Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 898: To Gela

As darkness enveloped the land and the sun dipped below the horizon, the battered fleet of Theonia limped its way into the port of Selinus. They were now accompanied by captured vessels and the sailors of Phoenicia, spoils of their recent engagement.

The naval battle had been devastating for the Eastern Phoenician fleet, with only forty-three of their original one hundred thirty ships surviving. Theonia's fleet in Sicily, while larger with one hundred fifty ships, also suffered significant losses, leaving them with thirty-one vessels, including six that sustained damage. However, they did manage to seize twenty-three Phoenician ships. Furthermore, the two thousand soldiers who returned safely to Selinus, out of the six thousand Theonian soldiers transported, were primarily from the reserve legion.

Despite the significant victory achieved, a strategic setback loomed. On this very day, Hasdrubal had directed approximately seventeen thousand soldiers from the Iberian army in an assault on Agrigento, employing crude logs and ladders to scale the city walls.

Facing the grim prospect of starvation should their assault fail, the Carthaginian soldiers fought with desperate valor, exhibiting a remarkable refusal to retreat. The Lusitanian and Celtic warriors, hailing from the northern Iberian mountains, were particularly ferocious, having previously posed a considerable challenge to Agrigento's defenders.

The soldiers of Agrigento had already endured losses during the earlier Battle of Minoa. Compounding their predicament, they had dispatched reinforcements to counter the Carthaginian siege of Selinus and to answer Leotychides' call for aid, leaving the city with a depleted garrison. Although they managed to repel the enemy's assault in yesterday's defensive battle, the defenders of Agrigento also suffered grievous casualties. Ultimately, with critical reinforcements failing to materialize and after a prolonged and bloody conflict that extended into the afternoon, the people of Agrigento could no longer repel the enemy's onslaught and succumbed to the Carthaginians.

Hasdrubal permitted his soldiers a period of unrestrained plunder and slaughter. Apart from a select few inhabitants of Agrigento who managed to escape to the port and flee by sea, the remainder of the city's population was massacred.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Upon the arrival of the following morning, Seclian presented himself at the lord's mansion in Selinus. He found Leotychides already present, awaiting his arrival in the hall.

“Prosous, it has been too long. I trust this summons isn't another request for our marines or for our temporarily idle sailors to serve as foot soldiers.” Seclian's words carried a distinct undertone of displeasure regarding Leotychides' past actions.

Leotychides offered no direct response to the taunt, merely regarding Seclian with a cool indifference. His voice, when he finally spoke, was measured as he delivered the news, “Miltiades has fallen in battle.”

The revelation struck Seclian with immediate disbelief. “From whom did you hear such a thing?! We searched extensively yesterday and could not find him. So, where did you get–”

“See for yourself,” Leotychides interjected, his tone sharp, and motioned towards the wooden box situated on the table.

Seclian's attention was instantly drawn to the box, its design notably distinct from typical Greek craftsmanship. A chilling premonition seized him. He advanced with heavy footsteps and, with deliberate care, lifted the lid of the box.

“The Carthaginian commander, Mago, dispatched a messenger conveying that as their forces engaged our men who had swum ashore, it was Miltiades alone, with his unarmed contingent, who bravely confronted them. He is reported to have slain two Carthaginian soldiers before meeting his end. A Celtic chieftain from Iberia, impressed by his valor, took Miltiades' head as a personal trophy... Upon learning of this, Mago himself sought to reclaim the head, but the body could no longer be found. Consequently, he could only send the head to us…”

Leotychides’ flat, emotionless delivery contrasted sharply with the grim contents of the box. Seclian gazed upon the face within, a visage still bearing a faint resemblance to his former comrade. After a moment of somber reflection, he let out a curse, “Miltiades, you damn fool...” before gently closing the lid.

Returning to the wooden chair, Seclian struggled to contain the surge of anger within him. “Barely a few months have passed since the war in Sicily, and our Theonian navy has not only suffered grievous losses but has now lost two of its admirals, Fulalios and Miltiades... Damn the Carthaginians! Damn that accursed Mago!”

Seclian's boisterous curses served as an outlet for his pain and fury.

“The Carthaginian envoy also conveyed a request,” Leotychides continued, disregarding Seclian's outburst. “They currently hold thousands of our sailors captive and wish to exchange them for the Phoenician sailors we captured.”

“In their wildest dreams! I haven't yet made those Phoenicians who ambushed my fleet suffer enough!” Seclian declared, his voice laced with animosity.

“So, you intend to reject the Carthaginian proposal?”

“No, let them be exchanged!” Seclian’s brow twitched. “The lives of our soldiers are far more valuable than these Phoenicians, who hail from Persia. You may let them return, and I guarantee that within a few days, we shall have them as our prisoners once more.”

Following the naval engagement, the Theonian fleet triumphantly returned to Selinus with their captives. After a thorough interrogation, Seclian breathed a sigh of relief upon discovering that this fleet originated from the Phoenician city-states in the eastern Mediterranean, such as Tyre and Sidon. This meant that Carthage had not outpaced Theonia in warship construction. Given the circumstances of Carthage’s mother city, it was highly improbable for them to consistently dispatch a fleet from such a distance to assist Carthage.

“Shortly, we shall dispatch envoys to negotiate with the Carthaginian representatives and finalize the prisoner exchange with all haste.”

“Understood,” Seclian replied with conviction, then inquired subtly, “What has prompted such urgency?”

“A messenger arrived from Siprus this morning, bearing the dire news that the Carthaginians have seized Kephaloídion.”

“Kephaloídion?” Seclian echoed, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. Having previously been stationed at the naval base in Taranto and only recently arriving in Sicily a few months prior, his duties concerning the fleet had consumed his attention, leaving him unfamiliar with certain local details. The name of this town was entirely new to him.

“Kephaloídion is a Sikeloi settlement nestled within the mountainous interior of Sicily, situated northwest of Agrigento. It originally marked the boundary dividing the spheres of influence between the Kingdom and the Carthaginians, and it also bordered the Sikeloi territory.”

As their conversation unfolded, Muklu, the adjutant positioned at the lower end of the table, retrieved a map of Sicily. He unfurled it beside Seclian and pinpointed the town’s location.

“This Sikeloi town was once the domain of the Tanikian tribe,” Leotychides remarked, the words resonating with Seclian. The events surrounding the Ladician incident had, after all, ignited a significant political upheaval within the kingdom.

“How did we come to lose it?” Seclian’s interest was now piqued.

“According to the messenger’s report, precisely when the Carthaginian army laid siege to Selinus a few days ago, over two thousand Sikanoi launched an invasion into Sikeloi territory. However, the Sikeloi, accustomed to asserting dominance over the Sikanoi, promptly mustered four thousand warriors to achieve a decisive victory...” Leotychides’ lips curved into a faint smile, a hint of mockery in his gaze directed at the Sikeloi’s perceived foolishness. “Unexpectedly, during the engagement, the Carthaginian forces materialized, delivering a devastating blow to the Sikeloi. Subsequently, the Carthaginians leveraged their triumph to successfully occupy Kephaloídion.

Following this, the Carthaginians joined forces with the Sikanoi and advanced toward the city of Enna to the east. Archonis, the Tanikian chieftain who had sought refuge in western Sicily, acted as a guide for the Carthaginians and played a crucial role in persuading the Sikeloi tribes to capitulate, which ultimately swayed the Sikeloi tribes’ decision. Despite reinforcements already being dispatched to Enna, Praetor Kreru’s report indicated that the situation there remained precarious.

...Furthermore, our inability to transport reinforcements to Agrigento yesterday leaves us anxious about their safety. Should they capture Agrigento, and tens of thousands of Carthaginian soldiers establish a strong presence on the southern coast, it would not only jeopardize the security of neighboring allied city-states but also pose a direct threat to our own...”

Seclian straightened his posture and directed his gaze at Leotychides. He inquired with earnestness, “Do you intend for our navy to once again ferry reinforcements to Agrigento?”

“Indeed, we do! As you are presently the highest-ranking military officer of the Theonian fleet in Sicily—though not officially appointed to command the Theonian fleet in Sicily, you have naturally assumed the role of the fleet's representative due to being the navarch of the First Fleet and holding the highest position in Sicily following Miltiades' demise in battle, with no new fleet commander yet named—we must, of course, consult with you first. Is the fleet, in its current state, capable of undertaking the task of transporting reinforcements?” Leotychides posed the question with a grave expression.