Battle of Kynossema
| date | 411 BC Chr. |
|---|---|
| place | at Sestos on the Hellespont |
| output | Athens wins |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
|
Sparta , Syracuse , Chios , Corinth , Ambrakia , Boiotien , Leukas , Pellene |
|
| Commander | |
|
Mindarus , Hermocrates ; (Epicles), (Hippocrates) |
|
| Troop strength | |
| 76 ships | 86 ships |
| losses | |
|
15 ships |
21 ships |
Sybota - Potidaia - Spartolus - Stratos - Naupactus - Plataea - Olpai - Tanagra - Pylos - Sphacteria - Corinth - Megara - Delion - Amphipolis - Mantinea - Melos - Syracuse - Miletus - Syme - Eretria - Kynossema - Abydos - Kyzikos - Ephesus - Chalcedon - Byzantium - Andros - Notion - Mytilene - Arginus - Aigospotamoi
The Battle of Kynossema was a naval battle during the Peloponnesian War that took place in 411 BC. . BC between Athens and Sparta was held.
The Peloponnesian fleet under Mindaros initially stayed in Miletus , where they awaited reinforcement by the allied Phoenician fleet (which, however , was stopped by the Athenians under Alkibiades ). With 73 ships, Mindaros then decided to sail to Chios . The Athenian fleet under Thrasyllos approached with 55 ships from Samos , 5 ships under Thrasybulus and seven other allied ships joined. Meanwhile Mindaros left Chios, where he was able to strengthen his fleet with ships from Abydos , so that he now had 86 ships available. He managed to defeat 18 Athenian ships that had come from Sestos . The rest of the Athenian fleet, which now comprised 76 ships, turned in the direction of Hellespont . There the Peloponnesian ships lined up in battle formation, with the Spartan ships on the left and the allied Syracuse on the right. In the Athenian fleet, Thrasyllos commanded the right wing and Thrasybulus the left wing. The battle then broke out in front of the Kynossema promontory (on the European bank of the Hellespont). First, the Spartans managed to break through the middle of the Athenian lines. The Spartans believed they were sure of victory, but Thrasybulus managed to rearrange his ships so that he could defeat the Spartans, who were no longer in order. The Spartans then had to withdraw, followed by the Syracusans. Although the Athenians had lost 15 ships and the enemy fleet was able to escape to Abydos, the battle was considered a victory for the Athenian fleet, as it was able to capture 21 ships of the enemy.
As a result of this victory, the oligarchy that had recently been installed in Athens was overthrown and democracy restored.
After the Byzantine Suda , the Attic comedy poet Eupolis is said to have drowned in the sea battle of Kynossema .