Battle of Himera

Timeline

1. -480Northern coast of Sicily · SicilyCarthaginian general Hamilcar landed in Sicily with an army and fleet of about 300,000 (ancient figures may be exaggerated), targeting Greek colonial cities such as Himera; traditionally seen as coordinating east-west with Xerxes' invasion of Greece.
2. -480Himera · HimeraSyracuse's tyrant Gelon and Akragas' tyrant Theron quickly allied, deploying heavy infantry and cavalry to form a defensive line on the plain before Himera, blocking Carthaginian expansion into the Greek colonial zone on the north coast.
3. -480Plain of Himera · HimeraThe Greek allied forces broke the Carthaginian line with a flank attack; Hamilcar was killed in the fighting and the Carthaginian army fled in rout and was pursued. After the battle Carthage was forced to sign a peace treaty, abandon some interests in Sicily, and pay a huge indemnity.