Battle of Agrigentum

Agrigento - Mylae - Aeolian Islands - Sulci - Tyndaris - Cape Ecnomus - Aspis - Ady - Tunes - Cape Bon - Panormus - Drepana I - Drepana II - Ägatische Islands

The Battle of Agrigento ( Sicily, 261 BC) was the first major military confrontation between Carthage and the Roman Republic. The battle took place after a long siege that had begun 262 BC, instead, resulted in a Roman victory and the beginning of Roman control of Sicily.

Prehistory

288 BC occupied a group of Italian mercenaries ( the Mamertines ) the city of Messana in the north- eastern Sicily. They killed all the men and took the women to himself. From here, they plundered the country and were even for the independence of the city of Syracuse to the problem. When Hiero II BC came to power in Syracuse in 265, he embarked on effective measures against the Mamertines and besieged Messana. The Mamertines then turned to two states for help: Rome and Carthage.

Eager to master the fertile Sicily, sent two armies on the island. For the Romans, who still had no fleet at that time, it was the first campaign outside the Italian peninsula. The problem Messana was soon forgotten, the presence of Rome and Carthage now became the central issue, and Syracuse was caught in the middle. In the following years there were some minor skirmishes between the armies, the opponents tested the terrain and exerted to move on the hilly terrain.

Siege of Agrigentum

262 BC the Romans sent - in response to Carthaginian armament efforts - a full army under the command of the consuls Lucius Postumius Megellus and Quintus Mamilius Vitulus to Sicily, consisting of four legions and allied alae with a total of 40,000 men. Was supported by Syracuse, now officially an ally of Rome, the army marched in June to Agrigento on the southwestern coast, which was considered as a base camp for the expected Carthaginian army, but currently only occupied by a local garrison under Hannibal Gisco.

Gisco barricaded his garrison, the population of Agrigento and the whole food, which he could collect in the area, outside the city walls. The city was prepared for a long siege, and all he could do was to wait for the Carthaginian relief. At this time all Siege techniques were alien to the Romans, it was their only means of blockade available. The army camped outside the city walls, was prepared to wait and starve the city, with its own supply was not a problem due to the help from Syracuse.

A few months later Gisco felt the effect of the blockade and called for help from Carthage. The gain landed at the beginning of winter 262/261 BC in Heraclea Minoa, and consisted of 50,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, and 60 war elephants under the command of Hanno. The Carthaginians marched southward and settled after some minor cavalry skirmishes, which were obtained by Hanno, near the Roman camp down. Hanno brought his troops immediately in lineup, but the Romans refused the invitation. Instead, they fortified their positions and were now, as they continued their siege itself besieged.

Battle of Agrigentum

But now that the Romans were cut off from supplies from Syracuse, the risk of hunger ceased. Now offered the consuls the battle, but now it was Hanno, to refuse, presumably to beat with the intention of the Romans by hunger. The situation within the city, after six months of siege was close to despair. Hannibal Gisco, communicated with the Hanno using smoke signals, sent urgent appeals for help and Hanno was forced to accept the confrontation. The details of the struggle are now following, as usual, vary from source to source.

Obviously put Hanno the Carthaginian infantry in two rows on, with the elephants and the gain in the second line, the cavalry probably on the wings. The Roman plan of action is unknown, but it is likely that they placed themselves in the typical triplex acies formation. All sources agree that the fight lasted a long time until the Romans finally managed to break through the Carthaginian front. Panic broke out in the back row, the Reserve fled from the battlefield. It is possible that the elephants were infected, and their escape disorganized the Carthaginian ranks completely, so that the Romans were victorious. Your cavalry to attack the Carthaginian camp and capture several elephants succeeded.

However, the outcome of the battle was not a complete victory. Most of the opposing army was able to escape, and Hannibal Gisco succeeded, with his garrison to leave the city, to break through the Roman lines and get to safety.

Effect

After the battle, the Romans occupied Agrigento and sold the entire population into slavery. The two consuls were - probably due Giskos escape - not honored on their return with a triumphal procession.

After 261 BC, Rome controlled most of Sicily and secured the grain harvest for their own consumption. Moreover, brought this first major campaign outside of the peninsula the Romans self-confidence to continue to represent their interests overseas.