Battle of Myonessus

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Battle of Myonessus

Part of War against Anthiocus III

Date	190 BC
Location	Myonessus
Result	Roman victory

Belligerents

Roman Republic
Rhodes

Seleucid Empire

Commanders

Lucius Aemilius Regilius
Eudorus

Polyxenidas

Strength

83 ships (25 Rhodians)

90 ships

Casualties and losses

2 ships

13 ships captured,
16 sunk

Roman-Syrian War

Thermopylae – Eurymedon – Myonessus – Magnesia

The naval Battle of Myonessus was fought in 190 BC during the war of Rome against Antiochus III the Great for the domination over Greece, between a Seleucid Empire fleet and a Roman plus Rhodian fleet. The Romans were victorious.

The account of Appian^[1]:

Not long afterward Polyxenidas and the Romans had a naval engagement near Myonessus, in which the former had ninety decked ships, and Regillus, the Roman admiral, eighty-three, of which twenty-five were from Rhodes. The latter were ranged by their commander, Eudorus, on the left wing. Seeing Polyxenidas on the other wing extending his line much beyond that of the Romans, and fearing lest it should be surrounded, he sailed rapidly around there with his swift ships and experienced oarsmen, and brought his fire-ships against Polyxenidas first, scattering flames everywhere. The ships of the latter did not dare to meet their assailants on account of the fire, but, sailing round and round, tried to keep out of the way, shipped much water, and were exposed to ramming behind the bows. Presently a Rhodian ship struck a Sidonian, and the blow being severe the anchor of the latter was dislodged and stuck in the former, fastening them together. The two ships being immovable the contest between the crews became like a land fight. As many others hastened to the aid of each, the competition on both sides became spirited, and the Roman ships broke through the Antiochean line of battle, which was exposed in this way, and surrounded the enemy before they knew it. When they discovered it there was a flight and a pursuit. Twenty-nine of the Antiochean ships were lost, thirteen of which were captured with their crews. The Romans lost only two vessels. Polyxenidas captured the Rhodian ship and brought it to Ephesus.

[edit] References

Livy Ab Urbe Condita, XXXVII,2

[edit] Notes

^ The Syrian Wars, V,27. English translation from: Appian, The Foreign Wars, Horace White ed., New York, The MacMillian Company, 1899, through Perseus digital library