Battle of Ostia

Battle of Ostia
	; Raphael's fresco The Battle of Ostia, an indication of the battle's legendary fame
Date	Summer 849
Location	Ostia, Italy
Result	Christian victory
Belligerents
Christian League: Papal States; Byzantine Empire Duchy of Gaeta; Duchy of Amalfi; Duchy of Naples; Duchy of Sorrento; ;	Arabs
Commanders and leaders
Caesar of Naples	Unknown
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Minimal	Heavy

The naval Battle of Ostia took place in 849 in the Tyrrhenian Sea between Muslim pirates and an Italian league of Papal, Neapolitan, Amalfitan, and Gaetan ships. The battle ended in favor of the Italian league, as they defeated the pirates. It is one of the few events to occur in southern Italy during the ninth century that is still commemorated today, largely through the walls named after Leo and for the Renaissance painting Battaglia di Ostia by Raphael.

Background

Starting in 827, Muslim forces began the conquest of Sicily. In 846, Muhammad Abul Abbas of Sicily, emir of the Aghlabids invaded eastern Rome, plundering various basilicas, including Old Saint Peter's which was outside the Aurelian walls, for their treasures.[1]

Battle

News of a massing of Arab ships off Sardinia reached Rome early in 849. A Christian armada, commanded by Caesar, son of Sergius I of Naples, was assembled off recently refortified Ostia, and Pope Leo IV came out to bless it and offer a mass to the troops. After the pirate ships appeared, battle was joined with the Neapolitan galleys in the lead. Midway through the engagement, a storm divided the Muslims and the Christian ships managed to return to port. The Arabs, however, were scattered far and wide, with many ships lost and others sent ashore. When the storm died down, the remnants of the Arab fleet were easily picked off, with many prisoners taken.

Aftermath

In the aftermath of the battle, much booty washed ashore and was pillaged by the locals, per ius naufragii. The prisoners taken in battle were forced to work in chain gangs building the Leonine Wall which was to encompass the Vatican Hill. Rome would never again be approached by an Arab army.[1]

Notes

Barbara Kreutz (1996). Before the Normans: Southern Italy in the Ninth and Tenth Centuries. University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 25–28.

Sources

Llewellyn, Peter. Rome in the Dark Ages. London: Faber and Faber, 1970.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[Kreutz-1] Barbara Kreutz (1996). Before the Normans: Southern Italy in the Ninth and Tenth Centuries. University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 25–28.