Aliburna was a type of smallgalley used for raiding and patrols. Originally utilized by theLiburnians, a pirate tribe fromDalmatia, it later became a staple of theRoman navy.[1]
A stone tablet (Stele di Novilara) discovered near ancient Pisaurum (nowPesaro) depicts a liburna in the midst of a naval battle. Dating back to the fifth or sixth century BCE, the image likely portrays a fictional clash between theLiburnian andPicene fleets. The liburna is depicted as a light vessel with a single row of oars, one mast, one sail, and a prow curving outward. Beneath the prow, arostrum was installed for striking enemy ships below the waterline.
Initially resembling theancient Greekpenteconter,[1] the liburna featured a single bench with 25 oars on each side. However, during the lateRoman Republic, it evolved into abireme with two rows of oars, maintaining its superior speed, agility, and maneuverability compared totriremes.[1] The Romans adopted the liburna design, making it a vital component of theRoman navy, possibly through influence from theMacedonian navy[clarify] in the latter half of the 1st century BCE. Liburnae played a pivotal role in theBattle of Actium inGreece (31 BCE), cementing the ascent ofAugustus as the unrivaled ruler of the Roman Empire.[citation needed]
The design of the liburna distinguished it from battle triremes,quadriremes, andquinqueremes.[1][2] It measured 109 ft (33 m) in length, 5 m (16 ft) in width, with a draft of 1 m (3 ft 3 in). With two rows of oarsmen, each side had 18 oars. Under sail, the ship could achieve speeds of up to 14 knots, while rowing allowed for speeds exceeding 7 knots.[3]
Such a vessel, also employed as a merchantman, might carry passengers, as recounted by Lycinus in the second-century dialogueLove Affairs (§6), traditionally attributed toLucian: "I had a speedy vessel readied, the kind of bireme used above all by the Liburnians of the Ionian Gulf."[citation needed]
After adopting the liburna, the Romans made modifications to incorporate rams and missile protection, enhancing its suitability for naval use. These enhancements offset the slight reduction in speed.[4] Additionally, the regular Roman military unit needed simplification to ensure smoother operation of the ships. Each ship functioned independently, eliminating the need for the more complex organizational structure typically employed.[5] It is likely that within the navy, liburnae of various sizes were utilized for specific tasks such as scouting and patrolling Roman waters against piracy.[6] The Romans predominantly employed the liburna within the provinces of the empire, where these ships formed the core of the fleets.[7][8][1] Small numbers of liburnae were also integrated into the fleets ofRavenna andMisenum, where many Illyrians, particularly Dalmatae, Liburnians, and Pannonians, served.
Gradually, liburnae became a generic term for various types of Roman ships, including cargo vessels inlate antiquity.Tacitus andSuetonius used it interchangeably with "battleship". Inscriptions listed it last among classes of battleships: hexeres, penteres, quadrieres, trieres, liburna.[9]
The liburna lent its name to a natural cove on the west coast ofTuscany. Over time, the cove's name evolved into Livorna and laterLivorno—the name of a significant port city that emerged at the site long after the disappearance of this type of ship.
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