A Roman fleet was destroyed by storms off Sicily after ignoring weather warnings, ending Rome's major naval presence for nearly a decade.
Key Facts
- Date
- 249 BC
- War
- First Punic War
- Roman ships lost
- All but two
- Carthaginian commander
- Carthalo
- Roman commander
- Lucius Junius Pullus
- Roman naval inactivity
- No major effort until 242 BC
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the First Punic War, the Carthaginian fleet under Carthalo intercepted the Roman fleet under Lucius Junius Pullus near Phintias off southern Sicily. Carthalo's pilots warned of approaching storms, prompting the Carthaginian fleet to withdraw eastward to safety, while the Roman commanders took no such precautions.
The Roman fleet, left exposed near Phintias without shelter or precaution against the coming storms, was destroyed by the weather. Only two Roman ships survived the disaster. The Carthaginians, having avoided the storms, emerged from the engagement with their fleet intact and dominant in the western Mediterranean.
Following the battle, the Carthaginian fleet exploited Roman naval weakness by raiding the coasts of Roman Italy until 243 BC. Rome did not attempt another major naval operation until 242 BC, effectively ceding control of the seas to Carthage for nearly a decade after the engagement.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Carthalo.
Side B
1 belligerent
Lucius Junius Pullus.