Conflict:
The Battle of the Aegates Islands was the final clash of the First Punic War (264-241 BC).
Date:
Catulus' fleet engaged Hanno on March 10, 241 BC.
Fleets & Commanders:
Romans
- Gaius Lutatius Catulus
- approx. 200 ships
Carthaginians
- Hanno the Great
- approx. 250 ships
Battle Summary:
In 242 BC, after twenty years of war, Rome began construction of a fleet to regain naval superiority in the Mediterranean. With the state's financed badly weakened by the conflict, construction of the ships was financed through donations from wealthy citizens. Numbering around 200 quinqueremes, the fleet was placed under the command of consul Gaius Lutatius Catulus with praetor Quintus Valerius Falto as his executive officer. Built to be more weatherly than previous Roman warships, the new quinqueremes lacked the corvus (boarding platform) of their predecessors and were more maneuverable.
Across the water, news of the Roman building program forced a change in Carthaginian policy. In the preceding years, Carthage had been reducing its fleet as antiwar leaders came to power. This demobilization was immediately halted and a new construction begun to ensure that their fleet remained larger than the Romans. As the new Roman fleet was completed, Catulus and Falto began training and drilling their crews in home waters. With training finished, Catulus sailed south to blockade the Carthaginian city of Lilybaeum (Marsala) in western Sicily.
One of the key bases for Hamilcar Barca's Carthaginian forces, Lilybaeum was an obvious target for the Romans. Arriving off the city, Catulus cut Barca's lines of communication and awaited the Carthaginian response. To the south, the Carthaginian fleet was completed and placed under the command of Hanno the Great. Though larger than the Roman fleet, it was undermanned and its ships were laden with reinforcements and supplies for Lilybaeum. Setting sail, Hanno reached the Aegates Islands, just northwest of Lilybaeum, in early March 241.
Anchoring, Hanno began waiting for a favorable wind to carry his ships into the port. Hanno's arrival did not go unnoticed as Roman scouts brought word of the Carthaginian fleet to Catulus. Breaking off the blockade, he moved northwest to meet the enemy. On March 10, the wind shifted in Hanno's favor and the Carthaginians began moving towards Lilybaeum. Despite the unfavorable wind, Catulus ordered the Roman fleet into battle formation and moved to engage. Removing their masts and relying only on their oars, the Roman ships proved fast and maneuverable.
As his fleet moved forward, Catulus, who had been injured in a previous engagement, turned tactical control over to Falto. Surging into the Carthaginian ships, the Romans used their speed and agility to their advantage and wreaked havoc upon their enemy. Unlike Catulus, Hanno was unable to thoroughly train his crew before departing Carthage and their inexperience showed as the Romans put them to flight. By the end of the day, the Roman fleet had swept the Carthaginians from the waters off Lilybaeum.
Aftermath:
While exact casualties for the Battle of the Aegates Islands are not known, sources indicate that nearly half of the Carthaginian fleet was sunk or captured in the fighting. Roman losses are believed to be around 30 ships. With his forces trapped on Sicily and unable to communicate with Carthage, Hamilcar Barca was forced to sue for peace. The Treaty of Lutatius was signed later that year ending the First Punic War. As a result of the treaty, Carthage was required to abandon Sicily, return all prisoners, promise to never attack Syracuse, as well as transfer some territory and pay a large indemnity.
Selected Sources
