The Battle of Sybota was a naval battle fought between the alliance of Athens and Corcyra and the fleet of Corinth in 433 BC. The battle, which occurred in the context of the Corcyraean revolt against Corinth, was one of the immediate precursors to the Peloponnesian War.
History[]
The immediate cause of the conflict was the revolt of the Corinthian colony of Corcyra, which sought to leave Corinthian influence. When Corcyra revolted, Athens sent 10 ships under Lacedaimonius, Diotimus, and Proteas to protect the former Corinthian colony, but instructed them not to fight unless Corinth attempted to land on the island. Corinth assembled a fleet of 150 ships under Xenoclides and sent them to Corcyra, leading to a confrontation with the Corcyraean-Athenian fleet of 120 ships.
The battle was fought in the traditional style, essentially being a land battle fought at sea due to the number of boarding actions. The Corcyraean left routed the Corinthian right wing, which it chased back to its coastal camps, which were then burned. However, the Corinthian left wing was more successful, and the Athenians came to aid their allies. The Corinthians killed several prisoners and emerged victorious against the Corcyraean right wing. The Corcyraeans and Athenians then retreated to their island, but the Corinthians did not attack, instead completely retreating. The two sides again met in battle at the Battle of Potidaea, which led to Sparta entering the war on Corinth's side and the start of the Peloponnesian War.
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