Battle with the Ägati islands
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| Battle with the Ägati islands | |||||||||||||||||
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| conflict | first Puni war | ||||||||||||||||
| date | 10. March 241 v. Chr. | ||||||||||||||||
| Place | before the west coast Siziliens | ||||||||||||||||
| result | victory of Rome, end of the first Puni war | ||||||||||||||||
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the battle with the Ägati islands or the AEG USA before the west coast Siziliens to 10. March 241 v. Chr. the last sea-battle between the fleets was Karthagos and the Roman republic in the first Puni war. The result of the battle was a crucial Roman victory, which set also an end for the war.
Table of contents |
prehistory
the years before the battle with the Ägati islands had relatively calmly run. Rome was missing the fleet - which, which had it at the beginning of the war, was in the battle of Drepana and the following storm destroyed - and Karthago made little use from this advantage. The war concentrated on small land operations in Sicilies, from which for Hamilkar Barkas slowly a superiority on the island resulted. This was supposed the reason that itself Rome in the year 242 v. Chr. decided to build a new fleet in order to back-conquer the naval supremacy.
After 20 years war finances of the republic were however in a wrecked condition, the public treasury empty. Around the resolution to convert nevertheless, a typical Roman solution for the financing problem was found: if citizen, alone or in groups, is enough showed their Patriotismus, by paying the building of a ship. The result was a fleet built by over 200 Quinqueremen, equipped and manned without public expenditures.
The new fleet was 241 v. Chr. ready for launch. It was entrusted to consul Gaius Lutatius Catulus, which was supported by the Praetor Quintus Valerius Falto. Also one had learned from the strokes of fate of the past: the ships were now more resistant against adverse climatic conditions, particularly since one had done without the installation of the Corvus. Also Catulus and Falto were endeavored to learn with the Mannschaftenen the maneuvers before safe waters became to leave. The result was a fleet in the optimum condition.
In Karthago the messages could not remain over the activities of the opponent without answer. A new fleet was built also here, consisting of approximately 250 ships, completely overloaded (Karthago had no more cargo boats and had therefore also warships for these purposes to use) as well as with a totally inexperienced crew, and under the command Hannos , the general, who had already lost the battle of Agrigent and the battle at the cape Ecnomus , occupies to water calmly.
Ägati islands
Catulus' first activity was the renewed FE storage of Lilybaeum by a blockade of the port and caps of the connection after Karthago, whereby Hamilkar Barkas should be cut off to all information of all supply lines and. The karthagische fleet achieved short time later the environment. Hanno let stop make in the proximity of the Ägati islands (today Ägadi islands or Isole Egadi), in order to wait for a favourable wind, which should bring it fast after Lilybaeum. The fleet was discovered however by Roman scouts, whereupon Catulus gave the blockade up, in order to place itself to the enemy.
In the morning 10. March blew the wind in the direction wished by Hanno and it gave the instruction loose sails. Catulus had to weigh now the risk of an attack against the wind against the risk to leave Hanno to Sicilies and to release Hamilkar Barkas and Lilybaeum. Despite these disadvantageous conditions the consul decided to intercept the Karthager and instructed battle list. Whether due to the carried food supply and its additional weight, or due to the inexperience of the fast dug crew is not clearly, anyhow could to Hanno from the favorable wind no advantage draw and lost the following battle. More than half of the karthagischen fleet was captured or sank, the remainder fled, when the wind turned.
end of the first Puni war
after the victory took the FE storage of Lilybaeum to Catulus, isolated again Hamilkar Barkas and its army on Sicily, which besides on the few fortresses, which Karthago still held, was distributed. Without building or the land troops strengthen the means, a new fleet, Karthago the fight gave up and signed peace treaty with Rome, which set an end for the first Puni war, and Sicilies first, Sardinien and Korsika the second Roman province made three years later.
literature
- Adrian Goldsworthy: The case OF Carthage. Cassel
