Battle of Korakesion
Battle of Korakesion | |||||||
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Part of Pompey's campaign against pirates | |||||||
Skyline of modern Korakesion (Alanya) | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Roman Republic | Cilician pirates | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Pompey | Unknown | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
200 ships (Roman claim) | 1000 ships (Roman claim) | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
? | 20,000 pirates surrendered[1] | ||||||
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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]
References[]
- ^ 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 2010-09-26. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
- 60s BC conflicts
- 67 BC
- History of Alanya
- Naval battles of the Roman Republic
- Naval battles involving pirates
- Piracy in the Mediterranean
- Cilicia (Roman province)
- Ancient Roman battle stubs