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{{Campaignbox Sicilian Wars}}
The '''Battle of Abacaenum''' took place between the Carthaginian forces under Mago and the Greek army under Dionysius in 393 BC near the Sicilian town on Abacaenum in north-eastern Sicily. Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse, had been expanding his influence over Sicels’ territories in Sicily.
==Background==
Carthage had intervened in favour of Segesta in 409 BC against [[Selinus]], which led to the sack of both [[Selinus]] and [[Himera]] in 409 BC. This led to [[Hermocrates]] raiding Punic territory, with Carthage retaliating through the destruction of [[Siege of Akragas (406 BC)|Akragas]], [[Battle of Gela (405 BC)|Gela]] and [[Camarina]]. In 405 BC, a peace treaty ended the war, with Carthage in control of much of Sicily and Dionysius retaining power in Syracuse. After strengthening Syracuse's defences, Dionysius attacked the Phoenician city of [[Motya]] with an army of 80,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry, along with a fleet of 200 warships and 500 transports carrying his supplies and war machines in 398 BC, igniting the first of four wars he was to lead against Carthage.<ref>Church, Alfred J., ''Carthage'', p47</ref> After the [[Siege of Motya (398 BC)|sack of Motya]], Dionysius retired to Syracuse, while Himilco of Carthage arrived in Sicily in 397 BC with 50,000 men along with 400 triremes and 600 transports to continue the war.<ref name="Caven, Brian, Dionysius I, pp107">Caven, Brian, ''Dionysius I'', pp107</ref>
Himilco stormed Motya, where the mostly Sicel garrison under Biton was easily overcome,<ref>Diod. X.IV.55</ref> then lifted the siege of [[Segesta]], and Dionysius retired to Syracuse instead of offering battle in Western Sicily against a superior army.<ref>Kern, Paul B., ''Ancient Siege Warfare'', pp183</ref> Himilco returned to Panormus, garrisoned the Carthaginian territories, and then sailed to Lipara with 300 warships and 300 transports. After collecting 30 talents of silver as tribute from Lipara,<ref>Freeman, Edward A., ''Sicily'', pp173</ref> the Carthaginian force sailed for Messene and [[Battle of Messana (397 BC)|easily captured and sacked the city]]. After founding the city of [[Tauromenium]] and populating it with allied Sicels, the Carthaginians moved south towards Catana.<ref>Freeman, Edward A., ''Sicily'', p173</ref> Dionysius moved his army and fleet to Catana to attack the Carthaginians but, due to the rash tactics of his brother [[Leptines]], the Greek fleet was heavily defeated at the [[Battle of Catana (397 BC)|Catana]].<ref name="Church, Alfred J. p53-54">Church, Alfred J., ''Carthage'', p53-54</ref> Himilco next besieged Syracuse itself in the autumn of 397 BC. After the Carthaginian forces were devastated by the plague, Dionysius managed to decimate the Punic fleet and surround the survivors in their camp. Himilco, after bribing Dionysius, fled back to Africa with Carthaginian citizens, while Dionysius enslaved the abandoned Carthaginian soldiers and their allies.
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