Classis Misenensis

• The Classis Misenensis was one of the two home fleets of the Roman Navy, the other being the Classis Ravennas on the Adriatic.
• Classis means Fleet in Latin.

History

• The Base at Misenum was created in 27 BCE by Marcus Agrippa, acting under instructions from Augustus. A huge Fleet lay at Frejus, Gaul, which included the captured Galleys from the Battle of Actium (31 BCE). This was then moved to Misenum.
• Later it was awarded the Titles ‘Praetoria’ and ‘Pia Vindex’.
• The Fleet’s main role was as a Deterrence to potential Pirates, escorting the Governors to their Provinces, and protecting the Alexandrian Grain Fleet and other Grain Ships.
• They also helped move the Legions in times of war: During the Parthian war under Trajan during 113-116 CE, Turbo the Admiral, sent the fleet to Syria, to escort the troops and their supplies.
• In 324 CE the Fleet defeated Licinius at the Battle of the Hellespont.
• By 330 CE the Fleet had been moved to Constantinople, and the Base at Misenum closed although the other Fleet at Ravenna stayed operational until much later.

Misenum Harbour

• The Fleet was initially based at the Harbour of Portus Julius, an inland lake connected to the Bay of Naples, in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
• After 36 BCE, the inner Portus Julius was abandoned and the Harbour at Misenum was developed.
• The Piscina Mirabilis was an enormous water Cistern designed to serve the entire fleet, fed by the Aqua Augusta Roman Aqueduct.

Known Prefects of the Misene Fleet

• 79 CE Pliny the Elder:
  • When Mount Vesuvius erupted he took the fleet to help evacuate Pompeii, but whilst spending the night there, he was overcome by fumes and died.
  • He took a Quadrireme, so this vessel was probably the Prefect’s flagship.
• 113-116 CE Quintus Marcius Turbo

The Galleys

• Initially, a Fleet of 50 vessels, manned by 10,000 men (approximately 200 rowers to a Trireme).
• Eventually, the fleet expanded to 250 vessels, of which at least 50 were Triremes.

• Galley Types:
  • 1 x Hexareme The ‘Ops’ – The Admiral’s Flagship.
  • 1 x Quinquereme The ‘Victoria’
  • 9 x Quadrireme
  • 50 x Trireme
  • 11 x Liburnian

Fleet Squadrons in other Bases

• Corsica
  • Aleria
• Sardinia
  • Olbia
• Rome
  • Portus
  • Centumcellae

Rome

• The Castra Misenatium in Rome housed a detachment of sailors from the Classis Misenensis.
• Their duties included moving the canvas awnings over the Colosseum to protect the audience from the sun and rain. They also helped in staging mock naval battles called Naumachiae.

Origins of the Sailors

• The first three had sizeable coastal populations who looked for a career at sea:
  1. Egypt: Alexandria and the Nile Delta
  2. Asia
  3. Thracia
  4. Sardinia: Olbia was the fourth source of sailors.
  5. Corsica: Aleria

Misenum, Naples