Posted on Sep 3, 2019
On This Day In History: Battle Of Naulochus Was Fought Off The Coast Of Sicily – On Sep 3, 36 BC...
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On September 3, 36 BC, at the Battle of Naulochus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, admiral of Octavian, defeated Sextus Pompeius, son of Pompey, thus ending Pompeian resistance to the Second Triumvirate. From the article:
"On This Day In History: Battle Of Naulochus Was Fought Off The Coast Of Sicily – On Sep 3, 36 BC | Ancient Pages
On September 3, 36 BC, the naval Battle of Naulochus was fought between the fleets of Sextus Pompeius and Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, off Naulochus, near Messina, Sicily.
The rebel, Sextus Pompeius was defeated by Agrippa in this sea battle off the coast of Sicily. The three hundred ships of Sextus Pompey’s fleet were lined up along the northeast
coastline of Sicily, facing north.
Behind them, stood the port city of Naulochus. Octavian had three hundred ships under the command of his good friend, Marcus Agrippa.
Naulochus Battle
They were lined up directly across from and facing Sextus’ fleet. A great sea battle was about to begin. Sextus had all but lost the land battle for Sicily, so his only chance for victory was to defeat Marcus Agrippa who had never fought a sea battle.
In front of Naulochus promontory, Agrippa met Sextus' fleet. Both fleets were composed of 300 ships, all with artillery, but Agrippa commanded heavier units, armed with the harpax, a newer version of the corvus. Agrippa used his new weapon to great effect, succeeding in blocking the more maneuverable ships of Sextus and, after a long and bloody fight, in defeating his enemy.
Agrippa lost three ships, while 28 ships of Sextus were sunk, 17 fled, and the others were burnt or captured.
After seven years, Sicily was finally wrested from the control of the resourceful Sextus Pompeius, whose large navy had created many problems for the second triumvirate.
Sextus reached Messina with 7 ships and moved to Mytilene, then from there to the East, where he was defeated in 35 BC by Mark Antony. He fled to Asia Minor but was captured and executed by the Roman general Marcus Titius."
"On This Day In History: Battle Of Naulochus Was Fought Off The Coast Of Sicily – On Sep 3, 36 BC | Ancient Pages
On September 3, 36 BC, the naval Battle of Naulochus was fought between the fleets of Sextus Pompeius and Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, off Naulochus, near Messina, Sicily.
The rebel, Sextus Pompeius was defeated by Agrippa in this sea battle off the coast of Sicily. The three hundred ships of Sextus Pompey’s fleet were lined up along the northeast
coastline of Sicily, facing north.
Behind them, stood the port city of Naulochus. Octavian had three hundred ships under the command of his good friend, Marcus Agrippa.
Naulochus Battle
They were lined up directly across from and facing Sextus’ fleet. A great sea battle was about to begin. Sextus had all but lost the land battle for Sicily, so his only chance for victory was to defeat Marcus Agrippa who had never fought a sea battle.
In front of Naulochus promontory, Agrippa met Sextus' fleet. Both fleets were composed of 300 ships, all with artillery, but Agrippa commanded heavier units, armed with the harpax, a newer version of the corvus. Agrippa used his new weapon to great effect, succeeding in blocking the more maneuverable ships of Sextus and, after a long and bloody fight, in defeating his enemy.
Agrippa lost three ships, while 28 ships of Sextus were sunk, 17 fled, and the others were burnt or captured.
After seven years, Sicily was finally wrested from the control of the resourceful Sextus Pompeius, whose large navy had created many problems for the second triumvirate.
Sextus reached Messina with 7 ships and moved to Mytilene, then from there to the East, where he was defeated in 35 BC by Mark Antony. He fled to Asia Minor but was captured and executed by the Roman general Marcus Titius."
On This Day In History: Battle Of Naulochus Was Fought Off The Coast Of Sicily – On Sep 3, 36 BC...
Posted from ancientpages.com
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Military History
Warfare
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Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
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Rome had a pretty significant Navy as well as an Army. If they hadn't spent so much time fighting each other perhaps the empire would have struggled on for a bit longer.
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Sextus Pompeius was generally considered a fool who had already been defeated and thrown off Sicily by land forces when this battle occurred. The Pompeiian fleet had made quite a nuisance of itself mostly interested in piracy and plunder and Octavian decided he needed to deal with them decisively. This battle was fought as Sextus sought to break the blockade and flee elsewhere. They were somewhat successful, losing 28 of their 300 or so vessels, but only seven remained with Sextus when he arrived in Africa. The others got separated in the battle or their commanders decided to pursue their own ends and defected.
It was the beginning of the end for Mark Antony and his Egyptian allies, as not Octavian's forces had a distinct advantage at sea.
It was the beginning of the end for Mark Antony and his Egyptian allies, as not Octavian's forces had a distinct advantage at sea.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Diving in the Med always had hopes of finding one, never did though! :-)
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