Battle of Myonessus

Battle of Myonessus
Part of the Roman–Seleucid War
Relief of a Rhodian galley
Date September 190 BC Location Off Myonessus (modern day Turkey) 38°01′28″N 26°30′42″E / 38.0244°N 26.5118°E / 38.0244; 26.5118 Result Roman-Rhodian victory
Belligerents
Roman Republic Rhodes	Seleucid Empire
Commanders and leaders
Lucius Aemilius Regillus Eudamus	Polyxenidas
Strength
80 ships	89 ships
Casualties and losses
2 ships sunk 1 ship captured	29 ships sunk 13 ships captured
class=notpageimage| Approximate location of the Battle of Myonessus

The Battle of Myonessus took place in September 190 BC. It was fought as part of the Roman–Seleucid War, pitting the fleets of the Roman Republic led by Admiral Lucius Aemilius Regillus and its Rhodian allies under Eudamus against a Seleucid fleet of Polyxenidas.

Polyxenidas attacked his adversaries as they were putting to sea between Myonessus and the Corycus peninsula. The Roman–Rhodian fleet withstood the first assault, managing to assume battle formation. Eudamus then led the Rhodian squadron to the right flank of the Romans, thwarting a Seleucid attempt at encirclement and overpowering the Seleucid seaward wing. Polyxenidas withdrew, having lost half of his fleet. The battle cemented Roman control over the Aegean Sea, enabling them to launch an invasion of Seleucid Asia Minor.