Battle of Messana

Battle of Messana
Part of the First Punic War
Date 265 BC - 264 BC Location Messana (modern Messina) Result Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Republic	Carthage Syracuse
Commanders and leaders
Appius Claudius Caudex Manius Valerius Maximus Corvinus Messalla Manius Otacilius Crassus	Hanno Hiero II
Strength
9,000	Unknown number of Syracusan and Carthaginian cavalry, hoplites and mercenaries
Casualties and losses
Most of cavalry	Unknown

The Battle of Messana in 265-264 BC was the first military clash between the Roman Republic and Carthage. It marked the start of the First Punic War, and a series of wars that lasted for over a century. In that period, and after the recent successes in southern Italy, Sicily became of increasing importance to Rome. Three powers dominated that island. Carthage held the west coast. In the south east was the city of Syracuse, ruled by Heiro II. The Mamertines, mercenaries who had originally been brought to Sicily by Agathocles of Syracuse, ruled in the north east the city of Messana. After the latter's death in 289 BC, they had seized the city, retaining control of it for the next twenty five years.

Background

The conflict that led to war was triggered by Heiro II, who decided to recapture Messana. In the period between 270 and 265 BC, he inflicted a major defeat on the Mamertines, and came close to capturing the city. In response they invited in a Carthaginian garrison, who succeeded in fending off Heiro. The Mamertines had defeated one threat to their power, but realised that they had exposed themselves to an equal threat of Carthaginian domination. A major faction among the Marmertines called on Rome, asking for an alliance. The Greek historian Polybius states in Book One of The Histories: "Even after long consideration, the Senate (Roman) did not approve the proposal to send help to Messana; they took the view that any advantage which would result from relieving the place would be counterbalanced by the inconsistency of such an action. However, the people who had suffered grievously from the wars that had just ended and were in dire need of rehabilitation of every kind, were inclined to listen to the consuls. These men, besides stressing the national advantages I have already mentioned which Rome could secure if she intervened, also dwelt on the great gains which would clearly accrue to every individual citizen from the spoils of war, and so a resolution for sending help was carried. When his decree had been passed by the people, one of the consuls, Appius Claudius, was appointed to command an expedition, and was given orders to cross to Messana." After this, the Mamertines forced the Punic garrison out of Messana and invited the Roman force into the city. The Carthaginians crucified the garrison commander, Hanno (not the son of Hannibal), on his return to Carthage for what was regarded as his cowardice and lack of judgement in leaving Messana.

Battle of Messana

Both Rome and Carthage sent major armies to Sicily. The Punic army arrived first, landing at Lilybaeum, in the west of Sicily. From there it marched along the south coast, making an alliance with Agrigentum and Hiero II of Syracuse. They then marched north and laid siege to Messana. At the head of a standard Consular army of two legions, Appius Claudius arrived opposite Messana. Although Rome did not yet possess a fleet of its own, several of its allies did. Using their ships, Claudius was able to ferry his army across the Strait of Messana and into the city. The Carthaginians did not oppose this move, thus suggesting that Carthage was still hoping to avoid open war with Rome. A short period of negotiations followed, with Claudius appearing to have concentrated on persuading Heiro to withdraw, but without much enthusiasm and trust between the two sides.

The Punic army camped outside Messana, allowing Claudius to defeat them in turn. After the negotiations were over, Claudius decided to attack Heiro first. The Roman cavalry was defeated, but their heavy infantry prevailed. Syracusan cavalry, on the other hand, had been famous since the 5th century, but probably neither their hoplite infantry nor their mercenaries were a match for the legionaries, unless exceptionally well led. The attack itself was not a great success, and the Legions were not able to break into the Syracusan camp. However their attack discouraged Hiero, and he withdrew back to Syracuse. Claudius then turned against the Punic camp, which once again resulted in an inconclusive fight. It became clear to Hanno that without Heiro he was no longer strong enough to besiege Messana, and thus he withdrew from the city and ended the siege.

Aftermath

Claudius was unable to accomplish a victory, however he did march south, capturing the Carthaginian fort at Echetla, west of Syracuse, and briefly threatening Syracuse itself. This was due to the small army he possessed, who was not large enough to storm that city, and the absence of a fleet in order to impose a siege. With the end of his term of office as Consul, Appius Claudius withdrew from Sicily, leaving a strong garrison in Messana. His expedition to Sicily was a partial success. Rome’s new allies at Messana had been saved from Punic domination, but he had failed in imposing peace. The result of the battle was a war that lasted for over 20 years.

See also

• Mamertines
• Syracuse, Sicily
• First Punic War

External links

• The General History of Polybius By Polybius, James Hampton.