Battle of Naulochus

Coordinates: 38°16′30″N 15°27′00″E / 38.27500°N 15.45000°E / 38.27500; 15.45000
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For other uses, see
Sicilian revolt
DateSeptember 3, 36 BC
Location
off Naulochus
, Sicily
Result Octavian's victory
Belligerents Pompeians OctavianCommanders and leaders Sextus Pompey Marcus Vipsanius AgrippaStrength 300 ships 300 shipsCasualties and losses 28 ships sunk
17 fled
the others captured 3 ships

The naval Battle of Naulochus (

Sextus Pompeius and Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, off Naulochus, Sicily. The victory of Agrippa, admiral of Octavian, marked the end of the Pompeian resistance to the Second Triumvirate
.

Background

After the strengthening of the bond between Octavian and

Treaty of Misenum). The alliance was short-lived, and Sextus cut the grain supply to Rome. Octavian tried to invade Sicily in 38 BC, but his ships were forced to go back because of bad weather.[1][2][3]

Agrippa cut through part of the Via Ercolana and dug a channel to connect

Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, sailed from Africa, to attack Sextus's stronghold in Sicily. In August, Agrippa was able to defeat Sextus in a naval battle near Mylae (modern Milazzo); that same month, Octavian was defeated and seriously wounded in a battle near Taormina.[1][2][3]

Battle

In front of Naulochus promontory, Agrippa met Sextus's fleet. Both fleets were composed of 300 ships, all with artillery, but Agrippa commanded heavier units, armed with the

corvus, that was invented by Agrippa himself. Agrippa used his new weapon to great effect, succeeding in blocking the more maneuverable ships of Sextus and, after a long and bloody fight, in defeating his enemy. Agrippa lost three ships, while 28 ships of Sextus were sunk, 17 fled, and the others were burnt or captured.[1][2][3]

Aftermath

After seven years, Sicily was finally wrested from the control of the resourceful Sextus, whose large navy had created many problems for the Second Triumvirate. Sextus reached Messina with seven ships and moved to Mytilene, then from there to the east, where he was defeated in 35 BC by Antony. Octavian and Lepidus defeated the last Pompeian resistance in Sicily. Later, after a good amount of intrigue, Octavian was able to strip Lepidus of his political and military power and become the sole ruler of the west.[1][2][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Appian: The Civil Wars. Book 5, paragraph 116–122 online copy
  2. ^ a b c d Velleius Paterculus: The Roman History. Book 2, paragraph 79 online copy
  3. ^
    ISBN 0-313-33536-2, p. 716 restricted online copy, p. 716, at Google Books

38°16′30″N 15°27′00″E / 38.27500°N 15.45000°E / 38.27500; 15.45000

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