TheBattle of Korakesion,also known as theBattle of Coracaesium,was a naval battle fought in 67 BC between theCilician Piratesand theRoman Republic.It was the culmination ofPompey the Great'scampaign against the pirates of theMediterranean;Plutarchdescribes it as the key battle of Pompey's clearing of the Mediterranean of pirates after several smaller battles. According to Plutarch the pirates had about a thousand ships (almost certainly an exaggeration) against Pompey's two hundred, but were defeated in the initial naval engagement. Florus also states it was not a hard-fought affair as the pirates soon realised they were out-classed and most of them simply surrendered.[2]After retreating to the shore, the remaining pirates were apparently besieged in the town of Coracaesium, modern dayAlanya,before surrendering.[3]
