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Naval battle of Stelai(Battle of Lipares islands) |
year: 880 |
| Victory of the Byzantine fleet against the Arabs in Sicily | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
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enemy: Arabs (Aghlabids)
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location: Between the Aeolian islands and the northern coast of Sicily
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accuracy:
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battle type: Naval Battle |
war: Muslim conquest of Sicily |
modern country:
Italy |
| ▼ The Byzantines(emperor: Basil I the Macedonian) | ▼ The Enemies | |
| Commander: | Admiral Nasar | Unknown |
| Forces: | 140 ships (?) | 45 ships (?) |
| Losses: |
| Background story: |
| In 880, droungarios (admiral) Nasar achieved a great victory in Cephalonia over an Arab fleet of 60 ships from Ifrikiya (ie the Emirate of Kairouan in North Africa). Shortly afterwards, Nasar set sail for Sicily to assist a Byzantine expeditionary force, led by Procopius and the general of Macedonia and Thrace, Leo Apostuppes . It was a last attempt by Byzantium to regain some of the lost lands in Sicily, which after the fall of Syracuse in 878, had been confined to a very small area in northeastern Sicily, around Taormina. |
The Battle: |
 Byzantine warship The Byzantines prevailed after a fierce naval battle. Many of the Saracens when they saw that they had lost, abandoned their ships at the coast of Sicily and ran to find shelter inland. By the end of the day, all the Arab ships had either sunk or occupied by the Byzantines. According to Arab sources (who seldom give reliable figures, especially in defeats), Nasar had 140 ships while the Arabs had 45. |
Aftermath: |
| With this victory, the Byzantines had an advantage at sea for a while. Nasar sent part of the fleet to Naples to repel Arab attacks, while with the rest of the fleet attacked the northern coast of Sicily, looting Muslim areas Dominance at sea helped the army march victoriously in Calabria and finally capture Taranto after 40 years of Arab occupation. |
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