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
Result	Decisive Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Republic	Cilician pirates
Commanders and leaders
Pompey	Unknown
Strength
200 (Roman claim)	1000 (Roman claim)
Casualties and losses
?	20,000 pirates surrendered[1]
	Location within Turkey

The Battle of Korakesion, also known as the Battle of Coracaesium, was a naval battle fought in 67 BC between the pirates of Cilicia and a Roman fleet under the command of Pompey. Plutarch describes it as the key battle of Pompey's clearing of the Mediterranean of pirates after several smaller battles. He writes of the battle that the pirates had about one 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 surrendered without much further ado.[2] After retreating to the shore, the 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.

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[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.