The Ancient World

Galleys, triremes and quinqueremes, from the first recorded sea battles to the end of the Western Roman Empire: Salamis, the Aegates, Actium and the wars of Greece, Carthage and Rome.

This chapter of Naval Battles holds 95 battles. For each one we give when and where it was fought, who fought it, the ships that took part, what happened, how it ended and why it is remembered. See all 2,188 battles on one page.

Marea can build any of the ships that fought in these battles, as she was on the day, with the maximum detail the records permit. Many of these battles cost thousands of lives, and we build their ships with that in mind.

This database was put together by Ai Refloat™, Marea’s own artificial intelligence, from naval histories, museums, official records and encyclopaedias in many languages. Ai Refloat is still young & like any teenager, it can be a little volatile and unpredictable at times, but above all, it is learning fast. So this list may well contain mistakes and we welcome the input of everyone who knows these battles better than we do.

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The battles

The Ancient World · Hittite Wars
Battles of Alashiya Fleet battle
1275 BC to 1205 BC · Off the coast of Alashiya (Cyprus)
Fought between Hittite Empire against the Kingdom of Alashiya
Commanders Hittite kings (Hittite Empire); unknown (Alashiya)
Result Hittite victory
A series of two naval engagements and one joint land and naval operation between the Hittite navy and army and the navy and army of the Kingdom of Alashiya, on Cyprus. They took place at some point between 1275 BC and 1205 BC off the coast of the island.
Why it is remembered They are among the earliest recorded naval engagements in the eastern Mediterranean.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Wars between Egypt and the Sea Peoples during the Late Bronze Age collapse
Battle of the Delta Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of the Nile Delta
Between 1179 and 1175 BC · Eastern Nile Delta, Egypt
Fought between New Kingdom of Egypt against the Sea Peoples
Commanders Ramesses III (Egypt); unknown (Sea Peoples)
Forces Unknown on both sides
Losses Egypt: unknown. Sea Peoples: many killed and captured.
Result Egyptian victory
The pharaoh Ramesses III repelled a major sea invasion by the Sea Peoples. The fighting took place on the shores of the eastern Nile Delta and on the Syrian border of the Egyptian Empire, although the precise locations are unknown.
Why it is remembered The battle is recorded on the walls of the mortuary temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu.
Sources differ One account gives circa 1175 BC; another account gives between 1179 and 1175 BC.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World
Battle of Alalia Fleet battle
Between 540 BC and 535 BC · Off Alalia (now Aléria), Corsica
Fought between Phocaean Greeks against the Etruscans and Carthage
Forces 60 Phocaean penteconters against around 120 Etruscan and Carthaginian ships
Losses Phocaeans: almost 40 penteconters lost, and the rams of the surviving ships badly damaged. Etruscans and Carthaginians: unknown.
Result Greek victory
Phocaean Greeks emigrating to the western Mediterranean and their colony at Alalia met a combined Punic and Etruscan fleet twice their size off Corsica. The Greeks won, but lost about two thirds of their ships.
Why it is remembered Herodotus called it a cadmean victory, one that ruined the victor. The Greeks afterwards evacuated Corsica, which passed to the Etruscans, while Sardinia came under Carthaginian influence.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Ambrose Dudley, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Ionian Revolt
Battle of Salamis in Cyprus (497 BC) Fleet battle
497 BC · Salamis, Cyprus, on land and at sea
Fought between Ionian Greeks and Cypriot rebels against the Persian Empire
Commanders Onesilus (Cypriots); Artybius (Persia)
Losses Onesilus and Artybius were both killed, along with Aristocyprus, ruler of Soli.
Result Greek victory at sea, Persian victory on land; the Cypriot revolt was crushed
During the Ionian Revolt every city on Cyprus except Amathus rose against Persia, led by Onesilus of Salamis. When a large Persian fleet and army under Artybius approached, the Ionians sent a fleet to fight the Phoenician ships at sea while the Cypriots met the Persians on land. The Greeks won at sea, but the Persians won on land; Artybius was killed by Onesilus, who was himself killed in the rout.
Why it is remembered The battle decided the Cypriot part of the Ionian Revolt: soon afterwards every city on the island was again under Persian rule.
Sources Wikipedia (RU)
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Ionian Revolt
Battle of Lade Fleet battle
Also known as Naumachia tes Lades
494 BC · Near the island of Lade, off Miletus (modern Turkey)
Fought between Ionian cities and Lesbos against the Achaemenid Persian Empire
Commanders Dionysios (Ionians); Datis (Persia)
Forces 353 Ionian ships against 600 Persian ships (Herodotus)
Losses Ionians: 246 ships. Persians: 57 ships.
Result Decisive Persian victory
An allied fleet of the Ionian cities, joined by the Lesbians, met the fleet of Darius the Great near the island of Lade off Miletus. The Persians won a decisive victory.
Why it is remembered The defeat all but ended the Ionian Revolt against Persian rule.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Ionian_Revolt_Campaign_Map-fr.svg: Eric Gaba (Sting, fr:Sting) derivative work: MinisterForBadTimes (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Second Persian invasion of Greece
Battle of Artemisium Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Artemision
21 to 23 July 480 BC · Straits of Artemisium, off the north coast of Euboea, Greece
Fought between Allied Greek city-states (Athens, Sparta, Corinth and others) against the Achaemenid Persian Empire
Commanders Themistocles, Eurybiades, Adeimantus (Greeks); Achaemenes, Ariabignes, Artemisia I, Damasithymus (Persia)
Forces 271 Greek ships with 4,065 marines and 46,070 oarsmen against 1,207 Persian ships with 36,210 marines and 205,190 oarsmen
Losses Greeks: 100 ships lost. Persians: 400 ships lost, many of them in storms.
Result Persian victory; the Greek fleet withdrew to Salamis
A three day series of naval engagements fought at the same time as the land battle at Thermopylae. Before the battle a gale off Magnesia sank around a third of the Persian fleet, and a detachment of 200 ships sent round Euboea was wrecked in another storm. After two days of smaller actions the fleets fought all day with roughly equal losses, which the smaller Greek fleet could not afford. On hearing of the defeat at Thermopylae the Greeks withdrew to Salamis.
Why it is remembered With Thermopylae it was the first stand against Xerxes' invasion, and it preceded the Greek victory at Salamis later that year.
Sources differ One account dates the battle 21 to 23 July 480 BC; another account says August or September 480 BC.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Second Persian invasion of Greece
Battle of Salamis Fleet battle
26 or 27 September 480 BC · Straits between the Greek mainland and the island of Salamis, Saronic Gulf, near Athens
Fought between Allied Greek city-states (Athens, Sparta, Corinth, Aegina and others) against the Achaemenid Persian Empire
Commanders Themistocles, Eurybiades (Greeks); Xerxes I, Artemisia I of Caria, Tetramnestos, Achaemenes, Ariabignes (killed), Damasithymos (killed) (Persia)
Forces 371 to 378 Greek ships against about 900 to 1,207 Persian ships in ancient accounts (modern estimates 400 to 800)
Losses Greeks: 40 ships. Persians: 300 ships.
Result Greek victory
After Thermopylae and Artemisium the Greek fleet withdrew to Salamis. Themistocles persuaded the allies to fight, and a message sent to Xerxes drew the Persian fleet into the straits, where it tried to block both entrances. In the cramped water the Persian numbers became a hindrance as ships lost order, and the Greek fleet formed in line and defeated them.
Why it is remembered It was arguably the largest naval battle of the ancient world and the turning point of the invasion: Xerxes withdrew to Asia with much of his army, and from then on the Greek cities took the offensive.
Sources differ Size of the Persian fleet: ancient sources give about 900 to 1,207 ships, modern estimates 400 to 800.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: The Department of History, United States Military Academy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World
Battle of Cumae (474 BC) Fleet battle
474 BC · Off Cumae, in the Bay of Naples, Italy
Fought between Syracuse and Cumae, with Greek cities of southern Italy, against the Etruscans
Commanders Hiero I of Syracuse (Greeks); Etruscan kings (Etruscans)
Result Greek victory
The Etruscans raised a fleet to attack the Greek city of Cumae directly. Cumae called on Hiero I of Syracuse, who allied with naval forces from the Greek cities of southern Italy, and the combined fleet met and defeated the Etruscans off Cumae.
Why it is remembered The Etruscans lost much of their political influence and their naval supremacy in Italy. Syracuse dedicated a captured Etruscan helmet at Olympia, later found by German excavators, and Pindar honoured the battle in his first Pythian Ode.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: «ВЭС». (СПб; 1913 год)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Wars of the Delian League (Greco-Persian Wars)
Battle of the Eurymedon Fleet battle
469 or 466 BC · Mouth of the Eurymedon River (now the Köprüçay), Pamphylia, Antalya, Turkey
Fought between Delian League led by Athens against the Achaemenid Persian Empire
Commanders Cimon (Delian League); Tithraustes, Pherendatis (killed) (Persia)
Forces 200 Greek ships against 200 to 350 Persian ships
Losses Greeks: unknown. Persians: 200 ships destroyed, many prisoners taken.
Result Greek victory
Hearing that Persia was gathering an army and fleet near the Eurymedon, Cimon sailed with 200 triremes and attacked first. He routed the Persian fleet in the river mouth, most of whose crews ran their ships ashore and fled to the army. Cimon then landed his marines, routed the Persian army, took the camp and destroyed 200 beached triremes.
Why it is remembered The double victory on water and land prevented further Persian campaigning in the Aegean until at least 451 BC.
Sources differ The date is given as either 469 or 466 BC.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Adam Franco, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · First Peloponnesian War
Battle of Aegina Landing or siege
Summer 458 BC to spring 457 BC · Aegina, Saronic Gulf, Greece
Fought between Athens against Aegina, aided by Corinth and the Peloponnesian League
Commanders Leocrates (Athens)
Forces Up to 80 Aeginetan ships (modern estimate) and 300 Peloponnesian hoplites against a large Athenian fleet
Losses Aegina: 70 ships captured.
Result Athenian victory; Aegina became a tributary state of the Delian League
Outnumbered but with new triremes and skilled crews, the Aeginetans gave battle to an Athenian fleet under Leocrates. The Athenians won and captured 70 Aeginetan ships, then landed and besieged the city. Peloponnesian reinforcements and a Corinthian diversion against Megara failed, and Aegina surrendered after nine months.
Why it is remembered Aegina had to pull down its walls, hand over its remaining fleet and pay Athens an annual tribute of 30 talents.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Greco-Persian Wars
Battle of Salamis in Cyprus (450 BC) Fleet battle
Also known as Bataille de Salamine de Chypre
450 BC · Salamis, Cyprus
Fought between Delian League against the Achaemenid Persian Empire
Result Greek victory
The Delian League and the Persian Empire fought a decisive battle at Salamis in Cyprus, won by the Greek triremes.
Why it is remembered It ended Persian plans for expansion into the Aegean and led to the Peace of Callias in 449 BC.
Sources Wikipédia (FR)
Image: Nevilley, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · War between Corinth and Corcyra
Battle of Actium (435 BC) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle near Leukimme (Lefkimi); Bitwa koło przylądka Aktion
435 BC · Southern entrance of the Corfu Strait; the exact site is uncertain
Fought between Corcyra against Corinth
Forces 80 Corcyraean triremes (40 more stayed to blockade Epidamnos) against 75 Corinthian triremes and about 2,000 hoplites
Losses Corinth: 15 triremes and many men captured. Corcyra: unknown.
Result Corcyraean victory; Epidamnos surrendered the same day
A fleet battle of triremes between Corcyra and Corinth near the southern entrance of the Corfu Strait. Corcyra won, sinking or taking 15 Corinthian ships, and Epidamnos surrendered the same day. Corinthian prisoners were held as hostages; captives from other cities were killed or sold into slavery, depending on the source.
Why it is remembered Corinth then sought help from Sparta and was refused, while Corcyra made a defensive alliance with Athens, which led to the Battle of Sybota and so towards the Peloponnesian War.
Sources differ Corinthian strength: 75 triremes, or 70 according to Diodorus. Location: Lazenby places it near Lefkimi at the southern tip of Corfu; Green places Cape Aktion on the mainland opposite Lefkimi. Aftermath: one account has Corcyra raiding the coasts of Corinth's allies, another a stalemate.
Sources Wikipedia (PL)
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Prelude to the Peloponnesian War
Battle of Sybota Fleet battle
433 BC · Off Corcyra (Corfu), near the Sybota islands
Fought between Corcyra and Athens against Corinth
Commanders Mikiades, Aisimides, Eurybatos (Corcyra); Lakedaimonios, Diotimos, Proteas (Athens); Xenokleides (Corinth)
Forces 110 Corcyraean and 10 Athenian ships against 150 Corinthian ships
Losses Corcyra and Athens: 70 ships destroyed, over 1,000 captured, many killed. Corinth: 30 ships destroyed, many killed.
Result Indecisive
A Corcyraean fleet supported by a small Athenian squadron fought a larger Corinthian fleet off Corcyra. Both sides suffered heavily and neither gained a decisive result.
Why it is remembered It was one of the immediate causes of the Peloponnesian War.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: FlankerFF, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Peloponnesian War
Battle of Naupactus Fleet battle
429 BC · Off Naupactus, Gulf of Corinth, Greece
Fought between Athens against Corinth and Sparta
Commanders Phormio (Athens); Cnemus, Brasidas, Timokrates (killed), Lykophron, Machaon, Isokrates, Agatharchidas (Peloponnesians)
Forces 20 Athenian ships against 77 Peloponnesian ships
Losses Athens: 1 ship captured (nine were driven ashore, all but one recovered). Peloponnesians: at least 1 ship sunk, 6 captured.
Result Athenian victory
A week after Rhium the Peloponnesians feinted towards the Athenian base at Naupactus, forcing Phormio to shadow them along the shore. They attacked suddenly, drove nine Athenian ships ashore and chased the rest. At the harbour entrance the last Athenian ship circled an anchored merchantman and rammed and sank her leading pursuer, the Peloponnesians fell into confusion, and the Athenians routed them.
Why it is remembered The unexpected victory preserved Athenian naval dominance, kept Naupactus secure and ended Sparta's attempt to take the offensive in the north west.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: «ВЭС». (СПб; 1914 год)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Peloponnesian War
Battle of Rhium Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Chalcis; Battle of Patras
429 BC · Mouth of the Corinthian Gulf, near present-day Rio, Greece
Fought between Athens against Sparta and Corinth
Commanders Phormio (Athens); Machaon, Isokrates, Agatharchidas (Peloponnesians)
Forces 20 Athenian triremes against 47 Peloponnesian triremes, some used as transports
Losses Athens: none. Peloponnesians: 12 ships captured, with most of their crews.
Result Athenian victory
A Peloponnesian fleet tried to cross the Gulf of Patras to support an offensive against Acarnania. Many of its ships were fitted as transports, and they formed a defensive circle. Phormio sailed round them, driving them closer together until their oars fouled and ships collided, then attacked and routed them.
Why it is remembered It is a classic example of a small, well handled trireme fleet defeating a larger one through seamanship.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Peloponnesian War
Battle of Corcyra (427 BC) Fleet battle
427 BC · Waters off Corcyra (Corfu)
Fought between Corcyra, aided by an Athenian squadron, against a Peloponnesian fleet under Spartan command
Result Peloponnesian advantage; the Corcyraeans were saved from full defeat by the Athenian commander
The battle grew out of a civil war in Corcyra between a democratic faction backing Athens and an oligarchic faction backing Corinth and Sparta, with both powers taking part. In the fighting off the island the Peloponnesian ships had the upper hand, and only the resourcefulness of the Athenian squadron's commander prevented a complete Corcyraean defeat.
Why it is remembered It was part of the Corcyraean civil war, in which Athens and Sparta intervened directly.
Sources he.wikipedia.org
Image: F. Mitchell, Department of History, United States Military Academy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Peloponnesian War
Battle of Pylos Landing or siege
425 BC · Pylos peninsula, Bay of Navarino, Messenia, Greece
Fought between Athens against Sparta
Commanders Demosthenes (Athens); Thrasymelidas, Brasidas (Sparta)
Forces 50 Athenian ships, 90 hoplites and about 540 light troops against 60 Spartan ships (43 triremes in the initial assault) and a large army
Losses Athens: 8 ships. Sparta: 18 ships; 420 hoplites cut off on Sphacteria.
Result Athenian victory
Driven ashore by a storm, an Athenian force fortified Pylos and left a small garrison under Demosthenes. The Spartans attacked from land and sea, but the defenders held for a day and a half. When the Athenian fleet of 50 triremes arrived, it found the harbour entrances unblocked, caught the Spartans unprepared and defeated their fleet, trapping 420 hoplites on Sphacteria. Under the armistice that followed, the Spartan fleet was handed to Athens and never returned.
Why it is remembered The trapped hoplites, 120 of them Spartiates, were later captured at Sphacteria, a heavy blow to Spartan prestige. Pylos remained an Athenian base for raids and a refuge for helots.
Sources differ Spartan fleet: 43 triremes in one account, 60 ships in another account.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Captain Blood at de.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Peloponnesian War (Sicilian Expedition)
First Naval Battle of Syracuse Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of the Great Harbour; Prima battaglia navale di Siracusa
413 BC · Great Harbour of Syracuse, Sicily
Fought between Syracuse and Corinth against Athens
Commanders Gylippus, Hermocrates (Syracuse); Nicias (Athens)
Forces 80 Syracusan and Corinthian triremes (35 from the Great Harbour and 40 from the Small Harbour) against 60 Athenian triremes
Losses Syracuse: 10 triremes, 3 of them captured. Athens: 3 triremes and many men.
Result Athenian victory at sea, but the Syracusans captured the Athenian forts at Plemmyrium
The Syracusans attacked by sea while their land forces moved against the Athenian forts on Plemmyrium, the headland south of the harbour. The Athenians committed all 60 ships, leaving Plemmyrium exposed, and its three forts fell one after another. In the harbour the Syracusan ships lost formation and fouled each other, and the Athenians won the sea fight.
Why it is remembered Thucydides credits Athens with the victory, but the loss of Plemmyrium cost the Athenians their stores, the sails of 40 triremes and their food supply.
Sources Wikipedia (IT)
Image: Charles Murray, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Peloponnesian War (Sicilian Expedition)
Second Naval Battle of Syracuse Fleet battle
Also known as Second Battle of the Great Harbour; Seconda battaglia navale di Siracusa
Early September and 10 September 413 BC · Great Harbour of Syracuse, Sicily
Fought between Syracuse and Corinth against Athens
Commanders Gylippus, Hermocrates, with Sicanus and Agatharchus commanding the fleet (Syracuse); Nicias, Eurymedon (killed), then Menander and Euthydemus (Athens)
Forces First clash: 76 Syracusan ships against 86 Athenian. Second clash: 74 Syracusan triremes against 115 Athenian.
Losses First clash: 18 Athenian ships captured. Second clash: Athens lost 60 triremes; Syracuse lost 8 triremes, with 16 damaged.
Result Decisive Syracusan victory
Two clashes a few days apart. In the first, Eurymedon on the Athenian right overextended his line, the Syracusans broke through, and Eurymedon was killed. On 10 September the Athenians attacked again in a harbour so crowded, with nearly 200 ships, that there was little room to manoeuvre or flee, and they were beaten. The demoralised Athenian crews then refused to man their remaining ships, and the army retreated by land.
Why it is remembered It destroyed the Athenian fleet at Syracuse and sealed the fate of the Sicilian Expedition.
Sources differ Athenian strength in the second clash: 115 triremes in the main account, 110 according to Plutarch, 86 according to Thucydides.
Sources Wikipedia (IT)
Image: Charles Murray, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Peloponnesian War
Battle of Abydos Fleet battle
November 411 BC · Near Abydos, Hellespont (modern Nara Burnu, Çanakkale, Turkey)
Fought between Athens against Sparta and allies
Commanders Thrasybulus, Thrasyllus, Alcibiades (Athens); Mindarus (Sparta)
Forces 74 Athenian ships, joined by 18 under Alcibiades, against 97 Spartan and allied ships
Losses Athens: minimal. Sparta: 30 ships.
Result Athenian victory
Mindarus brought the Spartan fleet out to rescue a small allied squadron driven ashore at Dardanus and was attacked by Thrasybulus. The fight was even for a long time, until Alcibiades arrived towards evening with reinforcements. The Peloponnesians fled to their base at Abydos, losing heavily on the way.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown (from Young Folks' Cyclopedia of Persons and Places, 1881), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Peloponnesian War
Battle of Cynossema Fleet battle
Also known as Kynos sema
411 BC · Off Cynossema, Thracian Chersonese, Hellespont (modern Kilitbahir, Çanakkale, Turkey)
Fought between Athens and allies against Sparta and allies
Commanders Thrasyllus, Thrasybulus (Athens); Mindarus (Sparta)
Forces 76 Athenian ships against 86 Spartan ships
Losses Athens: 15 ships. Sparta: 21 ships.
Result Athenian victory
An Athenian fleet, at first thrown on the defensive by a larger Spartan fleet in the Hellespont, recovered to win a narrow victory.
Why it is remembered It came when Athens' democracy had been replaced by an oligarchy and a defeat could have ended the war. The restored Athenian fleet went on to win at Abydos and Cyzicus.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Peloponnesian War
Battle of Eretria Fleet battle
September 411 BC · Off the coast of Euboea, Greece
Fought between Sparta against Athens
Commanders Hegesandridas (Sparta); unknown (Athens)
Forces 42 Spartan ships against 36 Athenian ships
Losses Athens: 22 ships. Sparta: minimal.
Result Spartan victory
A Spartan fleet under Hegesandridas defeated an Athenian fleet off Eretria on Euboea, taking or destroying 22 of its 36 ships.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Tyler Bell, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Peloponnesian War
Battle of Syme Fleet battle
411 BC · Off the island of Syme, south eastern Aegean
Fought between Sparta against Athens
Commanders Astyochus (Sparta); Charminus (Athens)
Forces At least 27 Spartan ships against about 20 Athenian ships
Losses Sparta: 3 ships. Athens: 6 ships.
Result Spartan victory
Charminus, warned by the Melians, waited at Syme for the Spartan fleet of Astyochus. The fleets met in a storm with poor visibility; Charminus attacked the Spartan left wing, the only part he could see, and sank three ships. The rest of the Spartan fleet then arrived and surrounded him, and he withdrew to Halicarnassus after losing six ships.
Why it is remembered It followed the new alliance between Sparta and Persia.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Peloponnesian War
Battle of Cyzicus Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Kyzikos
May or June 410 BC · Near Cyzicus, Sea of Marmara (modern Turkey)
Fought between Athens against Sparta and the Achaemenid Persian Empire
Commanders Alcibiades, Thrasybulus, Theramenes, Chaereas (Athens); Mindarus (killed), Hippocrates, Clearchus, Hermocrates, Pharnabazus (Sparta and Persia)
Forces 86 Athenian triremes against 60 to 80 Spartan triremes
Losses Athens: minimal. Sparta: the entire fleet.
Result Athenian victory
An Athenian fleet under Alcibiades, Thrasybulus and Theramenes routed and destroyed the Spartan fleet of Mindarus near Cyzicus. Mindarus was killed.
Why it is remembered Athens recovered a number of Hellespontine cities over the following year, and Sparta offered peace, which Athens rejected.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown (from Young Folks' Cyclopedia of Persons and Places, 1881), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Sicilian Wars
Siege of Akragas (406 BC) Landing or siege
April to December 406 BC · Akragas (Agrigento), Sicily
Fought between Carthage against Akragas and Syracuse
Commanders Hannibal Mago, Himilco (Carthage); Daphnaeus, Dexippus (Greeks)
Forces 60,000 Carthaginians, 120 triremes and 1,000 transports against 35,000 Greeks, 40 triremes and a supply convoy
Losses Carthage: 6,000 killed, 15 triremes lost; Hannibal and many soldiers died of plague. Greeks: 8 triremes sunk, the supply convoy captured, the population massacred.
Result Carthaginian victory; Akragas sacked
A Carthaginian army under Hannibal Mago besieged Akragas for eight months in retaliation for Greek raids on Punic colonies. A Syracusan relief army defeated part of the besiegers and cut their supply lines, and plague killed Hannibal. His successor Himilco then used the Carthaginian fleet to capture a Greek supply convoy, which left the city facing starvation. The Sicilian Greek detachment and then most of the population left, and Himilco took and sacked the city.
Why it is remembered The capture of the supply convoy at sea decided the siege of one of the great Greek cities of Sicily.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Maglorbd (talk), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Peloponnesian War
Battle of Arginusae Fleet battle
406 BC · Arginusae Islands, east of Lesbos (modern Dikili, İzmir, Turkey)
Fought between Athens against Sparta
Commanders Eight strategoi: Aristocrates, Aristogenes, Diomedon, Erasinides, Lysias, Pericles the Younger, Protomachus, Thrasyllus (Athens); Callicratidas (killed) (Sparta)
Forces 155 Athenian ships against 120 Spartan ships
Losses Athens: 25 ships disabled or sunk, and a great number of sailors drowned when a storm stopped the rescue. Sparta: 70 ships.
Result Athenian victory
To relieve Conon at Mytilene, Athens raised a scratch fleet of mostly new ships with inexperienced crews. Its commanders used new and unorthodox tactics and defeated the Spartans under Callicratidas, who was killed. A storm then prevented the rescue of crews from the 25 lost Athenian triremes.
Why it is remembered Athens tried and executed six of the eight generals for the failure to rescue the survivors. Slaves and metics who fought may have been granted citizenship.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: A. du Sein (colors added), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Peloponnesian War
Battle of Mytilene (406 BC) Fleet battle
406 BC · Mytilene harbour, Lesbos
Fought between Sparta against Athens
Commanders Callicratidas (Sparta); Conon (Athens)
Forces 170 Spartan ships against 70 Athenian ships
Losses Athens: 30 ships in the battle, then 10 more ships of a relief squadron captured, and one blockade runner taken.
Result Spartan victory
Callicratidas caught Conon's fleet of seventy ships at sea and chased it into Mytilene harbour, where Conon lost thirty ships. Conon beached the other forty and was blockaded by sea and surrounded on land. One of two ships he sent to run the blockade escaped and carried the news to Athens.
Why it is remembered Athens sent a new fleet to relieve Conon, which led to the Battle of Arginusae.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Published by Guillaume Rouillé, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Peloponnesian War
Battle of Notium Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Ephesus
406 BC · Near Ephesus and Notium (modern İzmir Province, Turkey)
Fought between Sparta against Athens
Commanders Lysander (Sparta); Antiochus (killed) (Athens)
Forces 90 Spartan ships against 80 Athenian ships
Losses Sparta: none. Athens: 22 ships (15 captured, 7 sunk).
Result Spartan victory
Alcibiades left his helmsman Antiochus in command of the Athenian fleet blockading Ephesus. Against orders, Antiochus tried to lure the Spartans out with a small decoy force, and Lysander defeated him.
Why it is remembered The small defeat brought about the downfall of Alcibiades and established Lysander as a commander who could beat Athens at sea.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Published by Guillaume Rouillé, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Peloponnesian War
Battle of Aegospotami Fleet battle
405 BC · Aegospotami, Hellespont (Çanakkale Province, Turkey)
Fought between Sparta, Corinth and the Peloponnesian League against Athens and the Delian League
Commanders Lysander, Aracus, Cleomedes of Samos (Sparta); Conon, Philocles, Adeimantus (Athens)
Forces 170 Spartan ships against 180 Athenian ships and 36,000 men
Losses Sparta: minimal. Athens: 160 ships; 3,000 sailors executed.
Result Spartan victory
A Spartan fleet under Lysander destroyed the Athenian navy in the Hellespont in the last major battle of the war.
Why it is remembered Without control of the sea Athens could not import grain or hold its empire; the city was besieged and surrendered, ending the Peloponnesian War.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Published by Guillaume Rouillé, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Sicilian Wars
Battle of Catana (397 BC) Fleet battle
Summer 397 BC · Off Catana (Catania), Sicily
Fought between Carthage against Syracuse and the Sicilian Greeks
Commanders Mago (Carthage); Leptines of Syracuse (Greeks)
Forces 200 Carthaginian triremes and 300 transports against 180 Greek ships, mostly quinqueremes
Losses Greeks: 100 ships sunk or captured, 20,000 sailors drowned or captured. Carthage: light.
Result Carthaginian victory
The Greek fleet under Leptines, brother of Dionysius I, engaged the Carthaginian fleet under Mago near Catana. The Carthaginian army was away inland, detouring round the erupting Mount Etna, while the Greek army stood near the city. The Carthaginian fleet crushed the Greeks.
Why it is remembered The defeat opened the way to the Carthaginian siege of Syracuse later that year.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Maglorbd (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikipedia (en)
The Ancient World · Corinthian War
Battle of Cnidus Fleet battle
394 BC · Off Cnidus, Aegean Sea (modern Yazıköy, Muğla, Turkey)
Fought between Achaemenid Persian Empire against Sparta
Commanders Pharnabazus, Conon (Persia); Peisander (killed) (Sparta)
Forces 90 Persian triremes against 85 Spartan triremes
Losses Persia: minimal. Sparta: the entire fleet.
Result Achaemenid victory
A fleet under the joint command of the satrap Pharnabazus and the former Athenian admiral Conon destroyed the Spartan fleet of the inexperienced Peisander, who was killed.
Why it is remembered It ended Sparta's brief bid for naval supremacy and strengthened the coalition resisting Spartan hegemony.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: CNG, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World
Battle of Pharos Fleet battle
384 to 383 BC · Off the island of Pharos (Hvar), Adriatic Sea
Fought between Syracusan Greeks against the Liburnians
Commanders Dionysius I of Syracuse (Greeks); unknown (Liburnians)
Forces 10,000 Liburnian men in 300 liburna ships; Greek strength unknown
Losses Liburnians: more than 5,000 killed and 2,000 prisoners. Greeks: unknown.
Result Greek victory; the siege of Pharos was lifted
The Liburnians of Zadar led a coalition of the eastern Adriatic coast against the Greek colonists and sailed with 300 ships to besiege the new Greek colony of Pharos on Hvar. The Syracusan fleet of Dionysius I was alerted and attacked the siege fleet.
Why it is remembered The victory let the Greeks continue colonising the southern Adriatic coast in relative safety.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, PD, via Wikipedia (en)
The Ancient World · Boeotian War
Battle of Naxos Fleet battle
376 BC · Off Naxos, Cyclades
Fought between Athens against Sparta
Commanders Chabrias, Phocion (Athens); unknown (Sparta)
Result Athenian victory
The new Athenian fleet of Chabrias decisively defeated the Spartans. The victory was decided by Phocion's action on the left wing.
Why it is remembered It began the recovery of Athenian hegemony in the Aegean after the loss of the Peloponnesian War.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Templar52, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Boeotian War
Battle of Alyzia Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Alyzeia; Battaglia di Alizia
375 or 374 BC · Off Alyzia, near the island of Leucas, Ionian Sea
Fought between Athens against Sparta
Commanders Timotheus (Athens); Nicolochus (Sparta)
Result Athenian victory
The Athenian fleet under Timotheus defeated the Spartan fleet of Nicolochus off Alyzia, near Leucas.
Why it is remembered From then on the Spartans had no fleet worth the name.
Sources differ The Italian account gives 375/374 BC; the English account on Naxos gives 374 BC.
Sources Wikipedia (IT) · Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Social War (357 to 355 BC)
Battle of Embata Fleet battle
Autumn 356 BC · Off Chios, Greece
Fought between Chios against Athens
Commanders Chares, Iphicrates, Timotheos (Athens)
Forces 120 Athenian vessels against 100 Chian triremes
Result Chian victory
A naval battle near Chios in which the Chians defeated an Athenian fleet led by Chares.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Lamian War
Battle of Amorgos Fleet battle
May or June 322 BC · Amorgos, Cyclades, Greece
Fought between Macedonia against Athens
Commanders Cleitus the White (Macedonia); Euetion (Athens)
Forces 240 Macedonian warships against 170 Athenian warships
Losses The Athenians seem to have suffered few losses.
Result Macedonian victory
The Macedonian navy under Cleitus the White defeated the Athenian navy under Euetion. Few details are known, but it was a clear Athenian defeat.
Why it is remembered Regarded as the decisive naval battle of the Lamian War, it marked the end of Athenian sea power and political independence.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Oliwan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Lamian War
Battle of the Echinades (322 BC) Fleet battle
Spring or summer 322 BC · Echinades islands, or off the Malian Gulf
Fought between Macedonia against Athens
Commanders Cleitus the White (Macedonia); Euetion (Athens)
Result Macedonian victory
One of the naval battles of the Lamian War, fought between the Macedonian navy under Cleitus the White and the Athenian navy, and won by Macedonia.
Sources differ The location is given as either the Echinades islands or the Malian Gulf.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Second War of the Diadochi
Battle of Byzantium (317 BC) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Byzantion
317 BC · Near Byzantium (modern Istanbul, Turkey)
Fought between Antigonus and the enemies of Polyperchon against the supporters of Polyperchon
Commanders Antigonus Monophthalmus, Nicanor (Antigonids); Cleitus the White (executed) (Polyperchon's side)
Forces First battle: more than 100 Antigonid ships (Diodorus) or 130 (Polyaenus), against a slightly larger fleet. Second battle: 60 Antigonid ships at sea with a large force of archers, slingers and peltasts on land, against Cleitus's entire army and fleet.
Losses Antigonids: unknown. Cleitus: his entire force captured or killed.
Result Antigonid victory
Antigonus and Cleitus the White fought over two days near Byzantium. After a first naval clash, Antigonus attacked again from the sea with 60 ships while light troops attacked from the land, and Cleitus's whole force was captured or killed.
Why it is remembered It was described as a stunning Antigonid victory, and it freed Antigonus to cross to Europe.
Sources differ Antigonid strength in the first battle: more than 100 ships according to Diodorus, 130 according to Polyaenus.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Second War of the Diadochi
Battle of Rhosus Other action
Also known as Bytva pry Rossosi
About 317 BC · Rhosus, Gulf of Issus, eastern Cilicia
Fought between Antigonus I Monophthalmus against Eumenes, supporting the regent Polyperchon
Commanders Antigonus (Antigonids); Sosigenes (Eumenes' fleet)
Result Antigonid victory: Eumenes' Phoenician crews mutinied and went over to Antigonus
Eumenes had Phoenician cities build him a fleet, gathered at Rhosus in autumn 318 BC and loaded with money from Alexander's Cilician treasury. After beating Polyperchon's fleet at Byzantium, Antigonus sent his fleet, decorated with trophies and enemy rams, openly past the harbours of Asia Minor. When it approached Rhosus the Phoenician crews mutinied, plundered the treasure and went over to Antigonus. Eumenes' admiral Sosigenes was ashore watching the weather from the cliffs.
Why it is remembered Eumenes gave up his plans to fight for Europe and the coastal satrapies and marched east.
Sources Wikipedia (UK)
Image: Bibi Saint-Pol, Copyrighted free use, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Wars of the Diadochi
Battle of Salamis (306 BC) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Salamis in Cyprus (306 BC)
306 BC · Off Salamis, Cyprus
Fought between Antigonids against Ptolemaic Egypt
Commanders Demetrius Poliorcetes, Medius (Antigonids); Ptolemy I, Menelaus (captured) (Ptolemaics)
Forces About 180 Antigonid warships (30 of them Athenian) against 140 warships and 200 transports under Ptolemy, plus 60 warships under Menelaus
Losses Antigonids: 20 warships damaged. Ptolemaics: 80 warships lost, 40 warships and 100 transports captured; Menelaus' force surrendered.
Result Antigonid victory; Cyprus captured
Demetrius invaded Ptolemaic Cyprus, defeated Ptolemy's brother Menelaus and besieged him in Salamis. Ptolemy came in person with a large relief fleet, hoping to trap Demetrius between his own ships and a sortie by Menelaus. Demetrius left only a small force to block Menelaus and threw the rest against Ptolemy, destroying or capturing much of his fleet and army.
Why it is remembered After the victory Antigonus took the royal title, and most of the other Diadochi soon did the same; the battle placed the Antigonids in a position of supremacy in the Hellenistic world.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: William Heysham Overend, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Wars of the Diadochi
Battle of Corcyra (298 or 297 BC) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Korkyra; Bytva pry Kerkiri
298 or 297 BC · Off Corcyra (Corfu), western Greece
Fought between Agathocles of Syracuse against Cassander of Macedonia
Commanders Agathocles (Syracuse); Cassander (Macedonia)
Losses Macedonia: all its ships burned.
Result Syracusan victory
Cassander's fleet sailed round Greece and ferried his army across the strait to Corcyra, which was besieged by land and sea. The island called on Agathocles, who arrived with his fleet and attacked Cassander's ships at once. After a hard fight the Sicilians won completely and burned every enemy ship, leaving the Macedonian army ashore in a desperate position.
Why it is remembered Agathocles then let Cassander leave in return for recognising his rule over Corcyra, which he later gave as a dowry when his daughter Lanassa married Pyrrhus of Epirus.
Sources Wikipedia (UK)
Image: s.o., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Sicilian Wars and Pyrrhic War
Battle of the Strait of Messina (276 BC) Fleet battle
276 BC · Strait of Messina
Fought between Carthage against Epirus
Commanders Unknown (Carthage); Pyrrhus of Epirus (Epirus)
Forces Carthaginian strength unknown, against 110 decked warships and hundreds of transports under Pyrrhus
Losses Epirus: 70 warships sunk and 28 damaged. Carthage: unknown.
Result Carthaginian victory
Pyrrhus, returning from Sicily to Italy after Roman successes against his Italian allies, was ferrying his troops to Rhegium when the Carthaginian navy attacked. It sank 70 of his ships and damaged 28, and the survivors, 12 warships and the transports, reached Locri.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Chremonidean War or the Syrian Wars
Battle of Cos Fleet battle
About 261 BC, or as late as 255 BC · Off Kos, Dodecanese
Fought between Antigonid Macedonia against Ptolemaic Egypt
Commanders Antigonus II Gonatas (Macedonia); possibly Patroclus, admiral of Ptolemy II (Egypt)
Result Macedonian victory
An Antigonid fleet led by Antigonus II Gonatas defeated a Ptolemaic fleet, possibly under Patroclus. Antigonus afterwards dedicated his flagship to Apollo.
Why it is remembered Modern scholars propose it as one of three battles that may have been the occasion for the Nike of Samothrace. It has been widely held to have damaged Ptolemaic control of the Aegean, though this is contested.
Sources differ The date falls between 262 and 256 BC: Hammond gives 255 BC, but 261 BC is now increasingly preferred.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · First Punic War
Battle of the Lipari Islands Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Lipara
260 BC · Lipara harbour, Aeolian Islands, Sicily
Fought between Carthage against the Roman Republic
Commanders Boödes, Hannibal Gisco (Carthage); Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Asina (captured) (Rome)
Forces 20 Carthaginian ships against 17 Roman ships
Losses Carthage: none. Rome: all 17 ships captured, with their commander.
Result Carthaginian victory
The consul Scipio impetuously took the advance squadron of Rome's new fleet to Lipara, where 20 Carthaginian ships under Boödes surprised him in the harbour. The inexperienced Romans lost all 17 ships and Scipio was taken.
Why it is remembered It was the first naval encounter of the Punic Wars and the first battle fought by Roman warships. Scipio was ransomed and known afterwards as Asina, Latin for female donkey.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Jon Platek, Besvo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · First Punic War
Battle of Mylae Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Cape Milazzo; Battaglia di capo Milazzo
260 BC · Off Mylae (Milazzo), Sicily
Fought between Roman Republic against Carthage
Result Roman victory
A naval battle of the First Punic War off Mylae in Sicily, in which Rome defeated the experienced Carthaginian fleet.
Why it is remembered It was Rome's first naval victory over Carthage.
Sources Wikipedia (IT)
Image: John Steeple Davis (illustrator), No known copyright restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · First Punic War
Battle of the Point of Italy Fleet battle
Also known as Bataille de la pointe d'Italie
260 BC, a few days before Mylae · Off the point of Italy, near the Strait of Messina
Fought between Roman Republic against Carthage
Commanders Unknown (Rome); Hannibal Gisco (Carthage)
Forces 50 Carthaginian galleys; Roman strength not recorded
Losses Carthage: most of the 50 galleys sunk or captured.
Result Roman victory
Polybius records that Hannibal Gisco, having destroyed a first Roman squadron at Lipara, took fifty galleys to scout a new Roman fleet. He was surprised off the point of Italy, most of his ships were sunk or captured, and he escaped with difficulty. Polybius gives no Roman commanders, numbers or tactics.
Why it is remembered It may have been Rome's first naval victory, a few days before Mylae, which is traditionally given that title.
Sources Wikipédia (FR)
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Probably the Second Syrian War
Battle of Ephesus (about 258 BC) Fleet battle
About 259 or 258 BC (disputed) · Off Ephesus, Asia Minor
Fought between Rhodes against Ptolemaic Egypt
Commanders Agathostratus (Rhodes); Chremonides (Ptolemaic Egypt)
Result Rhodian victory
The Rhodian fleet under Agathostratus defeated a Ptolemaic fleet under the Athenian admiral Chremonides near Ephesus. The battle is known only from a brief mention by Polyaenus.
Why it is remembered With Cos and Andros, it helped break Ptolemaic sea power in the Aegean in favour of Macedonia and Rhodes.
Sources differ Most scholars date it to about 259 or 258 BC during the Second Syrian War; others have proposed 245 to 242 BC in the Third Syrian War. Modern research places it between about 261 and 246 BC.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · First Punic War
Battle of Sulci Fleet battle
258 BC · Off Sulci, Sardinia
Fought between Roman Republic against Carthage
Commanders Gaius Sulpicius Paterculus (Rome); Hannibal Gisco (Carthage)
Losses Carthage: most of the fleet sunk, the rest abandoned on land.
Result Roman victory
The consul Sulpicius Paterculus defeated the Carthaginian fleet off Sulci. Most of the Carthaginian ships were sunk and the rest abandoned ashore, and Hannibal Gisco was crucified or stoned to death by his mutinous army.
Why it is remembered The loss of ships stopped Carthage mounting major operations against Rome from Sardinia, although the Roman attempt to take the island failed.
Sources differ Hannibal Gisco's death is given as either crucifixion or stoning.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · First Punic War
Battle of Tyndaris Fleet battle
257 BC · Between Tyndaris (Tindari) and the Aeolian Islands, Sicily
Fought between Roman Republic against Carthage
Commanders Gaius Atilius Regulus (Rome); Hamilcar (Carthage)
Forces Unknown on both sides
Losses Rome: 9 ships sunk. Carthage: 18 ships, 8 sunk and 10 captured.
Result Roman victory
A Roman fleet under Atilius Regulus fought a Carthaginian fleet under Hamilcar in the waters off Tyndaris, which Hiero II of Syracuse had allowed Carthage to use as a base. Rome won.
Why it is remembered Tyndaris afterwards fell to Rome.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · First Punic War
Battle of Cape Ecnomus Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Eknomos
256 BC · Off Cape Ecnomus, southern Sicily
Fought between Roman Republic against Carthage
Commanders Marcus Atilius Regulus, Lucius Manlius Vulso Longus (Rome); Hamilcar, Hanno (Carthage)
Forces 330 Roman warships with 138,600 to 140,000 crew and marines against 350 Carthaginian ships with 147,000 to 150,000
Losses Rome: 24 ships sunk, 10,000 men killed. Carthage: 30 ships sunk, 64 captured, 30,000 to 40,000 men killed or captured.
Result Roman victory
A Roman fleet carrying about 26,000 legionaries to invade Africa was intercepted off southern Sicily by every warship Carthage could muster. The Carthaginians took the initiative and the battle broke into three separate fights, where they hoped their ship handling would prevail. After a long and confused day the Carthaginians were decisively beaten.
Why it is remembered With about 680 warships and up to 290,000 men, it was arguably the largest battle of ancient history and possibly the largest naval battle ever by number of combatants. It opened the way for the Roman invasion of Africa.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Gabriel de Saint-Aubin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · First Punic War
Battle of Cape Bon (255 BC) Fleet battle
Also known as Seeschlacht bei Kap Bon; Battle of Cape Hermaeum
255 BC · Off the north coast of Africa, near Cape Bon
Fought between Roman Republic against Carthage
Forces About 370 Roman ships against about 200 Carthaginian ships
Losses Rome: insignificant. Carthage: 114 ships captured and 16 sunk. On the way back about 300 of the roughly 370 Roman ships and about 100,000 men were lost in a storm.
Result Decisive Roman victory
A Roman fleet defeated a Carthaginian fleet off the north African coast, capturing 114 ships and sinking 16. Most of the Roman fleet was lost in a storm on the voyage home.
Sources differ Roman strength: about 370 ships in the German account, 390 warships in the English account on the Roman withdrawal from Africa. Storm losses: about 300 ships (German) against 384 warships and 300 transports (English).
Sources Wikipedia (DE) · Wikipedia
Image: Jon Platek, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · First Punic War
Battle of Drepana Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Drepanum
249 BC · Off Drepana (modern Trapani), western Sicily
Fought between Carthage against the Roman Republic
Commanders Adherbal (Carthage); Publius Claudius Pulcher (Rome)
Forces 100 to 130 Carthaginian ships against at least 123 Roman ships
Losses Carthage: none recorded. Rome: 93 ships captured, an unknown number sunk, 20,000 men killed or captured.
Result Carthaginian victory
Claudius Pulcher, blockading Lilybaeum, sailed by night to surprise the Carthaginian fleet in Drepana harbour, but his ships became scattered in the dark. Adherbal led his fleet out to sea before it could be trapped and counter-attacked, pinning the Romans against the shore. After a day of fighting the more manoeuvrable Carthaginian ships with better trained crews won heavily.
Why it is remembered It was Carthage's greatest naval victory of the war; Rome did not put a substantial fleet to sea again for seven years.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Vercingetorix~commonswiki, CC BY-SA 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · First Punic War
Battle of Phintias Fleet battle
249 BC · Off Phintias (modern Licata), southern Sicily
Fought between Carthage against the Roman Republic
Commanders Carthalo (Carthage); Lucius Junius Pullus (Rome)
Forces 120 Carthaginian warships against 120 Roman warships and 800 transports
Losses Carthage: none. Rome: 17 ships sunk and 13 damaged in the battle; all but 2 ships destroyed in the storm that followed.
Result Carthaginian victory
The Carthaginian fleet intercepted the Roman fleet off Phintias and forced it to take shelter. Carthalo, warned by his pilots of a coming storm, withdrew east to avoid it. The Romans took no precautions, and the storm destroyed their fleet except for two ships.
Why it is remembered Carthage raided the coasts of Roman Italy until 243 BC, and Rome made no major naval effort until 242 BC.
Sources Wikipedia
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The Ancient World · Third Syrian War
Battle of Andros (246 BC) Fleet battle
246 or 245 BC · Off Andros, Cyclades
Fought between Antigonid Macedonia against the Ptolemaic Kingdom
Commanders Antigonus II Gonatas (Macedonia); probably Sophron of Ephesus, with Ptolemy Andromachou (Ptolemaic Egypt)
Forces The Egyptian fleet was numerically superior
Losses Egypt: Ptolemy Andromachou lost his ship and crew and barely escaped to Ephesus.
Result Antigonid victory
An obscure battle in which a smaller Macedonian fleet under Antigonus II Gonatas defeated a larger Egyptian fleet. The Egyptian captain Ptolemy Andromachou, a half-brother of the pharaoh, lost his ship and crew.
Why it is remembered Ptolemy III Euergetes lost control of the League of the Islanders to Antigonus Gonatas.
Sources differ The date is uncertain; 246 or 245 BC is generally accepted.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Henryhartley, translation: Ttzavaras, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · First Punic War
Battle of the Aegates Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of the Aegates Islands; Battle of the Egadi Islands
10 March 241 BC · Among the Aegates (Egadi) Islands, off western Sicily
Fought between Roman Republic against Carthage
Commanders Gaius Lutatius Catulus, Quintus Valerius Falto (Rome); Hanno (Carthage)
Forces About 200 Roman quinqueremes against about 250 Carthaginian quinqueremes
Losses Rome: 30 quinqueremes sunk, 50 damaged. Carthage: 50 quinqueremes sunk, 70 captured, 10,000 men captured.
Result Roman victory; Treaty of Lutatius
Rome, almost bankrupt, borrowed money to build a fleet and extended its blockade of the Carthaginian strongholds in western Sicily to the sea. A larger Carthaginian fleet, laden with supplies and short of marines, tried to run in to Sicily and was intercepted. In a hard fight the better trained Romans defeated the undermanned Carthaginians.
Why it is remembered It was the final and deciding battle of the 23 year First Punic War: Carthage sued for peace, gave up Sicily and paid heavy reparations, and Rome became the leading military power in the western Mediterranean.
Sources Wikipedia
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The Ancient World · Illyrian Wars
Battle of Paxos Fleet battle
Spring 229 BC · Off the island of Paxos, Ionian Sea
Fought between Kingdom of Illyria and Acarnania against Corcyra, the Achaean League and the Aetolian League
Commanders Teuta (Illyria); Margos of Keryneia (killed) (Achaeans)
Forces The Illyrian fleet and 7 Acarnanian ships against 10 Achaean ships
Losses Greeks: 4 triremes taken and a quinquereme sunk.
Result Illyrian victory; an Illyrian garrison was installed on Corcyra
The battle followed Queen Teuta's siege of Corcyra. Polybius describes a cunning stratagem by the Illyrian fleet, which took four triremes and sank a quinquereme while the rest of the Greek ships escaped.
Why it is remembered Corcyra received an Illyrian garrison under one of Teuta's commanders.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Second Punic War
Battle of Lilybaeum (218 BC) Fleet battle
Summer 218 BC · Near Lilybaeum (Marsala), Sicily
Fought between Roman Republic against Carthage
Commanders Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, praetor of Sicily (Rome); unknown (Carthage)
Forces 20 Roman quinqueremes and triremes against 35 Carthaginian quinqueremes
Losses Carthage: 7 ships captured. Rome: unknown.
Result Roman victory
Carthage sent 35 quinqueremes to raid Sicily, beginning with Lilybaeum. Warned by Hiero of Syracuse, the Romans intercepted them with 20 ships and captured several.
Why it is remembered It was the first clash between the Roman and Carthaginian navies in the Second Punic War.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Cristiano64 This file was derived from: Regione Siciliana topographic map-blank.svg Sémhur, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Second Punic War
Battle of the Ebro River Fleet battle
Spring 217 BC · Mouth of the Ebro, present-day Catalonia, Spain
Fought between Roman Republic and Massalia against Carthage
Commanders Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus (Rome); Himilco (Carthage)
Forces 35 Roman ships (the main account gives 35 quinqueremes and 20 triremes) against about 40 Carthaginian quinqueremes
Losses Carthage: 29 quinqueremes, 4 sunk and 25 captured. Rome: unknown.
Result Roman victory
Hasdrubal Barca launched a joint land and sea expedition to destroy the Roman base north of the Ebro. The Roman ships surprised the Carthaginian squadron near the river mouth and defeated it completely.
Why it is remembered Carthage lost control of the seas around Iberia, and the victory encouraged some Iberian tribes under Carthaginian rule to rebel.
Sources differ Roman strength: 35 ships in one account, 35 quinqueremes and 20 triremes in another account.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Fondo Antiguo de la Biblioteca de la Universidad de Sevilla from Sevilla, España, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Second Punic War
Battle of Sapriportis Fleet battle
Also known as Battaglia di Sapriporte
210 BC · About 15 miles off Tarentum (Taranto), Italy
Fought between Tarentum, allied with Carthage, against the Roman Republic
Commanders Democrates (Tarentum); Decimus Quinctius (Rome)
Forces 20 ships on each side
Losses Unknown on both sides
Result Tarentine victory
The Tarentine fleet, allied with Carthage, got the better of a Roman fleet of equal size off Tarentum.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Historical Atlas by William R. Shepherd 1911 edition derivative work: User:Cristiano64, User:Sakretsu, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Second Punic War
Battle of Carteia (206 BC) Single-ship action
206 BC · Near Carteia, Bay of Gibraltar, southern Spain
Fought between Roman Republic against Carthage
Commanders Gaius Laelius (Rome); Adherbal (Carthage)
Forces 1 Roman quinquereme and 7 triremes against 1 Carthaginian quinquereme and 8 triremes
Result Roman victory
A small naval action near Carteia in which the Roman squadron of Gaius Laelius defeated the Carthaginian squadron of Adherbal.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Cretan War
Battle of Chios (201 BC) Fleet battle
201 BC · Off Chios, Aegean Sea
Fought between Rhodes, Pergamum, Byzantium and Cyzicus against Macedon
Commanders Attalus I, Theophiliscus of Rhodes (died of wounds) (allies); Philip V of Macedon (Macedon)
Forces About 100 allied ships against about 200 Macedonian ships
Losses Macedon: 92 ships sunk, 7 captured, 9,000 dead, 2,000 captured. Rhodes: 3 ships sunk, 60 dead. Pergamum: 3 ships sunk, 2 captured, 70 dead.
Result Victory for Rhodes and its allies
Macedon and its pirate and Cretan allies had been attacking Rhodian shipping since 205 BC. The fleets of Pergamum, Byzantium and Cyzicus joined the Rhodians and defeated Philip's fleet off Chios.
Sources Wikipedia
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The Ancient World · Cretan War
Battle of Lade (201 BC) Fleet battle
201 BC · Strait between Lade and Miletus (modern Turkey)
Fought between Macedon against Rhodes
Commanders Philip V of Macedon (Macedon); Cleonaeus of Rhodes (Rhodes)
Result Macedonian victory
Continuing the fighting after Chios, Philip's fleet attacked the Rhodian fleet as it sailed through the strait between Lade and Miletus, defeated it and forced it back to Rhodes.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: ArchaiOptix, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Roman Seleucid War
Battle of Corycus Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Kissos
September 191 BC · Off Corycus, Ionia (modern Turkey)
Fought between Roman Republic, Pergamon and Carthage against the Seleucid Empire
Commanders Gaius Livius Salinator, Eumenes II (allies); Polyxenidas (Seleucids)
Forces 81 Roman quinqueremes, 24 Roman apertae, 24 Pergamene triremes and 26 Pergamene apertae against 70 decked ships and 100 to 130 apertae
Losses Allies: 1 ship seized. Seleucids: 13 ships seized, 10 sunk.
Result Roman and Pergamene victory
Polyxenidas attacked the allied fleet off Corycus. The Roman squadron manoeuvred seaward, cancelling the Seleucid numerical advantage, then grappled and boarded the Seleucid ships, overwhelming their smaller crews with marines. Polyxenidas withdrew after losing 23 warships.
Why it is remembered The allies could then blockade the rest of the Seleucid fleet in Ephesus.
Sources Wikipedia
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The Ancient World · Roman Seleucid War
Battle of the Eurymedon (190 BC) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Side
August 190 BC · Off Side, at the mouth of the Eurymedon River (Antalya, Turkey)
Fought between Rhodes against the Seleucid Empire
Commanders Eudamus, Pamphilidas, Charikleitos (Rhodes); Hannibal, Apollonius (Seleucids)
Forces 38 Rhodian ships against 47 Seleucid ships
Losses Rhodes: 10 ships damaged. Seleucids: 1 ship seized, 20 damaged.
Result Rhodian victory
Hannibal, serving the Seleucid king, attacked the Rhodian fleet lying in the mouth of the Eurymedon. After some initial confusion the Rhodians carried out the diekplous manoeuvre against the Seleucid seaward wing, and half of the Seleucid ships were badly damaged and withdrew.
Why it is remembered Hannibal kept most of his fleet but could not reinforce the Seleucid ships at Ephesus, which left them isolated and let Rome proceed with its invasion of Seleucid Asia Minor.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Fratelli Alinari, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Roman Seleucid War
Battle of Myonessus Fleet battle
September 190 BC · Off Myonessus, between Myonessus and the Corycus peninsula (modern Turkey)
Fought between Roman Republic and Rhodes against the Seleucid Empire
Commanders Lucius Aemilius Regillus, Eudamus (Rome and Rhodes); Polyxenidas (Seleucids)
Forces 58 Roman and 22 Rhodian ships against 89 Seleucid ships
Losses Rome and Rhodes: 2 ships sunk, 1 captured. Seleucids: 29 ships sunk, 13 captured.
Result Roman and Rhodian victory
Polyxenidas attacked as the allied fleet was putting to sea. The Romans and Rhodians held the first assault and formed line, then Eudamus took the Rhodian squadron to the Roman right, blocked a Seleucid attempt at encirclement and overpowered the seaward wing. Polyxenidas withdrew, having lost half his fleet.
Why it is remembered It secured Roman control of the Aegean and opened the way to the invasion of Seleucid Asia Minor.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Matt Boulton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Roman Seleucid War
Battle of Panormus (190 BC) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Panhormus; Bytva u Panormi
Spring 190 BC · Harbour of Panormus, north east Samos, near Cape Palinurus
Fought between Seleucid Empire against Rhodes, an ally of Rome
Commanders Polyxenidas, Nikandros (Seleucids); Pausistratus (killed) (Rhodes)
Forces 70 Seleucid ships; the Rhodian strength at Panormus is not given (the Rhodians had arrived in Ionia with 36 ships)
Losses Rhodes: many ships lost or captured; Pausistratus killed. Seven ships escaped.
Result Seleucid victory
Polyxenidas, an exiled Rhodian serving Antiochus III, deceived Pausistratus with a secret offer to betray the Seleucid fleet, while quietly readying 70 ships at Ephesus. He sailed to Samos and landed troops under Nikandros behind the Rhodian camp, forcing Pausistratus to break out of the harbour in disorder. Pausistratus' flagship was rammed by three quinqueremes and he was killed; seven ships, two of them from Cos, escaped by carrying iron fire braziers on their bows.
Why it is remembered The Romans abandoned their operations in the Hellespont and moved south to blockade Polyxenidas again at Ephesus.
Sources Wikipedia (UK)
Image: Auguste Giraudon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Third Punic War
Battle of Lake Tunis Landing or siege
27 July 149 BC · Lake of Tunis, Tunisia
Fought between Carthage against the Roman Republic
Commanders Himilco Phameas (Carthage); Lucius Marcius Censorinus, Manius Manilius, Scipio Aemilianus (Rome)
Forces More than 6,000 Roman troops and more than 200 ships; Carthaginian strength unknown
Losses Rome: 800 killed and 135 ships. Carthage: unknown, light.
Result Carthaginian victory
A series of engagements in which the consuls Manilius and Censorinus, leading separate forces, made several failed attempts to breach the walls of Carthage. The Carthaginians then sent fire ships against the Roman fleet and destroyed most of it.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Third Punic War
Battle of the Port of Carthage Fleet battle
Summer 147 BC · Outside the port of Carthage, Gulf of Tunis, Tunisia
Fought between Carthage against the Roman Republic
Commanders Hasdrubal the Boetharch (Carthage); Scipio Aemilianus, Lucius Hostilius Mancinus (Rome)
Forces 50 Carthaginian triremes and some smaller vessels; Roman strength unknown
Losses Carthage: some smaller vessels sunk. Rome: heavy casualties.
Result Carthaginian victory, but the Roman blockade was not broken
During the siege of Carthage the Carthaginians found an unwatched way to the sea and put their fleet out to engage the Roman blockaders. They repulsed the Roman attacks at first, then turned back for port, with their smaller ships covering the harbour entrance and forcing the Romans into shallow water. Most Carthaginian ships were back in port by dawn.
Why it is remembered The Carthaginian success was not enough to break the Roman blockade of the besieged city.
Sources Wikipedia
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The Ancient World · First Mithridatic War
Battle of Tenedos (86 BC) Fleet battle
86 BC · Near the island of Tenedos (modern Bozcaada, Çanakkale, Turkey)
Fought between Roman Republic and allies against the Kingdom of Pontus
Commanders Lucius Licinius Lucullus (Rome); Neoptolemus (Pontus)
Result Roman victory
After two smaller naval actions, Lucullus found the main Pontic fleet near Tenedos. He sailed in a ship commanded by the experienced Rhodian Damagoras, who steered straight for Neoptolemus and evaded his attempt to ram head on, and Lucullus went on to defeat the Pontic fleet.
Why it is remembered It ended Pontic naval supremacy in the Aegean and allowed Rome to begin ferrying its army into Asia Minor.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Third Mithridatic War
Battle of Chalcedon (74 BC) Landing or siege
74 BC · Chalcedon (modern Kadıköy, Istanbul, Turkey)
Fought between Kingdom of Pontus against the Roman Republic
Commanders Mithridates VI (Pontus); Marcus Aurelius Cotta (Rome)
Forces 136,000 to 162,000 Pontic men and 400 ships against an unknown number of Romans and 64 ships
Losses Pontus: 730 killed. Rome: 7,000 to 13,300 killed, 4,500 captured, and all 64 ships (4 burned, 60 captured).
Result Pontic victory
In the first major clash of the Third Mithridatic War, Mithridates defeated the consul Cotta near Chalcedon on both land and sea.
Sources Wikipedia
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The Ancient World · Third Mithridatic War
Battle of Neae Raid
Also known as Bitwa morska pod Neae
74 BC · Islet of Neae, Aegean Sea, between Lemnos and Skyros
Fought between Roman Republic against Pontus and its Greek allies
Commanders Lucullus (Rome); Marcus Marius, Alexander, Dionysius (Pontus)
Forces 32 Pontic ships
Losses Pontus: many killed and the fleet destroyed; Marius executed, Dionysius took poison, Alexander kept for Lucullus' triumph.
Result Roman victory
After beating an enemy squadron near the Harbour of the Achaeans, Lucullus surprised the Pontic Aegean fleet with all 32 ships drawn up on the beach of Neae. When the enemy refused to come out, he sailed round the island, landed infantry and drove them onto their ships. Unwilling to put to sea, they rowed along the shore under missiles from land and sea until they broke and fled.
Why it is remembered The destruction of the fleet gave Rome control of the Aegean and opened the way for Lucullus' land offensive into Bithynia and Pontus.
Sources differ The Polish account dates it to 74 BC; the English account on the Battle of Lemnos, fought against the same Pontic commanders, gives 73 BC.
Sources Wikipedia (PL)
Image: Janmad, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Third Mithridatic War
Battle of Lemnos (73 BC) Fleet battle
73 BC · Lemnos, Aegean Sea
Fought between Roman Republic against Pontus
Commanders Lucius Licinius Lucullus (Rome); Marcus Marius (or Varius), Alexander the Paphlagonian, Dionysius the eunuch (Pontus)
Result Roman victory
A Roman fleet under Lucullus defeated a Mithridatic fleet at Lemnos. The main accounts are by Appian, Cicero and Memnon, and they differ on the details.
Why it is remembered It was a decisive event of the Third Mithridatic War.
Sources differ Appian, Cicero and Memnon disagree on the specifics.
Sources Wikipedia
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The Ancient World · Pompey's campaign against the pirates
Battle of Korakesion Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Coracaesium
67 BC · Off Korakesion (modern Alanya, Antalya, Turkey)
Fought between Roman Republic against the Cilician pirates
Commanders Pompey (Rome); unknown (pirates)
Forces 200 Roman ships against about 1,000 pirate ships (Roman claims; Plutarch's figure for the pirates is almost certainly exaggerated)
Losses Pirates: 3,000 surrendered. Rome: unknown.
Result Roman victory
The pirates were beaten in the opening naval engagement. Florus says it was not hard fought, as most of them soon saw they were outclassed and surrendered. The rest retreated ashore and were besieged in Coracaesium until they gave up.
Why it is remembered Plutarch describes it as the key battle in Pompey's clearing of the Mediterranean of pirates.
Sources differ Pirate fleet: about 1,000 ships according to Plutarch, a figure considered almost certainly exaggerated.
Sources Wikipedia
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The Ancient World · Gallic Wars
Battle of Morbihan Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Quiberon Bay (56 BC)
Summer 56 BC · Off the coast of Brittany, likely near Quiberon Bay, France
Fought between Roman Republic against the Veneti
Commanders Julius Caesar, Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus (Rome)
Forces 220 Venetic ships; Roman strength unknown
Losses Veneti: almost all ships destroyed or captured. Rome: light.
Result Decisive Roman victory
A Roman fleet sent by Julius Caesar fought the fleet of the Gallic Veneti off Brittany and destroyed or captured nearly all of it.
Sources Wikipedia
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The Ancient World · Caesar's Civil War
Siege of Massilia Landing or siege
Also known as Siege of Marseille (49 BC)
19 April to 6 September 49 BC · Massilia (Marseille) and the western Mediterranean
Fought between Supporters of Julius Caesar against the city of Massilia and supporters of Pompey
Commanders Gaius Trebonius (siege), Decimus Brutus (naval blockade) (Caesarians); Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (Massilia)
Forces About 15,000 Caesarian legionaries (three legions) and 12 to 22 ships, against about 8,000 Massiliot militia and 17 to 34 ships
Losses Caesarians: 1,100 killed. Massilia and Pompeians: 4,000 killed.
Result Caesarian victory; Massilia annexed by Rome
Gaius Trebonius besieged Massilia by land while Decimus Brutus, Caesar's naval expert, blockaded it by sea. Brutus fought two naval engagements, the first against 17 Massiliot ships and the second against 34, including Nasidius's Pompeian relief squadron, and his fleet grew from 12 ships to 22. The city surrendered in September.
Sources Wikipedia
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The Ancient World · Caesar's Civil War (Siege of Massilia)
Battle of Tauroento Fleet battle
31 July 49 BC · Off Tauroento, near Massilia (Marseille), France
Fought between Caesarians against the Pompeians and the city of Massilia
Commanders Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus (Caesarians); Lucius Nasidius, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (Pompeians and Massilia)
Forces 18 Caesarian ships against 34 (17 Pompeian and 17 Massiliot)
Losses Massilia: 5 ships sunk and 4 captured. Caesarians: unknown.
Result Caesarian victory
After an earlier victory outside Massilia, Brutus' Caesarian fleet met the Massiliot fleet and a Pompeian relief fleet under Nasidius. Although heavily outnumbered, the Caesarians won.
Why it is remembered The siege of Massilia could continue, and the city eventually surrendered.
Sources Wikipedia
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The Ancient World · Caesar's Civil War
Battle of Tauris Fleet battle
Also known as Batalla de Tauris
March 47 BC · Off Tauris (likely modern Šipan, Croatia), Dalmatian coast
Fought between Caesarians against Pompeians
Commanders Publius Vatinius (Caesarians); Marcus Octavius (wounded) (Pompeians)
Losses Pompeians: 1 quinquereme destroyed; 2 triremes, 8 biremes, 8 two-banked galleys and other small ships captured. Caesarians: none.
Result Caesarian victory
A Caesarian fleet under Publius Vatinius defeated the Pompeian fleet of Marcus Octavius off the coast of Dalmatia.
Sources Wikipedia (ES) · Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Caesar's Civil War
Battle of Carteia (46 BC) Single-ship action
46 BC · Carteia, Bay of Gibraltar, southern Spain
Fought between Caesarians against Pompeians
Commanders Gaius Didius (Caesarians); Publius Attius Varus (Pompeians)
Forces A small fleet on each side
Losses Light on both sides
Result Caesarian victory
A minor naval battle late in the civil war, won by Caesar's legate Gaius Didius against the Pompeian Attius Varus.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Caesar's Civil War
Battle of Hippo Regius Fleet battle
46 BC · Off Hippo Regius (Annaba, Algeria)
Fought between Caesarians and Mauretania against the Optimates
Commanders Publius Sittius (Caesarians); Metellus Scipio, Lucius Manlius Torquatus, Publius Damasippus, Plaetorius Rustianus (Optimates)
Losses Optimates: very high; Scipio killed himself and the other senators were killed. Caesarians: low.
Result Caesarian victory
Metellus Scipio and several leading senators of the Optimate faction were fleeing by sea after the defeat at Thapsus when their fleet was intercepted and destroyed by Publius Sittius, a mercenary commander serving Caesar's ally King Bocchus of Mauretania. Scipio took his own life and the other senators were killed.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Liberators' civil war
Battle of Cape Myndus Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Myndos; Bitwa koło przylądka Mindos
43 BC · Off Cape Myndus (Myndos), Caria, Asia Minor
Fought between Roman fleet of Gaius Cassius against Rhodes
Commanders Gaius Cassius Longinus (Romans); unknown (Rhodes)
Forces 80 Roman ships against 33 Rhodian ships
Losses Rhodes: 3 ships captured with their crews, 2 sunk. Cassius: none lost, some damaged.
Result Victory for Cassius
After taking Laodicea, Cassius turned on Rhodes, which favoured his opponents. The Rhodian fleet sailed out to stop him and fought hard, its light ships faster than Cassius's heavy quinqueremes, but the larger Roman fleet surrounded it. The surviving Rhodian ships escaped to Rhodes, damaged.
Why it is remembered Cassius then attacked Rhodes and took the city after a short siege, and the eastern part of the Roman world came under Cassius and Marcus Brutus.
Sources differ The Polish account dates it to 43 BC; the French account on the Battle of Rhodes, which follows it, gives 42 BC.
Sources Wikipedia (PL) · Wikipédia (FR)
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The Ancient World · Liberators' civil war
Battle of the Ionian Sea (42 BC) Convoy battle
Also known as Bitwa na Morzu Jońskim
42 BC · Ionian Sea, between Brundisium and Dyrrachium
Fought between Republican fleet against the triumvirs' fleet
Commanders Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, Staius Murcus (Republicans); Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus (triumvirs)
Forces 130 Republican warships against more than 20 warships and 100 transports carrying two legions, 2,000 bodyguards and cavalry
Losses Triumvirs: many soldiers killed, including veterans, and 17 triremes captured with their crews.
Result Republican victory
While the armies fought at Philippi, Calvinus sailed from Brundisium for Dyrrachium with reinforcements. Ahenobarbus and Murcus intercepted him in the Ionian Sea, surrounded part of the transports and destroyed them one after another with burning missiles. Many men saved themselves by swimming ashore on wreckage; Calvinus escaped back to Brundisium.
Sources Wikipedia (PL)
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Liberators' civil war
Battle of Rhodes (42 BC) Fleet battle
Also known as Bataille navale de Rhodes
42 BC · Off Rhodes
Fought between Roman fleet of Gaius Cassius against Rhodes
Commanders Gaius Cassius Longinus (Romans); unknown (Rhodes)
Forces 80 Roman ships; Rhodian strength not given
Losses Rhodes: 2 ships lost, then the whole fleet surrendered.
Result Victory for Cassius; Rhodes capitulated
Fresh from his hard won victory at Myndus, Cassius sailed against Rhodes. The Rhodian fleet came out to meet him, was surrounded, and surrendered after losing two ships.
Why it is remembered Rhodes, unprepared for a siege, capitulated shortly afterwards.
Sources differ The French account gives 42 BC; the Polish account on the preceding Battle of Myndus gives 43 BC.
Sources Wikipédia (FR)
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Sicilian revolt (Roman civil wars)
Battle of Cumae (38 BC) Fleet battle
Also known as Battaglia di Cuma (38 a.C.)
38 BC · Off Cumae, Italy
Fought between Octavian against Sextus Pompey
Commanders Gaius Calvisius Sabinus (Octavian); Menecrates (Sextus Pompey)
Result Victory for Octavian
Calvisius Sabinus was bringing a fleet from Etruria to join Octavian when he fought Menecrates' ships near Cumae. The delay meant he reached the Strait of Messina only near the end of the battle there, by which time Octavian had been defeated.
Sources Wikipedia (IT)
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Sicilian revolt (Roman civil wars)
Battle of the Strait of Messina (38 BC) Fleet battle
Also known as Bitwa morska w Cieśninie Mesyńskiej
38 BC · Strait of Messina, off Messana
Fought between Sextus Pompey against Octavian
Commanders Sextus Pompey, Demochares (Pompeians); Octavian, Cornificius, Calvisius Sabinus, Menodorus (Octavian)
Losses Octavian: almost half his fleet. Sextus Pompey: a few ships.
Result Pompeian victory
As soon as Octavian's fleet came in sight, Sextus attacked and pushed it towards the rocks, where many ships were wrecked and Octavian had to go ashore. Cornificius counter-attacked and even took Demochares' ship. The arrival of Calvisius Sabinus and Menodorus from Cumae saved Octavian from complete defeat; Sextus withdrew and nightfall ended the battle.
Sources Wikipedia (PL)
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The Ancient World · Sicilian revolt (war between Sextus Pompey and the Second Triumvirate)
Battle of Mylae (36 BC) Fleet battle
Also known as Seeschlacht von Mylae
11 August 36 BC · Off Mylae (Milazzo), northern Sicily
Fought between Second Triumvirate against the Pompeians
Commanders Agrippa (Second Triumvirate); Papias (Pompeians)
Losses Triumvirate: 5 ships. Pompeians: 30 ships.
Result Second Triumvirate victory
Agrippa's fleet defeated the Pompeian fleet of Sextus Pompey, led by Papias, off Mylae.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Ellis, Edward Sylvester, 1840 to 1916; Horne, Charles F. (Charles Francis), 1870 to 1942, No known restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Sicilian revolt
Battle of Naulochus Fleet battle
3 September 36 BC · Off Naulochus, north east Sicily
Fought between Octavian against the Pompeians
Commanders Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa (Octavian); Sextus Pompey (Pompeians)
Forces 300 ships on each side
Losses Octavian: 3 ships. Pompeians: 28 ships sunk, 17 fled, the rest captured.
Result Victory for Octavian
Agrippa, Octavian's admiral, defeated the fleet of Sextus Pompey off Naulochus.
Why it is remembered It ended Pompeian resistance to the Second Triumvirate.
Sources Wikipedia
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The Ancient World · Sicilian revolt (Roman civil wars)
Battle of Tauromenium Fleet battle
Also known as Bitwa morska pod Tauromenium
36 BC · Off Tauromenium (Taormina), Sicily
Fought between Sextus Pompey against Octavian
Commanders Sextus Pompey (Pompeians); Octavian, Quintus Cornificius (Octavian)
Losses Octavian: a large part of his fleet burned, most of the crews of the burned ships killed, many survivors captured.
Result Pompeian victory
After leaving Mylae, Sextus Pompey's fleet sailed to Tauromenium, where Octavian and Cornificius were operating. Octavian, caught by surprise, put to sea to escape, but was overtaken and fought all day. Much of his fleet was burned and the rest fled to Italy; Octavian escaped in a small boat, and Cornificius marched overland to join Agrippa at Tyndaris.
Sources Wikipedia (PL)
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The Ancient World · War of Actium (final war of the Roman Republic)
Battle of Actium Fleet battle
2 September 31 BC · Ionian Sea, near the promontory of Actium, Greece
Fought between Octavian against Mark Antony and Ptolemaic Egypt
Commanders Octavian, Marcus Agrippa, Lucius Arruntius, Marcus Lurius (Octavian); Mark Antony, Gaius Sosius, Lucius Gellius, Cleopatra (Antony and Egypt)
Forces 250 to 400 galleys, 16,000 infantry on board and 3,000 archers, against 250 to 500 larger galleys, 30 to 50 transports, 20,000 to 70,000 infantry on board and 2,000 archers
Losses Octavian: about 2,500 killed. Antony and Cleopatra: over 5,000 killed and 250 ships sunk or captured.
Result Victory for Octavian
Agrippa cut Antony's communications with Egypt, trapping his army and fleet at Actium by land and sea, and parts of Antony's army deserted. Antony's fleet sailed out through the straits to break the blockade and was routed by Octavian's smaller, more manoeuvrable ships. Antony escaped with the help of Cleopatra's squadron waiting nearby.
Why it is remembered Octavian went on to defeat Antony at Alexandria in 30 BC, after which Antony and Cleopatra took their own lives. As Augustus he consolidated his power, and historians see the outcome as the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire.
Sources differ Fleet sizes vary in the sources: 250 to 400 galleys for Octavian, 250 to 500 for Antony; the main account gives 400 and 500 ships.
Sources Wikipedia
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The Ancient World · Roman conquest of Raetia and the Alps
Battle of Lake Constance Fleet battle
Also known as Lacus Brigantinus; Seeschlacht auf dem Bodensee
Spring 15 BC · Lake Constance
Fought between Roman Empire against Celtic tribes
Commanders Tiberius (Rome)
Forces 10,000 Roman legionaries
Result Roman victory
A small naval battle on Lake Constance between Roman forces under Tiberius and Celtic tribes, won by Rome.
Sources Wikipedia
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The Ancient World · Wars at the end of the Han dynasty
Battle of Jiangxia Fleet battle
Spring of 208 · Mouth of the Mian River (Miankou), Jiangxia Commandery, present-day eastern Hubei, China
Fought between Sun Quan against Liu Biao
Commanders Zhou Yu, Lü Meng, Ling Tong and Dong Xi (Sun Quan); Huang Zu, Chen Jiu and Zhang Shuo, all killed (Liu Biao)
Forces Sun Quan: 25,000. Huang Zu: over 30,000, with two large mengchong ships anchored across the river
Losses Huang Zu's side: 30,000, with tens of thousands captured; his fleet was destroyed
Result Decisive victory for Sun Quan; Huang Zu was killed
Huang Zu stayed behind the walls of Jiangxia and had his admiral Chen Jiu anchor two large ox-hide covered mengchong ships across the river, while archers and men on a cliff above shot at and stoned approaching vessels. Ling Tong killed the vanguard commander Zhang Shuo in a surprise attack, but Zhou Yu's ships were held up for hours. Ling Tong and Dong Xi then led 100 armoured volunteers who broke the links between the two mengchong, Lü Meng killed Chen Jiu, and Huang Zu's fleet was destroyed. Jiangxia was captured and its population massacred, and Huang Zu was caught and killed as he fled.
Why it is remembered It was the last of a series of engagements between Sun Quan and Liu Biao's general Huang Zu; Huang Zu's head was offered at the temple of Sun Quan's father.
Sources differ One account gives 30,000 losses without clearly assigning them; another account speaks of tens of thousands of captives.
Sources Wikipedia
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The Ancient World · Wars at the end of the Han dynasty
Battle of Red Cliffs Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Chibi (赤壁之戰)
Winter 208 to 209 · Yangtze River, China; the exact site is disputed, most widely placed near Chibi City, Hubei
Fought between Allied forces of Sun Quan, Liu Bei and Liu Qi against Cao Cao
Commanders Zhou Yu, Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Liu Bei, with Lu Su and Gan Ning (allies); Cao Cao
Forces About 50,000 allied marines (30,000 of Sun Quan and 20,000 of Liu Bei) against an army Cao Cao claimed at 800,000 and Zhou Yu estimated at 220,000 to 240,000
Losses Allies: unknown. Cao Cao: heavy, with many men and horses burned or drowned and more lost in the retreat along the Huarong road.
Result Allied victory
Cao Cao's fleet on the Yangtze was chained stem to stern, possibly to ease seasickness among his northern crews. Huang Gai sent a false offer of surrender and then came on with a squadron of mengchong doujian warships turned into fire ships, loaded with kindling, dry reeds and oil. Driven by a south easterly wind, they set Cao Cao's fleet ablaze, and his army retreated through marshland with further heavy losses.
Why it is remembered It stopped Cao Cao from crossing south of the Yangtze and laid the ground for the states of Shu Han and Eastern Wu in the Three Kingdoms period. It is a central episode of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and of John Woo's 2008 film Red Cliff.
Sources differ Cao Cao's strength: 800,000 by his own claim, 220,000 to 240,000 or about 230,000 by Zhou Yu's estimate. Number of fire ships: several tens in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, ten in the Zizhi Tongjian. Date given as winter 208 and as 208 to 209. The site is disputed.
Sources Wikipedia
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The Ancient World · Civil wars of the Tetrarchy
Battle of the Hellespont (324) Fleet battle
July 324 · The Hellespont (Dardanelles), Turkey
Fought between Constantine I against Licinius
Commanders Crispus (Constantine); Abantus or Amandus (Licinius)
Forces 200 Constantinian ships against 350 Licinian ships
Result Constantinian victory
Two separate naval clashes in the Hellespont between a Constantinian fleet under Crispus, eldest son of Constantine I, and a larger fleet under Licinius' admiral. Despite being outnumbered, Crispus won a very complete victory.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Detail of a figural composition designed in 1635 by Pietro da Cortona (Pietro Berrettini), Italian, 1596 to 1669. Woven, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ancient World · Wars between the Western Roman Empire and the Vandals
Battle of Corsica Fleet battle
456 · Corsica
Fought between Western Roman Empire against the Vandals
Commanders Ricimer (Western Roman Empire); unknown (Vandals)
Forces 60 Vandal ships; Roman strength unknown
Losses Unknown on both sides
Result Roman victory
A Vandal fleet of 60 ships sailed from Carthage, threatening Gaul and Italy. Defeated at Agrigentum by Ricimer, commander of the forces in Italy acting for Emperor Avitus, the Vandals sailed on to Corsica, where Ricimer attacked and defeated them again.
Why it is remembered Ricimer returned to Italy as a hero, then turned against Avitus and defeated him at Placentia.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Ancient World · Wars of Majorian (Roman Germanic wars)
Battle of Cartagena (461) Raid
Also known as Battle of Elche
13 May 460 or 461 · Portus Ilicitanus (today Santa Pola), Bay of Alicante, Spain
Fought between Kingdom of the Vandals and Alans against the Western Roman Empire
Forces 300 Roman ships; Vandal strength unknown
Result Victory for the Vandals and Alans
A Vandal force captured the ships of Emperor Majorian at Portus Ilicitanus, the port of Elche, on the coast of the province of Carthaginensis. A contemporary chronicle records that in that year ships were captured by the Vandals at Elche near Cartagena.
Sources differ The year is given as either 460 or 461. Despite the name, the battle was fought at Santa Pola, not at Cartagena.
Sources Wikipedia
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The Ancient World · Vandalic War (461 to 468)
Battle of Cape Bon (468) Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of the Mercury Promontory
468 · Off the Mercury Promontory (Cape Bon), Tunisia
Fought between Vandal and Alan Kingdom against the Western and Eastern Roman Empires
Commanders Gaiseric (Vandals); Basiliscus, Marcellinus, Heraclius of Edessa (Romans)
Forces 1,113 Roman ships and over 50,000 men; Vandal strength unknown
Losses Romans: over 100 ships sunk and about 10,000 soldiers and sailors killed. Vandals: unknown.
Result Vandal and Alan victory
A joint expedition of the Western and Eastern Empires under Basiliscus, one of the largest amphibious operations of antiquity, tried to land near Carthage. Using a favourable wind, the Vandals sent fire ships into the Roman fleet and threw it into disorder, then followed up and sank more than 100 ships. The fleet was left too scattered to land its troops, and the expedition failed.
Why it is remembered It is considered to have ended the Western Roman Empire's chances of survival, since without Africa's resources the West could not keep an army strong enough to beat its enemies.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Fourat, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons