First Punic War > Battles > Battle of Mylae

Battle of Mylae

Background

First Punic War: The conflict between Rome and Carthage was primarily fought over control of Sicily, with both powers seeking to expand their influence in the region. Both Rome and Carthage had formidable navies, but the Carthaginians were generally considered superior in naval tactics and experience. Recognizing the importance of naval power, Rome had been rapidly expanding its fleet, often imitating captured Carthaginian ships and developing innovative tactics. The Roman consul Gaius Duilius sought to challenge Carthaginian naval dominance and secure control of the seas around Sicily. The Battle of Mylae took place in 260 BC off the coast of Mylae (modern-day Milazzo) in northeastern Sicily.

Consul Gaius Duilius commanded the Roman fleet, which consisted of around 120 warships, including newly developed quinqueremes equipped with the corvus, a boarding bridge. The Carthaginian fleet, commanded by Admiral Hannibal Gisco, comprised a similar number of ships, primarily triremes and quinqueremes. The Romans employed their newly developed corvus, a boarding bridge with a spiked end that could be dropped onto enemy ships, allowing Roman marines to board and capture Carthaginian vessels. This tactic neutralized the Carthaginians' superior seamanship and gave the Romans a decisive advantage in close combat.

Despite initial Carthaginian success in maneuvering their fleet, the deployment of the corvus proved decisive. The Romans successfully boarded and captured numerous Carthaginian ships, inflicting heavy losses on the Carthaginian fleet. The battle ended in a resounding victory for Rome, marking a significant turning point in the naval balance of power in the Mediterranean.

Aftermath:

The Roman victory at Mylae shattered Carthaginian naval supremacy in the western Mediterranean and established Rome as a formidable naval power. Rome gained control of the seas around Sicily, facilitating its land campaigns on the island and securing vital supply routes. Consul Gaius Duilius was celebrated as a hero in Rome for his victory at Mylae. He was awarded a triumph and the naval crown, a prestigious honor for Roman commanders.

The Battle of Mylae demonstrated the effectiveness of the corvus as a game-changing naval weapon, prompting further development of Roman naval tactics and technology. The victory at Mylae paved the way for Rome's dominance of the Mediterranean and its eventual conquest of Sicily, marking a significant step in the rise of the Roman Republic as a maritime power.

References

In T. S. Eliot's poem The Waste Land, Part I, "The Burial of the Dead" ends with the following passage:

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Bibliography