The Battle of Korakesion, also known as the Battle of Coracaesium, was a naval battle fought in 67 BC between the Cilician Pirates and the Roman Republic. It was the culmination of Pompey the Great's campaign against the pirates of the Mediterranean; Plutarch describes it as the key battle of Pompey's clearing of the Mediterranean of pirates after several smaller battles. According to Plutarch the pirates had about a thousand ships (almost certainly an exaggeration) against Pompey's two hundred, but were defeated in the initial naval engagement. Florus also states it was not a hard-fought affair as the pirates soon realised they were out-classed and most of them simply surrendered.[2] After retreating to the shore, the remaining pirates were apparently besieged in the town of Coracaesium, modern day Alanya, before surrendering.[3]
Battle of Korakesion | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of Pompey's campaign against pirates | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Roman Republic | Cilician pirates | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Pompey | Unknown | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
200 ships (Roman claim) | 1,000 ships (Roman claim) | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown | 3,000 pirates surrendered[1] | ||||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ John Leach, Pompey the Great, p.72.
- ^ App. Mith. XIV 95 and 96; Flor. loc. cit.
- ^ Rauh, N. K.; Townsend, R. W.; Hoff, M.; Wandsnider, L. "Pirates in the Bay of Pamphylia: an Archaeological Inquiry". Clark University. Archived from the original on 2010-06-03. Retrieved October 18, 2009.