Sicilian Wars

B.C. 493 to 340

Carthage — versus — Sicilian Greeks

By the fifth century, the Island of Sicily had been colonized by numerous Greek city states, most of which were ruled by petty tyrants. The next few centuries involved numerous wars between the city-states, and several attempts of the Carthaginians of Africa to take over the island. These wars were related to each other, because the conflicts between the city-states often resulted in the invitation of a foreign power to come and intervene on behalf of the weaker party. All of these conflicts, both domestic and foreign, are therefore referred to as the 'Sicilian Wars', and although the main battles of significance involved the repulsion of the Carthaginian menace, the wars cannot be understood simply as a united Greek front against a foreign invader.

Gelon and the First Carthaginian Invasion : 492-474 B.C.

The Surprise at Himera

The most important tyrant in Sicily during the early fifth century B.C. was Gelon, tyrant of Syracuse. He came to power after his predecessor, Hippocrates of Gela defeated Syracuse at the battle of Helorus. Shortly afterward Gelon rose to power he made Syracuse the foremost city in Sicily by moving the populations of conquered regions into the city. The reign of Gelon coincided with the time of the great Greco Persian Wars, and ambassadors from Athens had approached Gelon with a request for ships to join the Greek navy. The request was fortunately declined because shortly thereafter, a great force of Carthaginians was summoned by the tyrant of Himera to assist him in defense of the city. The Carthaginian invasion was massive, but the Syracusans, led by Gelon routed the invaders. Syracuse was now the prominent Greek city in the region. Gelon's brother Hieron I succeed him and his reign marks the height of the first Syracusan tyranny. He moved the citizens of Catana to Leontini and resettled Catana with his mercenaries. He then defeated the Etruscans, who were besieging the Italian Greek city of Cumae in a naval battle (474 B.C.).

The Sicilian Expedition (Peloponnesian War) : 415-413 B.C.

Destruction of the Athenian Army at Syracuse

In the 460's Tyrants were expelled from the cities of Acragas, Himera, and Syracuse, and democracies were established, but their mercenary armies continued to harass the cities. As Syracuse because stronger, the cities surrounding her became fearful and made alliances with Athens for protection. Shortly after the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War on mainland Greece, Syracuse and the surrounding cities of Naxos, Catana, Segesta and Leontini commenced hostilities (427 B.C.). The allies prepared to call upon Athens for aid, but peace was declared in time to prevent escalation. In 416 B.C. however, Segesta, one of the allied cities of Sicily, called upon Athens for aid and the war-party in Athens took the opportunity to launch an enormous expedition to conquer Syracuse. The campaign ended in utter disaster for Athens. Her navy was utterly destroyed and the devastating defeat proved to be the turning point in the Peloponnesian War.

Dionysius I and the Second Carthaginian Invasion : 409-379 B.C.

Dionysius I, and the sword of Damocles

After the victory over Athens, Syracuse made democratic reforms. Later the Greek colonies of Segesta, and Selinus made war, and Segesta called in the Carthaginians for help. The Carthaginian invaders sacked Selinus and Himera (409 B.C.), and three years later, also defeated Acragas. The invaders now had strong foothold in Sicily and this caused turmoil throughout the island. As a consequence, Dionysius I, a general in the Syracuse army who had risen from the lower ranks made himself tyrant. He made a temporary peace with Carthage, and distributed the land of the oligarchs to the poor. He then conquered the neighboring cities of Catana (403 B.C.), Naxos, Leontini (400 B.C.), and Rhegium (396 B.C.). After these successes he launched an offensive against Motya, the main Carthage stronghold on Sicily, and conquered the city, but failed to dislodge them from Sicily. He then attempted to expand his power into southern Italy by launching a campaign against the Italians and won a victory at Elleporus (389 B.C.).

The Carthaginians, who had not launched an attack against Sicily for over ten years, now attacked Catana and defeated the Syracusans in a naval engagement in 387 B.C.. They then commenced a siege of Syracuse, and Dionysius was compelled to call on Sparta for Naval support. The siege was finally resolved when a plague broke out, and Dionysius launched a successful attack on the Carthage stronghold. Eight years later however, the Carthaginians returned, prevailed against the Syracusans and forced Dionysus to accept unfavorable terms.

Timoleon and the Third Carthaginian Invasion : 345-340 B.C.

Timoleon holding the ford of the Crimisus.

In 366 B.C. Dionysius I died and his son Dionysius II succeeded under the regency of his uncle Dion. Dion was deposed in 366 B.C. but returned in 357 B.C. and ruled as a tyrant for three years until he was murdered, at which point Dionysius II returned to power, but was a far less forceful administrator than his father. Things remained so chaotic that the Carthaginians planned another attack on Syracuse, and made an alliance with Hicetus, tyrant of Leontini. The Syracusans sought help from Timoleon of Corinth. With a large fleet of Greeks, he landed some miles from Syracuse and met the forces of Hicetus at the battle of Adranum (344 B.C.). Many Sicilian towns then surrendered to him, including Syracuse. Shortly after his nearly bloodless conquest of Syracuse however, an enormous force of Carthaginians arrived. Timoleon met them at the Crimisus river, and with only a fraction of the forces, vanquished the Carthaginians and then negotiated a permanent peace. In spite of this overwhelming victory, he did not set himself up as a tyrant, but rather tore down the citadel in Syracuse and set up democratic reforms. He then expelled tyrants from all the neighboring cities, and liberated all of Greek Sicily.

	Image Links
Timoleon holding the ford of the Crimessus.  in Helmet and Spear	The Surprise at Himera  in Greatest Nations: Greece	Timoleon and the Eagles in Stories from Greek History
Timoleon setting sail for Sicily in Plutarch's Lives