Battle of Messana

Battle of Messana
Part of the First Punic War
Route taken by Punic army in order to reach Messana
Date 264 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.