Siege of Aspis
Map of the Mediterranean with Aspis in the middle
| date | Spring 255 BC Chr. |
|---|---|
| place | Aspis, in North Africa |
| output | Victory of the Romans |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
|
unknown |
|
| Troop strength | |
| more than 15,000 men | unknown |
Agrigento - Mylae - Aeolian Islands - Sulci - Tyndaris - Cape Ecnomus - Aspis - Adys - Tunes - Cape Bon - Panormus - Drepana I - Drepana II - Aegatic Islands
The siege of Aspis (also called Clupea ) was a skirmish between the Romans and the Carthaginians in 255 BC. During the First Punic War . While this war has always been fought on the water, Aspis was the first battle fought on land.
prehistory
After the victory in the sea battle at Cape Eknomos , the Roman forces landed on the North African coast near the port city of Aspis (or Cluepa) to occupy it. After fortifying their landing site with a camp, they attacked the weakly fortified city under the command of Marcus Atilius Regulus .
The battle
The inferior Carthaginian armed force was completely surprised to be attacked from the land, since the previous war had only been fought on water; however, the Romans did not succeed in taking the city by storm. But when, after a few weeks, the siege equipment was ready, Rome's victory was already decided. In addition, the Carthaginians with their light armor were inferior to the Roman legionaries. The city fell after a short battle and Regulus marched in with his army.
consequences
The Roman general made Aspis the starting point for further expeditions of conquest in Africa. He sent all but 15,000 legionaries back to Rome and stayed with the rest of his army in Africa. From there he made further raids in the Carthaginian settlements. Carthage did not let this defeat sit on itself and prepared for a battle at Adys .
Web links
literature
- Arthur Fränkel: Studies on Roman History , page 13ff