Cape Ecnomus

256 BC
Strategic Context
The First Punic War begins in 264 BC as Carthaginian and Roman armies become involved in a war
in Sicily after Mamertines of Messana appeals to both Carthage and Rome for assistance against

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Hiero II of Syracuse. The Romans largely expel the Carthaginians from Sicily by defeating them at
the Siege of Agrigentum in 262 BC. Surprisingly, the inexperienced Roman navy then defeats
Carthage at the Battle of Mylae in 260 BC, allowing Rome to invade Corsica and Sardinia, islands
north of Sicily. In 256 BC, a Roman fleet under Marcus Atilius Regulus and Lucius Manlius Vulso
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Longus sails from Sicily to invade North Africa but it is intercepted by a Carthaginian fleet under
Hamilcar.

Stakes
+ A Roman victory would permit an
invasion of North Africa, threatening No Image
Carthage itself.
No Image + A Carthaginian victory would re- Available
Available establish its dominance of the
Mediterranean Sea, threatening Roman
holdings in Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily.

By Jonathan Webb, 2012

 Cape Ecnomus, 256 BC
Strength

 Romans  Carthaginians

 Marcus Atilius Regulus  Hamilcar

 Lucius Manlius Vulso Longus

 230 quinqueremes  200

quinqueremes
 Well  Well

By Jonathan Webb, 2012

Western Mediterranean c. 264 BC
The battlefield consists of the open waters off the coast of Sicily. Ecnomus itself is actually off-map, to the east along the
coast of Sicily.

Sicily Romans
N
(Regulus/Manlius)

Mediterranean Sea

Carthaginians
(Hamilcar)
The
UponRomans
Hamilcar
The deploy
Carthaginian
sighting
ordersthein
thefour
centersquadrons
Carthaginian
Carthaginian
isbreaks in acenter
performing compact mass with a leading wedge formation. Two squadrons comprise the leading wedge, Regulus farcommanding theonleft,their
Manlius the right. A third
The
Hit Carthaginian
in
squadron rear
tows theby center
Regulus,
transports thefleet,
just behind
and
the
thepoorly
to
Roman
flees
Carthaginianturnagainst
and
consuls
against
wedge, followed by
engage
thedo
Roman
right Roman
wing
the veteran
exactly
the pursuing
corvus,
grappling
under
triarii
as Hamilcar
and
squadron
Roman
anboarding
Hanno ingenious
wants:
squadrons
breaks
further to
hastily
boarding
tactics.
and
the rear. The
asManlius’
surge
the device,
Carthaginian
flees.
Roman
ahead but
to is
engage.
squadron
Regulus
consuls
so
wings Hamilcar
secures
then
plan to smash
holding
bear down
the
leads
through
its
turns
many
anyhis
position.
enemy
the ships
captured
squadron intended
Meanwhile,
at
tohis
ships
fleet and push
targets,
onhit
center
whilethe
the
to North
around
albeit
Roman
Regulus further
to
right
leadwing
tothe
the
turnsdeploys Roman
skilfully
aroundrear than
to into
backs
anticipated.
the itself
trap as
against
The
his wings
third
the Roman
shore
sail past
line,
squadron
the
protecting
Roman releases
leading
its flanks
the wedge
transports
and rear
formation.
in
from
tow the
and
However,
more
maneuvers
agile
the Carthaginian
Roman
to hit the
squadron
Carthaginian
ships towing
and deterring
left
the wing’s
transports
themleft with
flank.
is not
a
Carthaginian
Africa. Hamilcar left wing
his fleethit the
inin
three Carthaginian
rear. Having
groups; rightthewing
secured
he commands centerinwhile
the rear
prizes, and Manlius
pushing save the hard-pressed
two columns joins Regulus
to his left triarii
and right squadron.
inthe
out surrounding
beyond Meanwhile,
the Roman the
line. the places
Carthaginian
Hamilcar battlethenear left
right the shore
wing,
wing under
able
The
frontage
transports
to keep
of corvi;
up head
withthis
back
the
creates
Roman
to basea stalemate
consuls’
although squadrons,
some
on this
get sector.
tied
also upslowing
The
withRoman
thethetriarii
triarii
triarii
squadron;
squadron
squadron this
down
ondisorders
thebehind
left part
finally
it; of
the disentangles
result
triarii
is asquadron
significant
itself from
while
gap the
the
between
transports
other part
the but
leading
engages
is being
and
the
remains
Hanno and agives
stalemate with most
him the fastest, the Carthaginian ships
agile ships. Hamilcar unwilling
plans to fully
to lure the Roman fleetengage the the
in to engage Roman corvi.center while the wings envelop and destroy the tight Roman mass.
Carthaginian
which subsequently
rear squadrons.
Carthaginian
outmanoeuvredright
The
andwing atsurrenders.
Roman
taking alosses
rear
disadvantage..
squadrons
to the strong
veerCarthaginian
right and leftright
to try
wing
andunder
form aHanno.
line of battle.
Romans
N (Regulus/Manlius)
Corvus
Manlius

The Romans were aware of their naval inferiority and

inexperience even before the First Punic War 264-241
BC, and thus introduced a boarding device to make their
Regulus
grappling tactics more effective. The corvus is comprised
Manlius

of a 1.2 by 10.9m wooden bridge with a metal spike at the

Carthaginians
end’s underside. A pulleyRomans
system drops the spike on the
enemy’s deck, clasping the
Quinqueremes two ships together, allowing
ManliusQuinqueremes
Roman legionnaires to rush across. The corvus thus
converts Roman Transports
proficiency on land to the sea battle.
Hamilcar

Regulus

Regulus

Romans
Hanno (Marcus Atilius Carthaginians
Regulus/ Lucius
Symbol guide
Manlius Vulso (Hamilcar)
Longus)
Carthaginians
(Hamilcar)
Hanno
230 quinqueremes
200 quinqueremes
 Cape Ecnomus, 256 BC
Casualties & Aftermath
Romans: Carthaginians:

24 94
or or
10% 47%

The Roman victory allowed their invasion of North Africa to take place unthreatened. In
255 BC, Regulus defeated a Carthaginian army at the Battle of Adys but overly severe peace
terms forced Carthage to continue the war. That same year, Spartan mercenary Xanthippus
arrived in Carthage and led its army to victory over Regulus at the land Battle of Tunes, forcing
a Roman withdrawal from Africa. A storm then destroyed most of the Roman fleet and
remaining army before it arrived in Sicily, allowing Carthage to recover. The war continued until
241 BC when the Romans decisively won the naval Battle of the Aegates Islands and the war.
By Jonathan Webb, 2012
 The Art of Battle:
Animated Battle Maps
http://www.theartofbattle.com

By Jonathan Webb, 2012