The most learned men know the term "Pyrrhic victory", an exploit against a
force that the success of both progress so brutal and ruins himself.
Derived from Pyrrhus of Epirus, the voracious king of the state's most
powerful Greek world. Here is his story, the man who took every opportunity
and lost everything.
The Battle of Heraclea
It was the year 280 BC. The Greek colony of Taranto in southern Italy would
soon face the final defeat of the hostile and powerful Roman Empire.
The most famous soldier of his time, Pyrrhus, has accepted an offer to
protect the city. In this business if, as in others, he actually played
only dominate the field for himself.
Outnumbered 40 000 to 30 000 of the Pyrrhus army consisted of Thessalian
cavalry, the best of all Greece; twenty elephants destabilizing war;
catastrophically and Alexander Macedonian Phalanx devastatingly effective,
and the archers and slingers.
As the cavalry collided and remote units rained fire, renowned infantry
lines met. Seven offenses phalanges could not break before the Roman
legionnaires, the strongest opponents they had never met. The battle
remained unresolved.
During the fierce battle, Pyrrhus know if he wobbled his soldiers in combat
lose morale to continue. It changed with armor wisdom with a bodyguard, who
was later swarmed and killed.
As spread, his men hesitated as the Romans roared in ecstasy at what they
thought was a turning point. Pyrrhus then removed his helm and a pure
display of courage and leadership, fearlessly rode along its frantic front
lines. Now his own army returns the joy in their own massive uproar. The
heated battle blazed forward.
Realizing that they were evenly matched, Pyrrhus eventually deployed his
elephants to surprise the Roman cavalry support. The frightened horse fled
at the sight of bizarre gargantuans, shredded and caused chaos among the
Romans.
Finally, he launched the Thessalians to ensure victory. Augmented by the
surrounding tribes after his victory at Heraclea and height of its success,
he walked before invading the heart of the empire, Rome itself.
The Battle of Asculum
Pyrrhus was opposed to Asculum, both sides double their previous number and
almost equivalent to 70,000 infantry, cavalry 8000, and others, with 300
cars of different Roman ingenious models created to counter the triumphant
war elephants.
There he would clarify his famous commentary of the Pyrrhic victory. The
Battle of Asculum was so vast and disastrous three accounts exist that
claim completely different strategies and even winners: that of Plutarch,
Dio Cassius and Dionysius.
It is undeniable that, through coordinated maneuvers and routing, the
armies engaged in colossal Pandemonium as Roman swords slashed against the
blows of sarissae Macedonian.
Plutarch's account determined that Pyrrhus defeated the Roman commander,
but his personal army Epirote between mercenaries and allies, was almost
decimated. Although Rome has lost 6,000 men, Pyrrhus lost 3,500 and many
commanders.
If we are victorious in battle over the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined.
A majority of his men, particularly his leadership had been lost. His
Italian allies had more interest to fight the Romans, and against the home
field advantage of rapid replenishment and supplies, he knew he could not
win a war without these reinforcements.
Against Carthage and Sparta
Pyrrhus turned his sights to other conquests, but his fortune had fallen.
Asked to become the ruler of Macedonia after his ally King Ptolemy Keraunos
was killed, he chose to campaign in Sicily against Carthage, the other most
powerful state in the western Mediterranean, for a greater gain.
Although successful militarily, he acted tyrannically Sicilians to try to
collect the human resources it needed, since the fall of their favor. He
returned to southern Italy to defend against Rome once again in the battle
of Benevento, but the result was inconclusive.
Exhausted, he took his army and spent the money in his native country of
Epirus, allowing Rome to dominate the Greek colonies in southern Italy and
forfeiting all wins his Italian campaign, except for Tarentum.
After easily took the disorderly Macedonia against King Antigonus II
Gonatas, Pyrrhus tracked him to secure the throne. Take Antigonus
mercenaries of Pyrrhus directly called the names of Macedonian demoralized
officers at its next meeting with the army of Antigonus convince the entire
infantry to desert.
However, instead of ending the Antigonus escaped Pyrrhus seemed to Sparta
and Argos unabated, the two most valuable cities of the Peloponnese. His
offense was stuck in Sparta unexpectedly strong and when he looked again
now Antigonus had sided with the allies in Argos.
The Battle of Argus
Pyrrhus sent his Gallic forces in the city, win the market, but the
elephants that had proven so vital before had trouble getting past
inconvenient doors Argos. Macedonian Argive forces invaded the narrow
streets of the city.
Seeing surrounded Gauls, he advanced into the city and sent a messenger to
his son Helenus that the body of his army would break the walls of Argos to
its troops to the exit. However, a miscommunication occurred and instead
Helenus went with the rest of the elephants and soldiers.
In the austere environment, he gave a last stand amid great confusion.
While soldiers both left and entered the city, the elephants so useful in
past battles panicked and locked the door. erupted chaos.
While in the fight against an Argos, the old mother soldier, watching from
a roof, threw a tile which struck Pyrrhus of his mount. The fall paralyzed,
and the confirmation of death was given by a Macedonian decapitation.
Alcyoneus, one of the son of Antigonus, took the lead Pyrrhus and rode in
at the feet of his father. Instead of expressing pride as planned,
heartfelt anger hit Alcyoneus Antigonus and was called a barbarian.
He burst into tears, remembering the fate of his ancestors. His father, his
grandfather; Both had suffered the same misfortune dishonorable.
Incinerated in honor of the ceremony and full, Pyrrhus was respected by his
enemies and Helenus sent safely Epirus.
Reconstruction of Argos
Consequences
When news of the death of Pyrrhus, went to Rome Tarentum. the Italian
peninsula was then divided and conquered the Greek colonies become a vital
region of the empire. The war proved Pyrrhic internationally that Rome
could dance with the dominant military powers of the Mediterranean and the
only possibility to halt its expansion, the Hellenistic world foolishly
remained content with a failed invasion.
As for the fate of Epirus, his daughter was murdered as the last of the
Epirote royalty. A federal republic inept sprung, divided into defense
during the Third Macedonian War and ending slavery in the Roman. Antigonus
line continues until Macedonia too fell to Roman rule.
The Roman Empire had seized the supreme domination.
Pyrrhus of Epirus, known for his bravery, insatiability and vain victories
against the great powers of the time: Rome, Carthage, Sparta, Argos; was
laughable finished by the hand of an old woman and part of its roof. It is
immortalized as fierce, daring leader who has lost everything he gained in
life and everything he loved in death. A real Pyrrhic victory: the price of
a hopeless existence for a valiant forever in history.
Learn more: The Roots of Masculinity in ancient Rome
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