Ancient Roman battles and battleships

Ancient Romans took place in many battles, some took place on land and others by sea.

They won many battles and defeated many armies because of their well-organized attacks and

their advanced weaponry. The Romans had very precise attacks that the opposing armies and

navies were not ready for. Ancient Rome was so big because the army and the navy conquered

many lands.

Long before the invention of cannons and other modern weaponry, ancient navies often

clashed in spectacular sea battles involving hundreds of vessels and thousands of sailors. These

engagements typically devolved into hand-to-hand combat on the decks of ships, but they also

included highly sophisticated tactics that ranged from using wooden boarding ramps and

grappling hooks to marine archers and even giant bronze rams.

Ancient naval vessels were made of wood, water-proofed using pitch and paint, and

propelled by both sail and oars. Ships with multiple levels of rowers, such as the Trireme were

fast and maneuverable enough to attack enemy vessels by ramming. The largest ships were the

quinqueremes, with three banks of rowers, two each for the upper two oars and one rower on the

lower oar (around 300 in total). Ships could also be fitted with a platform via which marines

could easily board enemy vessels - a device known as the corvus (raven). Built for speed, most

warships were lightweight, cramped, and without room for storage or even a large body of

troops. Such logistical purposes were better achieved using troop carrier vessels and supply

ships under sail. (2)

Aside from the bronze covered battering ram below the water-line on the ship's prow,

other weapons included artillery ballista which could be mounted on ships to provide lethal
salvoes on enemy land positions from an unexpected and less protected flank or also against

other vessels. Fire balls could also be launched at the enemy vessel to destroy it by fire rather

than ramming.

In 31 BCE, near Actium on the western coast of Greece, occurred one of the most

significant naval battles in history. Still battling for control of the Roman Empire, Octavian now

faced Mark Antony and his ally, Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra. Both sides were ready to attack the

other. Mark Antony led a fleet of 500 warships and 300 merchant ships against Octavian's

similar-sized force, although Antony had larger and less maneuverable kinds of vessels.

Agrippa, still in command, launched his attack early and caught Antony by surprise. The

northern outposts of Antony's forces were the target, a move which created a diversion while

Octavian landed his army. In any case, Antony refused to be drawn from his fortified harbor in

the Gulf of Ambricia. Blockade was Agrippa's only option. Perhaps, Antony was stalling for

more time, waiting for his legions to assemble from around Greece. Octavian, though, would not

be drawn into a land battle and dug-in his fleet behind a defensive mole 8 km to the north. As

disease ravaged his troops and his supply lines became increasingly threatened by Agrippa,

Antony had little choice but to try and break out on the 2nd of September. Not helped by a

defector giving Octavian his plans and several generals switching sides, Antony could only

muster 230 ships against Agrippa's 400. This victory at the battle of Actium made the Roman

Empire even stronger and a force to be reckoned with. Leaving Rome to stand alone. (1)

Rome was not only good at sea, but they were also good on land. The reason the Roman

empire was so big, was because the fact that the Roman military was so powerful. The Romans

conquered many lands and defeated any powerful armies. The Ancient Romans fought many
battles and wars to expand and protect their empire. There were also civil wars where Romans

fought Romans to gain power. (5)

The Punic Wars were fought between Rome and Carthage from 264 BC to 146 BC.

Carthage was a large City located on the coast of North Africa. This sounds like a long way

away at first, but Carthage was just a short sea voyage from Rome across the Mediterranean Sea.

Both cities were major powers at the time and both were expanding their empires. As the

empires grew, they began to clash and soon war had begun. There were three major parts of the

Punic wars and they were fought over the course of more than 100 years, The first Punic War,

The second Punic War, and the third Punic War. The outcome for all three wars was the same,

the Romans defeated their opponent. (3)

Another battle that the Romans fought in was The Battle of Cynoscephalae. In this battle

the Roman Legion under Titus Flaminius soundly defeated the Macedonian Army led by Philip

V. This battle was important because the successors of Greek leader Alexander the Great had

now been defeated. Rome had become the dominant world power. The victory at

Cynoscephalae was the triumph of the Roman legionary system over the Greek phalanx. This

can be clearly seen in the fact that the Roman right stood little chance against Philip's heavy

infantry as it advanced, but in the end the Romans triumphed over the Greek forces. (4)

As noted above, the Roman military and the Roman navy had great success in the ancient

times. They won many battles, including the Punic Wars, the Battle of Actium, the battle of

Cynoscephalae, and many more. The Romans were a powerful empire during ancient times and

there were very few empires that could oppose them or defeat them.
Works Cited:

1. https://www.ancient.eu/Roman_Naval_Warfare/
2. http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/6-ancient-naval-battles
3. http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_roman_wars_battles.php
4. http://www.roman-empire.net/diverse/battles.html