Crimissus, Battle of the

The Battle of the Crimissus (also spelled Crimisus and Crimesus) is fought in 339 BCE between a large Carthaginian army commanded by Asdrubal and Hamilcar and an army from Syracuse led by Timoleon.

Timoleon attacks the Carthaginian army by surprise near the Crimissus river (the modern Belice rive) in western Sicily and wins a great victory.

When he defeats another much smaller force of Carthaginians shortly afterwards, Carthage sues for peace.

The peace allows the Greek cities on Sicily to recover and began a period of stability.

However, another war between Syracuse and Carthage erupts after Timoleon's death, not long after Agathocles seizes power in 317 BCE.Carthage had tried to prevent Timoleon's arrival on Sicily, where he had been invited by the citizens of Syracuse to depose the Greek tyrants and restore democracy and order.

After liberating Syracuse itself, Timoleon sends his mercenaries to raid the Carthaginian territory on western Sicily.

Carthage has already gathered a large army, which is moving towards Syracuse in response to the raids.Vastly outnumbered, Timoleon attacks the Carthaginian army while it is crossing the Crimissus river.

The Carthaginians fiercely resist the initial assault, but a storm that starts during the battle works to the advantage of the Greeks.

When the first rank of the Carthaginian army is defeated, the entire army is routed.

The Greeks kill or captured many of those who flee and Carthage loses a large number of its wealthiest citizens in the battle.

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