Battle of the Crimissus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battle of the Crimissus
Part of The Sicilian Wars
Date 340 BCE
Location the river Crimissus
Result Carthage is pushed to the south-west corner of Sicily
Belligerents
Syracuse Carthage
Commanders
Timoleon Asdrubal
Hamilcar
Strength
6,000 or 12,000 70,000
 
Sicilian Wars
1st Himera  – Battle of Selinus  – 2nd Himera  – 1st Akragas  – Battle of Gela (405 BC)  – Siege of Motya (398 BC)  – Battle of Messana (397 BC)  – Battle of Catana (397 BC)  – 1st Syracuse  – Battle of Cabala  – Battle of Cronium  – Siege of Lilybaeum (368 BC)  – 2nd Syracuse  – Crimissus  – Battle of Abolus (338 BC)  – 3rd Himera  – 3rd Syracuse  – 1st Tunes  – 2nd Tunes

In 340 BCE, Carthage sent a large army under Asdrubal and Hamilcar against Syracuse. According to Plutarch, the force numbered 70,000 and included many four horsed war chariots and Timoleon commanded only 5000 foot and a 1000 cavalry against them. Others put his forces somewhat larger at 12,000. Timoleon was able to catch the Carthaginians as they were crossing the river Crimissus, first sending his cavalry against them to disorder them and to prevent the Carthaginians forming a proper line. When the Greek infantry attacked a storm broke out and as the wind was blowing into the faces of the Carthaginians it became even more difficult for them to fight. The crack Carthaginian citizen Sacred Band fought bravely and, according to accounts, to the last man.

The Carthaginians were defeated and Timolean captured their baggage camp.

[edit] References

This article on military history is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.