Battle of Thermopylae (191 BC)

Battle of Thermopylae
Part of the Roman–Seleucid War
View of the Thermopylae pass from the area of the Phocian Wall.
Date 24 April 191 BC Location Thermopylae, Greece 38°48′00″N 22°32′00″E / 38.8000°N 22.5333°E / 38.8000; 22.5333 Result Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Republic	Seleucid Empire Aetolian League
Commanders and leaders
Manius Acilius Glabrio Marcus Porcius Cato Lucius Valerius Flaccus	Antiochus III the Great
Strength
25,000 to 30,000	12,500 16 war elephants
Casualties and losses
	12,000 16 war elephants
class=notpageimage| Location of the Battle of Thermopylae (191 BC)

The Battle of Thermopylae took place on 24 April 191 BC. It was fought as part of the Roman–Seleucid War, pitting forces of the Roman Republic led by the consul Manius Acilius Glabrio against a Seleucid-Aetolian army of Antiochus III the Great.

When the main bodies of the armies initially clashed at the Thermopylae pass, the Seleucids managed to hold their ground, repulsing multiple Roman assaults. However, a small Roman force under Marcus Porcius Cato managed to outflank the Seleucids from the hillside after surprising the Aetolian garrison of Fort Callidromus. The Seleucids panicked and broke ranks, leading to the destruction of their force. Antiochus managed to escape the battlefield with his cavalry, departing mainland Greece soon afterwards.