Red Sea Fleet

• The term ‘Classis Maris Rubri’, meaning Red Sea Fleet, seems to have been mentioned by sources in the fourth century CE.
• Contemporary sources confirm that ships travelled from Egypt to India, but it is not known whether they were organised into a Fleet.

Strabo

• Strabo (64 BCE – 24 CE) mentions 120 ships departed Berenice every year for India.
• As they had to follow the Monsoon and all sail together, it is possible that these vessels were organised into a Fleet which sailed in convoy, in a similar manner to the Alexandrian Grain Fleet.

Pliny's Description of the Route to India

• Alexandria to Berenice
  • Pliny describes the annual journey from Alexandria up the Nile to Coptos, across the Desert by camel caravan to Berenice, and then in ships from Berenice to India.
• The Red Sea
  • Pliny states that the Fleet departed Berenice and sailed down the Red Sea to Ocelis in the Bab al Mandeb Strait on the Arabian coast. Sailing took 30 days and vessels departed Berenice around 21st June.
  • Ocelis was the first port of call, after leaving Egypt, to collect fresh water. Indian vessels were not permitted to enter the Red Sea beyond Ocelis. The alternative to Ocelis was Cane, in Arabia, source of Frankincense. The third option was Muza, but this was not recommended.
• The Indian Ocean
  • Pliny states that from Ocelis to Muziris in India, was 40 days sail, using the ‘Hippalus’ wind (the south western Monsoon) if available.
  • Muziris was the nearest Port of Trade in India. However, Pliny did not recommend it, saying it was full of Pirates.

Origin of the vessels

• The Trade was possibly conducted in vessels built in India, judging from the fragments of Teak wood, that have been found in buildings in Berenice (reused from dismantled vessels).

Trajan's Canal

• Prior to Trajan's Parthian War, in 112 CE, Trajan rebuilt the Pharaonic canal from Fort Babylon on the Nile to Clysma (Suez) on the Red Sea.
  • Herodotus
    • tells us that the Pharaonic canal was two Triremes wide. It is thought that the width of a Trireme was approximately 18 feet (5.4m) and its draught approximately 3 feet 3 inches (1m).
  • Eutropius
    • writing during Trajan‘s reign, is the only writer to refer to a Naval Fleet in the Red Sea established by Trajan, presumably in preparation for his war against Parthia, but does not mention where it was based.

Use of Archers

• Pithom Stele
  • During the Ptolemaic Period (305-30 BCE) Merchant ships carried contingents of Archers on board, according to the Pithom Stele.
• Lucian
  • Lucian also states that the Romans continued this practice of Archers on board merchant vessels.
• Pliny the Elder
  • Pliny states in Book VI that companies of Archers were carried on board merchant vessels because of the danger from Pirates on the coast of India.

Known Units of Archers in Egypt

• Palmyrene Archers at Coptos
  • In 215 CE, an Auxilia unit of mounted Palmyrene Archers was based at Coptos.
  • They were probably instructed to protect the Camel Caravans between Coptos and Myos Hormos.
  • There is a possibility that they may also have sailed with the cargo vessels to India.

Alexandrian Grain Fleet

• A Fleet of Grain ships carried Grain between Alexandria and Rome.
  • The owners of the Alexandrian Grain Fleet were based in Alexandria.
  • They operated their own vessels but were contracted by the Roman State to carry Grain at a fixed price, being instructed when and where to sail.
  • In addition to the Grain, the Grain Fleet also carried the Goods from India, between Alexandria and Rome.
• It is possible that a similar organisation existed for a Fleet in the Red Sea.

The Red Sea