Battle of Drepana
The battle of Drepana or Drepanum (offshore modern Trapani, western coast of Sicily, 249 BC) was the a naval battle between the fleets of Carthage and the Roman Republic, fought during the First Punic War. The result was the only naval battle won by Carthage in the conflict.
Prelude
The string of Roman naval victories, such as Mylae and Ecnomus, gave confidence to make a direct attack to the Carthaginian stronghold of Lilybaeum governed by Himilco. The city was blocked by a fleet commanded by the year's consuls Publius Claudius Pulcher and Lucius Junius Paullus. However, despite the acquired Roman naval experience, the Carthaginians were still superior in open sea manoeuvring. A small squadron led by Hannibal the Rhodian managed to break the siege in broad daylight and deliver supplies to the garrison of Gods would be favourable to the battle. However, in that particular morning of 249 BC, the chicken refused to eat ? a terrible omen. Confronted with the unexpected and having to deal with the superstitious and now terrified crews, Pulcher quickly figured an alternative interpretation. He threw the sacred chicken overboard, directly onto the Mediterranean, proclaiming: They don't eat, so let them drink! (Ut biberent, quoniam esse nollent).
In the harbour, the Carthaginians did not wait to see what the Roman intended. Admiral Ad Herbal had similar, though less controversial, quick thinking and ordered the evacuation of Drepana before blockade was unavoidable. Carthage's ships thus sailed out of Drepana, passing south of the city and around two small islands in the coast to open ocean. Seeing the plan of a surprise attack fail, Pulcher ordered a regroup for battle formation. However. by then, everything was against him. The coast of Sicily was at his back and the Punic fleet ready for battle at his front.
Ad Herbal saw chance for victory and ordered the attack. Specially, he ordered his right flank to attack the Roman rearmost ships. The result was an utter Roman defeat, with almost all boats commanded by Pulcher sunk.
Aftermath
Publius Claudius Pulcher managed to escape and returned to Rome in shame, where he faced charges of treason. Unlike the Carthaginians, Romans did not execute generals for incompetence (cf. Hannibal Gisco), what brought Pulcher to the court was an accusation of sacrilege due to the chicken incident. He was convicted and sentenced to exile, with his political career finished.
In the same year, Hamilcar Barca (general Hannibal's father) had a successful campaign in Sicily and a storm destroyed the other half of the Roman fleet, commanded by consul Junius Paullus. Situation was so desperate that Aulus Atilius Caiatinus was appointed dictator and sent to the island to control the land warfare. The Drepana defeat was so demoralizing that Rome waited seven years to build another fleet.
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