Battle of Messana

Battle of Messana
Part of the First Punic War

Route taken by Punic army in order to reach Messana
Date264 BC
Location
Messana (modern Messina)
38°10′48″N 15°33′41″E / 38.1800°N 15.5614°E / 38.1800; 15.5614
Result Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Republic Carthage
Syracuse
Commanders and leaders
Appius Claudius Caudex
Manius Valerius Maximus
Manius Otacilius Crassus
Hanno
Hiero II
Strength
9,000 soldiers 12,000 Syracusan and Carthaginian cavalry, hoplites and mercenaries
Casualties and losses
1,340 casualties 6,000 casualties

The Battle of Messana in 264 BC was the first military clash between the Roman Republic and Carthage. It marked the start of the First Punic War. In that period, and after the recent successes in southern Italy, Sicily became of increasing strategic importance to Rome.