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The battle of Nomae in 450 was a defeat that
reduced the power of Ducetius, king of the Sicels, and that eventually forced
him into exile. In this period eastern Sicily was split between the native
Sicels, who mainly lived in the interior, and the Greeks, who had founded a
series of cities around the coast. In the 460s the Greek cities had overthrown
a series of tyrants, and Ducetius had taken advantage of this distraction to
create a powerful Sicel league, with himself as its king. Most of his efforts
had been aimed at fellow Sicels, and when he clashed with the Greek city of
Catana in 461 it was as an ally of Syracuse. In 451 Ducetius began a series of
attacks on the Greeks. First he took Aetna, a city founded by colonists
expelled from Catana in 461. He then turned to his west and besieged Motyum, in
the territory of Akragas. Syracuse and Akragas raised armies and advanced to
lift the siege, but they were defeated at the battle of Motyum in 451. The
Syracusan commander was later executed for treason and both armies retreated to
their homes. After the battle Motyum was captured by Ducetius. In 450 both
Akragas and Syracuse returned to the field. Ducetius had taken up a position at
Nomae, possibly somewhere between Piazza Armerina and Barrafranca. This would
have placed him somewhere to the east of Motyum, and to the west of his main
powerbase. The Syracusan army found Ducetius at Nomae. A fierce battle
developed, with heavy losses on both sides, but eventually the Syracusans were
victorious. The Sicel army dissolved, with most of the survivors seeking refuge
in various strongholds. Ducetius's remaining supporters retreated to Motyum,
but this stronghold was soon taken by Akragas. Ducetius's support now drained
away. Fearing that he would be seized by his own men he escaped from his camp
and fled to Syracuse, where he threw himself on the mercy of the citizens. His
plea was successful (probably because he offered to give Syracuse control of
the lands that he still controlled), and he was sent into exile at Corinth.
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