Battle of Agrigento
Map of the Mediterranean with markings near Agrigento
| date | 261 BC Chr. |
|---|---|
| place | Agrigento in Sicily |
| output | Roman victory |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
| Troop strength | |
| 40,000 | 50,000, plus the Agrigento garrison |
| losses | |
|
unknown |
3000 |
Agrigento - Mylae - Aeolian Islands - Sulci - Tyndaris - Cape Ecnomus - Aspis - Adys - Tunes - Cape Bon - Panormus - Drepana I - Drepana II - Aegatic Islands
The Battle of Agrigento ( Sicily , 261 BC) was the first major military confrontation between Carthage and the Roman Republic . The battle took place after a long siege that began as early as 262 BC. Began, instead, led to a Roman victory and the beginning of Roman control of Sicily.
prehistory
288 BC A group of Italian mercenaries (the Mamertines ) occupied the city of Messana in northeastern Sicily. They killed all the men and took the women in. From here they plundered the land and even became a problem for the independence of the city of Syracuse . As Hieron II of Syracuse in 265 BC When he came to power, he took effective measures against the Mamertines and besieged Messana. The Mamertines then turned to two states for help: Rome and Carthage.
Eager to rule fertile Sicily, both armies sent to the island. For the Romans, who at that time did not yet have a fleet, it was the first campaign outside the Italian peninsula. The Messana problem was soon forgotten, the presence of Rome and Carthage now became the central issue, and Syracuse lay between the fronts. In the following years there were some minor skirmishes between the armies, the opponents tested the terrain and practiced moving on the hilly terrain.
Siege of Agrigento
262 BC As a response to Carthaginian armaments efforts, the Romans sent a full army under the command of the consuls Lucius Postumius Megellus and Quintus Mamilius Vitulus to Sicily, consisting of four legions and allied alae with a total of 40,000 men. Supported by Syracuse, now officially Rome's ally, the army marched in June to Agrigento on the southwest coast, which was viewed as a base camp for the expected Carthaginian army, but was currently only occupied by a local garrison under Hannibal Gisko .
Gisko barricaded his garrison, the population of Agrigento and all the provisions that he could collect in the area behind the city walls. The city was being prepared for a long siege, and all he could do was wait for the Carthaginian relief. At that time all siege techniques were alien to the Romans, only the means of blockade were available to them. The army camped outside the city walls, prepared to wait and starve the city, self-sufficiency thanks to the help of Syracuse.
A few months later, Gisko felt the effect of the blockade and called for help from Carthage. The reinforcements landed at the beginning of winter 262/261 BC. In Herakleia Minoa and consisted of 50,000 foot soldiers, 6,000 horsemen and 60 war elephants under the command of a Hanno. The Carthaginians marched south and, after a few smaller cavalry battles won by Hanno, settled not far from the Roman camp. Hanno immediately brought his troops into line, but the Romans declined the invitation. Instead, they fortified their positions and were now besieged themselves as they continued their siege.
Battle of Agrigento
But now that the Romans were cut off from supplies from Syracuse, the risk of hunger arose. Now the consuls offered the battle, but now it was Hanno's turn to refuse, presumably with the intention of starving the Romans. The situation within the city, after six months of siege, was close to desperation. Hannibal Gisko, who communicated with Hanno by smoke signals, sent urgent calls for help and Hanno was forced to accept the confrontation. As usual, the details of the fight that follow now vary from source to source.
Apparently Hanno placed the Carthaginian infantry in two rows, with the elephants and reinforcements in the second line, the cavalry probably on the wings. The Roman battle plan is unknown, but it is likely that they lined up in the typical triplex acies formation. All sources agree that the struggle lasted a long time before the Romans finally managed to break through the Carthaginian front. Panic broke out in the back rows, and the reserves fled the battlefield. It is possible that the elephants became infected and their escape disorganized the Carthaginian ranks completely, leaving the Romans victorious. Their cavalry managed to attack the Carthaginian camp and capture several elephants.
However, the outcome of the battle was not a complete victory. Most of the opposing army managed to flee, and Hannibal Gisko managed to leave the city with his garrison, to break through the Roman lines and to get to safety.
effect
After the battle, the Romans occupied Agrigento and sold the entire population into slavery . The two consuls were not honored with a triumphal procession on their return - probably because of Gisko's flight .
After 261 BC BC Rome ruled most of Sicily and secured the grain harvest for its own needs. In addition, this first major campaign outside the peninsula gave the Romans the confidence to continue to represent their interests overseas in the future.
literature
- Adrian Goldsworthy : The Fall of Carthage . Cassel