Battle of Lysimachia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Lysimachia |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Antigonid dynasty | Gauls | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Antigonus II Gonatas | Cerethrius | ||||||
The Battle of Lysimachia was a big fight that happened in 277 BC. It was between a Greek army led by Antigonus and Gallic tribes. These Gallic tribes had settled in a place called Thrace. The battle took place near Lysimachia, which was on a narrow piece of land called the Thracian Chersonese. This area is in modern-day Turkey.
Before this battle, the Gauls had been defeated in Greece at the Battle of Thermopylae. After that loss, they moved out of Greece, through Thrace, and eventually into Asia.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
Antigonus's Goal
Antigonus wanted to become the king of Macedon. His father, Demetrius Poliorcetes, had lost the Macedonian throne years earlier. Antigonus saw a chance to take it back.
In 277 BC, Antigonus decided to lead an army to Macedon. He needed to pass through the Hellespont, which is a narrow strait connecting two seas. He landed his ships near Lysimachia, right on the Thracian Chersonese.
The Gauls in Thrace
The area where Antigonus landed was home to Gallic tribes. These tribes had settled there after being pushed out of Greece. They were a strong and wild group.
The Battle Strategy
Setting the Trap
An army of Gauls, led by a commander named Cerethrius, soon appeared. Antigonus knew he needed a clever plan to defeat them. He decided to set a trap.
First, Antigonus made it look like his camp was empty and abandoned. He also pulled his ships onto the beach, making them seem unprotected. Then, he hid his soldiers nearby.
The Ambush
The Gallic warriors saw the seemingly empty camp and rushed in to loot it. They started taking everything they could find. After they finished with the camp, they began to attack the ships on the beach.
This was exactly what Antigonus had planned. As the Gauls were busy with the ships, Antigonus's hidden army suddenly appeared! The Gauls were trapped. They had the sea behind them and Antigonus's army in front.
The Outcome
Antigonus's plan worked perfectly. He was able to defeat the Gallic tribes in a big way. This victory was very important for him. It helped him become the king of Macedon, just as he had hoped.
