Battle of Naulochus facts for kids

The Battle of Naulochus was a major naval battle. It took place on September 3, 36 BC, near Naulochus, a place in Sicily. The fight was between the fleets of Sextus Pompey and Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. Agrippa was a skilled admiral working for Octavian. Agrippa's victory was very important. It marked the end of Sextus Pompey's challenge to the Second Triumvirate.

Why Did the Battle Happen?

Sextus Pompey's Challenge

After Octavian and Mark Antony became closer friends, they faced a problem. This problem was Sextus Pompey, who was the son of the famous general Pompey. Sextus Pompey had taken control of Sicily. Sicily was very important because it supplied much of Rome's grain.

Rome's Food Supply

Sextus Pompey used his control of Sicily to stop grain from reaching Rome. This caused a famine in the city. In 39 BC, Octavian and Antony tried to make peace with him. They agreed to let him govern Sicily, Sardinia, and the Peloponnese for five years. This agreement was called the Treaty of Misenum.

The Alliance Fails

However, this peace did not last long. Sextus Pompey soon cut off Rome's grain supply again. Octavian tried to invade Sicily in 38 BC. But bad weather forced his ships to turn back.

Building a New Fleet

Octavian's admiral, Agrippa, came up with a clever plan. He dug a channel to connect Lake Lucrinus to the sea. This turned the lake into a safe harbor. Agrippa also dug another channel to connect Lake Lucrinus to Lake Avernus. This created a hidden port complex.

Portus Julius: A Secret Training Ground

Agrippa named this new harbor Portus Julius. It was named after Octavian's great-uncle, Julius Caesar. This new port was used to build and prepare ships. It was also a secret place to train sailors for naval battles.

Bigger Ships and More Sailors

A new fleet of ships was built. These ships were much larger. They could carry many more soldiers for naval fights. About 20,000 oarsmen were gathered for these ships. Many of them were slaves who were freed to join the fleet.

Help from Antony and Lepidus

Mark Antony also helped Octavian. He sent 120 ships under the command of Titus Statilius Taurus. In return, Octavian was supposed to give Antony 20,000 foot soldiers. Antony kept his promise, but Octavian did not.

In July 36 BC, Octavian's and Antony's fleets sailed from Italy. Another fleet, sent by Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, sailed from Africa. All these fleets planned to attack Sextus Pompey in Sicily.

Earlier Battles

In August, Agrippa won a naval battle against Sextus near Mylae (modern Milazzo). But in the same month, Octavian was defeated near Taormina. He was also seriously wounded in that battle.

The Main Battle at Naulochus

Fleets Meet

Finally, Agrippa's fleet met Sextus Pompey's fleet near the Naulochus promontory. Both fleets had 300 ships. All the ships had artillery, which were like ancient cannons.

Agrippa's New Weapon

Agrippa's ships were heavier. They also had a new weapon called the harpax. This was an improved version of an older weapon called the corvus. Agrippa himself invented the harpax.

A Fierce Fight

Agrippa used his new weapon very well. The harpax helped him grab and hold Sextus's ships. This made it harder for Sextus's ships to move quickly. After a long and bloody fight, Agrippa defeated his enemy.

Who Won?

Agrippa lost only three ships. But Sextus Pompey lost many more. Twenty-eight of his ships were sunk. Seventeen ships managed to escape. All the other ships were either burned or captured.

What Happened Next?

Sextus Pompey's Escape

After seven years, Sicily was finally taken from Sextus Pompey. His large navy had caused many problems for the Second Triumvirate. Sextus escaped to Messina with seven ships. From there, he went to Mytilene, and then further east. He was defeated by Antony in 35 BC.

Octavian's Rise to Power

Octavian and Lepidus defeated the last of Sextus Pompey's forces in Sicily. Later, Octavian cleverly managed to take away Lepidus's political and military power. This made Octavian the sole ruler of the western part of the Roman world.