Battle of Byzantium

Battle of Byzantium (Byzantion)
Part of the Second War of the Diadochi
Location of Byzantion
Date317 BC
Location
near Byzantium
(modern-day Istanbul, Turkey)
40°12′N 26°24′E / 40.2°N 26.4°E / 40.2; 26.4
Result Antigonid victory
Belligerents
The coalition between Antigonus, Cassander, Ptolemy and Lysimachus The coalition of Polyperchon
Commanders and leaders
Antigonus Cleitus the White
Strength

First battle:
Diod. 100+ ships[1]
Poly. 130 ships[2]

Second battle:
The sea assault: 60 ships[3]
The land assault: a large force of archers, slingers and peltasts[3]

First battle:
slightly larger[1][2]

Second battle:
Unknown (Cleitus's entire army and fleet)[2][3]
Casualties and losses
Unknown Cleitus's entire force captured or killed
Cleitus the White Executed

The Battle of Byzantium (Byzantion) was a 317 BC engagement between the generals Antigonus Monopthalmus and Cleitus the White, during the Second War of the Diadochi. Fought over the course of two days, near Byzantium at the Hellespont, it resulted in a stunning Antigonid victory.[4]

  1. ^ a b Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica XVIII 72,3.
  2. ^ a b c Polyainos, Strategemata, book IV 6,8.
  3. ^ a b c Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica XVIII 72,4.
  4. ^ Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica XVIII 72,3–4; Polyainos, Strategemata, IV 6,8.