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) | 1000 ships (Roman claim) | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| ? | 3,000 pirates surrendered[1] | ||||||
  Location within Turkey | |||||||
See also edit
References 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.
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