256 BC · Off Cape Ecnomus, southern Sicily Theater
256 BC
The Battle of Cape Ecnomus may have been the largest naval battle in ancient history by number of combatants — perhaps 700 ships and 290,000 men engaged. Rome launched an invasion of Africa to strike at Carthage itself; Carthage committed its entire fleet to stop the crossing. The Carthaginians attempted to split the Roman formation, but Roman boarding tactics again proved decisive. Carthage lost some 94 ships sunk or captured; Rome lost only 24. The way to Africa was open.
Commanders