Battle of Korakesion

Battle of Korakesion
	Part of Pompey's campaign against pirates
	; Skyline of modern Korakesion (Alanya)
Date	67 BC
Location	Korakesion, Roman Republic36°31′48″N 32°00′36″E / 36.53000°N 32.01000°E
Result	Decisive Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Republic	Cilician pirates
Commanders and leaders
Pompey	Unknown
Strength
200 ships (Roman claim)	1000 ships (Roman claim)
Casualties and losses
?	20,000 pirates surrendered
	Location within Turkey

The Battle of Korakesion, also known as the Battle of Coracaesium, was a naval battle fought in 67 BC between the Cilician Pirates and the Roman Republic. It was the culmination of Pompey the Great's campaign against the pirates of the Mediterranean; Plutarch describes it as the key battle of Pompey's clearing of the Mediterranean of pirates after several smaller battles. According to Plutarch the pirates had about a thousand ships (almost certainly an exaggeration) against Pompey's two hundred, but were defeated in the initial naval engagement. Florus also states it was not a hard-fought affair as the pirates soon realised they were out-classed and most of them simply surrendered.^[2] After retreating to the shore, the remaining pirates were apparently besieged in the town of Coracaesium, modern day Alanya, before surrendering.^[3]

References

^ John Leach, Pompey the Great, p.72.
^ App. Mith. XIV 95 and 96; Flor. loc. cit.
^ Rauh, N. K.; Townsend, R. W.; Hoff, M.; Wandsnider, L. "Pirates in the Bay of Pamphylia: an Archaeological Inquiry". Clark University. Archived from the original on 2010-09-26. Retrieved October 18, 2009.

[1] John Leach, Pompey the Great, p.72.

[2] App. Mith. XIV 95 and 96; Flor. loc. cit.

[3] Rauh, N. K.; Townsend, R. W.; Hoff, M.; Wandsnider, L. "Pirates in the Bay of Pamphylia: an Archaeological Inquiry". Clark University. Archived from the original on 2010-09-26. Retrieved October 18, 2009.

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