Battle of Salamis (306 BC)

Battle of Salamis

Map of ancient Cyprus

Date	306 BC
Location	Salamis, Cyprus
Result	Decisive Antigonid victory, capture of Cyprus

Belligerents

Antigonids
Athens

Ptolemaic dynasty

Commanders and leaders

Demetrius Poliorcetes
Medius of Larissa

Ptolemy
Menelaus (POW)

Strength

c. 180 warships (30 Athenian)

60 warships (Menelaus)
140 warships & 200 transports (Ptolemy)

Casualties and losses

20 warships damaged

80 warships lost
40 warships and 100 transports captured
Menelaus' force surrenders

The naval Battle of Salamis in 306 BC took place near Salamis, Cyprus between the fleets of Ptolemy I of Egypt and Antigonus I Monophthalmus, two of the Diadochi, the generals who, after the death of Alexander the Great, fought each other for control of his empire. Antigonus' fleet was led by his son Demetrius, who had invaded Cyprus and was besieging Ptolemy's brother Menelaus at Salamis. The battle was a complete victory for Demetrius, and resulted in the surrender of Menelaus and his capture of Cyprus. As a result, Antigonus assumed the royal title that had been vacant since the murder of Alexander's underage son, followed by the other Diadochi soon after.

During the wars of the Diadochi that followed the death of Alexander the Great, Ptolemy, who had seized control of Egypt, had taken over the island of Cyprus and used it as a base of operations against his rival Antigonus I Monophthalmus. From Cyprus, Ptolemy's forces were able to raid the coasts of Syria and Asia Minor. In early 306 BC, Antigonus resolved to remove this threat, and ordered his son, Demetrius, to capture the island. Demetrius at the time was in Greece, where he had in the previous year overthrown the garrison installed in Athens by the ruler of Macedon, Cassander. The city, along with neighbouring Megara, was restored to democratic rule, and allied itself with Demetrius. As a result, when Demetrius sailed from Athens in spring 306 to capture Cyprus, he was accompanied by 30 Athenian quadriremes.

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Wikipedia