in his prow versus the risk of letting Hanno reach Sicily to relieve Hamilcar Barca and Lilybaeum. Despite unfavourable conditions, the consul decided to intercept the Carthaginians and ordered battle formation. Perhaps due to the extra weight of stored provisions, or to the inexperience of hurriedly levied crews, Hanno did not take advantage of the favourable wind and lost the battle that followed. About half of the Carthaginian fleet was captured or sunk, the rest escaped when the wind changed.

End of the First Punic War

Upon achieving decisive victory over the Carthaginian fleet, Catulus renewed the siege and conquered Lilybaeum, isolating Barca and his army on Sicily, now scattered among the few strongholds that Carthage still retained. Without the resources to build another fleet or to reinforce the land troops, Carthage subsequently admitted defeat and signed a peace treaty with Rome, bringing the First Punic War to a conclusion.

To celebrate his victory, Lutatius Catulus built a temple to Juturna in Campus Martius, in the area currently known as Largo di Torre Argentina.

References

The Fall of Carthage, by Adrian Goldsworthy, Cassel

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