Battle of Corycus | |||||||
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Part of the Roman–Seleucid War | |||||||
Relief depicting a Roman warship | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Roman Republic Pergamon Carthage | Seleucid Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Gaius Livius Salinator Eumenes II | Polyxenidas | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
155 ships | 170–200 ships | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
1 ship seized |
13 ships seized 10 ships sunk | ||||||
The Battle of Corycus, also known as the Battle of Kissos, took place in September 191 BC. It was fought as part of the Roman–Seleucid War, pitting the fleets of the Roman Republic led by Admiral Gaius Livius Salinator and its Pergamene allies under Eumenes II against a Seleucid fleet of Polyxenidas.
The battle began when Polyxenidas attacked the allied fleet off Corycus. The Roman squadron maneuvered seaward, negating the initial numerical advantage the Seleucids possessed. The allies then used grappling hooks to board the Seleucid ships and overwhelm their smaller crews with marine infantry. Polyxenidas ordered a withdrawal after losing 23 warships. The victory at Corycus, enabled the allies to blockade the remnants of the Seleucid fleet in the port of Ephesus.