Final naval battle between Carthage and the Roman Republic in the First Punic War, resulting in a decisive Roman victory
The Battle of the Aegates ended the First Punic War, making Rome the dominant military power in the western Mediterranean.
Key Facts
- Date
- 10 March 241 BC
- War duration
- 23 years (First Punic War)
- Roman commander
- Gaius Lutatius Catulus / Quintus Valerius Falto
- Carthaginian commander
- Hanno
- Treaty result
- Treaty of Lutatius; Carthage surrendered Sicily
- Roman financing
- Fleet built with borrowed money near bankruptcy
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
After years of Roman land blockade of Carthaginian strongholds on western Sicily, Rome borrowed funds to construct a new fleet and extend the blockade to sea. Carthage assembled a larger fleet loaded with supplies, intending to relieve its besieged forces and embark its army as marines before engaging the enemy.
On 10 March 241 BC, the Roman fleet intercepted the Carthaginian fleet among the Aegates Islands off western Sicily. Despite being outnumbered, the better-trained Roman sailors defeated the undermanned, supply-laden Carthaginian fleet, whose full marine complement had not yet been embarked, securing a decisive Roman naval victory.
Carthage, unable to continue the war, sued for peace and agreed to the Treaty of Lutatius, surrendering Sicily to Rome and paying substantial reparations. Rome emerged as the preeminent military power in the western Mediterranean and began its rise to dominance across the broader Mediterranean region.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Gaius Lutatius Catulus, Quintus Valerius Falto.
Side B
1 belligerent
Hanno.