The battle of the Aegates Islands or Aegusa (offshore western coast of Sicily, 10 March 241 BC) was the final naval battle between the fleets of Carthage and the Roman Republic, during the First Punic War. The result was a decisive Roman victory which put an end to the conflict.

Prelude

The years preceding the battle of the Aegates Islands were of relative quiet development of the First Punic War. Rome lacked a fleet - the one it had at the beginning of the war had been destroyed in the Battle of Drepana and in the storm that followed - however Carthage made little use of this advantage. The war was stalled, concentrated in small scale land operations in Sicily. Nevertheless, Carthage's general Hamilcar Barca was slowly building an advantage on the island and probably due to this, in 242 BC Rome decided to build another fleet and regain naval supremacy.

Despite this resolution after a 20 year war, the finances of the Republic were in a calamitous state with the treasury empty. A popular movement was then formed to counter this difficulty in a very Roman way: wealthy citizens, either alone or in groups, decided to show their patriotism and finance the construction of one ship. The result was a fleet of about 200 quinqueremes, built, equipped and crewed without public expense.

The new fleet was ready in 241 BC and was trusted to consul Gaius Lutatius Catulus, assisted by the praetor Quintus Valerius Falto. All the reversals of fortune suffered in the past served as acquired experience. The ships were now more resistant to adverse weather conditions, for the corvus had been abandoned. Catulus and Falto also endeavoured to drill the crews in manoeuvres and exercises before leaving secure waters and the result was a fleet at the peak of condition.

Meanwhile, in Carthage, the news of the enemy activity were not allowed to be left without response. A new Carthaginian fleet was also built, numbering about 250 warships, probably undermanned, and launched to the Mediterranean under the command of Hanno (the general defeated at Agrigentum and Ecnomus).

Aegates Islands

Catulus' first move was to besiege Lilybaeum once more, by blocking its harbour and the connection to Carthage. The purpose was to cut Hamilcar Barca's supplies and communication lines. The Carthaginian fleet arrived for relief soon afterwards. Hanno called a halt near the Aegates Islands to wait for a favourable breeze that would speed him to Lilybaeum. However, the fleet was spotted by Roman scouts and Catulus abandoned the blockade to meet his enemies.

In the morning of March 10, the wind blew to favour the Carthaginians and Hanno immediately made sail. Catulus then measured the risk of attacking with the wind in his prow versus the risk of letting Hanno reach Sicily and relieve Hamilcar Barca and Lilybaeum. Despite the unfavourable conditions, the consul decided to intercept the Carthaginians and ordered battle formation. Perhaps due to the carried provisions and their extra weight, or to the inexperience of hurriedly levied crews, Hanno did not take advantage of the favourable wind and lost the battle that followed. More than half of the Carthaginian fleet was captured or sunk, the rest escaped when the wind changed.

End of the First Punic War

After the victory, Catulus renewed the siege and conquered Lilybaeum, isolating Barca and his army on Sicily, who were scattered among the few strongholds that Carthage still held. Without the resources to build another fleet or to reinforce the land troops, Carthage admitted defeat and signed a peace treaty with Rome, putting an end to the First Punic War.

References

• The Fall of Carthage, by Adrian Goldsworthy, Cassel