Battle of Gela (405 BC)

Battle of Gela (405 BC)
Part of The Sicilian Wars
Sandy stretch of coast in the Manfria district, near Gela (in the background)
Date Summer, 405 BC Location Gela, Sicily Result Carthaginian Victory Territorial changes Dorian Greek city Gela sacked
Belligerents
Gela Syracuse	Carthage
Commanders and leaders
Dionysius I of Syracuse Leptines of Syracuse	Himilco Hanno
Strength
Estimated 30,000–40,000[1]	Estimated 30,000–40,000
Casualties and losses
1,600	Unknown

The Battle of Gela took place in the summer of 405 BC in Sicily. The Carthaginian army under Himilco (a member of the Magonid family and kinsman of Hannibal Mago), which had spent the winter and spring in the captured city of Akragas, marched to confront the Greeks at Gela. The Syracuse government had deposed Daphnaeus, the unsuccessful general of the Greek army at Akragas, with Dionysius, another officer who had been a follower of Hermocrates. Dionysius schemed and gained full dictatorial powers.

When the Carthaginians laid siege to Gela, Dionysius responded by leading his forces from Syracuse to confront the threat. He devised a complex three-pronged attack strategy against the Carthaginians, but the plan failed due to a lack of proper coordination. Faced with the defeat and growing discontent in Syracuse, Dionysius made the decision to evacuate Gela to preserve his own power. After the Greeks had fled to Camarina Himilco, the Carthaginian general, sacked the abandoned city.