In this article, we will explore the impact that Battle of Milazzo (888) has had on different aspects of contemporary society. Since its appearance, Battle of Milazzo (888) has generated debates, controversies and significant changes in various areas. Through detailed analysis, we will examine how Battle of Milazzo (888) has influenced politics, economics, culture, technology, and other important aspects of our daily lives. Additionally, we will delve into the past, present and future of Battle of Milazzo (888), to better understand its evolution and its meaning in the current context. This article aims to offer a comprehensive and in-depth vision of Battle of Milazzo (888), with the aim of providing the reader with a broader and enriching understanding of this phenomenon.
Battle of Milazzo | |||||||
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Part of the Muslim conquest of Sicily | |||||||
Map of the Arab–Byzantine naval conflict in the Mediterranean, 7th–11th centuries | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Byzantine Empire | Aghlabids | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
unknown | unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
variously 5,000–7,000 (12,000?) dead | unknown |
The Battle of Milazzo was a naval battle fought in 888 between the Byzantine and Aghlabid fleets off northeastern Sicily. The battle was a major Aghlabid victory. It is sometimes known as the Second Battle of Milazzo, counting the Battle of Stelai as the First Battle of Milazzo.
In 888, the Aghlabids mounted a new expedition aimed at Byzantine Calabria, with ships from Sicily as well as Ifriqiya. Off Milazzo, the fleet met a Byzantine squadron of the Imperial Fleet of Constantinople. The ensuing battle is not mentioned by any Byzantine source, but only by Ibn Idhari's al-Bayan al-Mughrib as well as the Cambridge Chronicle. Both agree that it was a crushing Aghlabid victory—their first in open sea combat: reportedly 5,000 Byzantines drowned, and 7,000 in total (or 7,000 more, depending on the translation from the Arabic) were killed.
In the aftermath of this debacle, the Byzantines abandoned many strongholds they had held in the Val Demone, and the remainder, left without hope of Byzantine aid, concluded a truce with the Aghlabid governor of Sicily. Even the garrison and populace of Rhegion are said to have temporarily abandoned their city for fear of Aghlabid attacks.