Battle of the Aegates Islands The Battle of the Aegates Islands or Aegusa ( Aegadian Islands , off the western coast of the island of Sicily , 10 March 241 BC ) was the final naval battle fought between the fleets of Carthage and the Roman Republic during the First Punic War . The result was a decisive Roman victory which forced an end to the protracted conflict , to the advantage of Rome . Prelude . The years preceding the battle were relatively quiet within the First Punic War . Rome lacked a fleet — the ships it had possessed at the beginning of the war had been largely destroyed in the Battle of Drepana and in the storm that followed . However , Carthage took little advantage of this situation . Hostilities between Roman and Carthaginian forces gradually stalled , becoming concentrated in small - scale land operations in Sicily . The Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca was slow to build on his advantage on the island and , probably as a result , from 242 BC Rome eventually decided to build another fleet and regain naval supremacy . This resolution notwithstanding , after 20 years of war the finances of the Republic were in a calamitous state and the treasury was empty . A popular movement was formed to counter this difficulty in a typically Roman manner : wealthy citizens , either alone or in groups , decided to show their patriotism and finance the construction of one ship apiece . The result was a fleet of approximately 200 quinquereme s , built , equipped , and crewed without government expense . The new fleet was completed in 242 BC and entrusted to the consul Gaius Lutatius Catulus , assisted by the praetor Quintus Valerius Falto . The reversals of fortune and difficulties suffered in past naval defeats provided invaluable acquired experience . The Roman ships were now more resistant to adverse weather conditions , with the " corvus " having been abandoned . Catulus and Falto also endeavoured to drill the crews in manoeuvres and exercises before leaving secure waters . The result was a fleet at the peak of condition and fighting ability . In Carthage , meanwhile , the news of enemy activity was not left unanswered . A new Carthaginian fleet was also built , numbering about 250 warships ( although probably undermanned ) , and launched in the Mediterranean under the command of Hanno ( the general defeated at Agrigentum and Cape Ecnomus ) . Aegates Islands . Catulus resumed the siege of the two Sicilian ports of Lilybaeum ( at the western tip of Sicily , now called Marsala ) and Drepana , and by blockading the harbours cut the connection to Carthage . The intent was seemingly to cut Hamilcar Barca ' s supply and communication lines . For the rest of the year Catulus waited for the Carthaginian response . The senate granted him a proconsulship for 241 BC . The Carthaginian fleet arrived to relieve the blockade the following year ( 241 BC ) . Hanno called a halt near the Aegates Islands to wait for a favourable breeze that would speed him to Lilybaeum . However , the Carthaginian fleet was spotted by Roman scouts and Catulus abandoned the blockade to meet his enemy . On the morning of March 10 , the wind favoured the Carthaginians and Hanno immediately set sail . Catulus measured the risk of attacking with the wind in his bow versus the risk of letting Hanno reach Sicily to relieve Hamilcar Barca and Lilybaeum . Despite unfavourable conditions , the proconsul decided to intercept the Carthaginians and ordered his fleet to prepare for battle . He had the Roman ships stripped of their masts , sails and other unnecessary equipment in order to make them more seaworthy in the rough conditions . Catulus himself was unable to join the actual battle because of injuries suffered in an earlier engagement , so in the actual battle the ships were commanded by his second in command , Falto . In the ensuing battle the Romans enjoyed a far greater mobility , since their vessels were carrying only the bare necessities , while the Carthaginians were burdened with men , equipment and provisions . The Carthaginian crews were also hurriedly levied and inexperienced . The Romans quickly gained the upper hand , using their ships ' greater manoeuvrability to ram the enemy vessels . About half of the Carthaginian fleet was either destroyed or captured . The rest were saved only by an abrupt change in the direction of the wind , allowing them to flee from the Romans . Several rams from both Roman and Phoenician ships have been found End of the First Punic War . Upon achieving decisive victory over the Carthaginian fleet , Catulus renewed the siege and captured Lilybaeum , isolating Barca and his army in Sicily , scattered among the few strongholds that Carthage still retained . Without the resources to build another fleet or to reinforce its land troops , Carthage admitted defeat and signed a peace treaty with Rome , bringing the First Punic War to a conclusion . To celebrate his victory , Lutatius Catulus built a temple to Juturna in Campus Martius , in the area currently known as Largo di Torre Argentina .