Battle of Nomae

The Battle of Nomae was a battle fought in 450 BCE[1] between a united Sicel army under the command of Ducetius and the Greeks of Syracuse. Ducetius was defeated and his Sicel state broke down soon after.

Battle of Nomae
Date 450 BC Location Nomae Result Greek victory, exile of Ducetius
Belligerents
Sicels	Syracuse
Commanders and leaders
Ducetius	Unknown
Strength
Unknown	4,500-5,500
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Sicels were one of the original inhabitants of Sicily but their territory was slowly shrinking due to the expansion of the Greek colonies on the island, mainly Syracuse and Akragas. However in the 450’s BCE they had grew in power under a leader named Ducetius, who had united the Sicel territory under his rule. He was originally an ally of Syracuse, helping them in a war against Catana. However as he grew in power, and also began to expand into Greek territory, Syracuse became concerned. When Ducetius attacked the other major Sicilian Greek power Akragas, the city asked Syracuse for help and Syracuse agreed. The united forces of the two cities advanced towards Ducetius’s army, which was besieging the stronghold Motyon (Motya) and met him in battle there, however they were defeated by the Sicels, who took Motyon.[2]

The Greeks regrouped over winter and launched a second assault in the spring of 450. Akragas moved to retake Motyon while Syracuse, who were probably fielding their full remaining army of around 4,500 to 5,500 troops, moved to engage Ducetius. The forces met at Nomae and the Greeks gained a victory this time.[2]

After the battle Ducetius was deserted by his troops and his kingdom broke apart. He surrendered himself to Syracuse, who allowed him to go into exile in Corinth.[1][2][3] The Sicels would never pose a major threat to the Greeks in Sicily again. Syracuse and Akragas would not remain allies for long and soon began disputing control over Sicily. Ducetius would return in 446 BCE and founded the city of Kale Akte, which annoyed Akragas who used it as an excuse to go to war with Syracuse for not executing Ducetius. This would result in the Battle of the Himera River (446 BC)[3] in which Syracuse won, becoming the dominant power in Sicily until the Second Sicilian War against Carthage.

References

1. "Battle of Nomae, 450". www.historyofwar.org. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
2. Jr, Fred Eugene Ray (2011-08-11). Land Battles in 5th Century BC Greece: A History and Analysis of 173 Engagements. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5260-6.
3. Drogo, John Montagu (2015-01-19). Battles of the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Chronological Compendium of 667 Battles to 31 BC From the Historians of the Ancient World. Frontline Books. ISBN 978-1-4738-9687-1.