stories and histories PYRRHUS OF EPIRUS (318BC - 272BC)

Adeyemi Olajide » Pyrrhus of Epirus (318BC - 272BC)

King of Epirus, he was a Greek General and Statesman of the Hellenistic period.

He restored the Kingdom of Epirus and in 295BC moved the capital of his kingdom from Passaron near modern day Ioannina, to Ambracia, modern day Arta.

He went to war against his former ally & brother-in-law Demetrius of Thessaly while Demetrius was besieging Thebes but he was pushed back. By 286BC Pyrrhus had taken control of the Kingdom of Macedon, but was driven out by Lysimachus in 284BC.

In 282BC, the Greek city of Tarentum in Magna Graecia (Southern Italy), was being besieged by the Roman Armies.

Rome was already a major power at this point and was poised to subdue all the Greek cities in Magna Graecia. The Tarentines asked Pyrrhus to lead their war against the Romans. Pyrrhus was encouraged to aid the Tarentines by the Oracle of Delphi. Pyrrhus made an alliance with Ptolemy Keraunos, King of Macedon and arrived in Italy in 280BC.

Pyrrhus army consisted of 20,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, 2,000 archers, 500 slingers, and 20 war elephants in a bid to subdue the Romans. The elephants had been loaned to him by Ptolemy II, who had also promised 9,000 soldiers and a further 50 elephants to defend Epirus while Pyrrhus and his army were away.

Pyrrhus was a Great General who had great victories over Rome and Carthage, but some of his greatest victories would often come at a price, about this he stated: 'If we are victorious in one more battle, we shall be utterly ruined'.

Meaning that ultimate victory inflicted such a heavy toll that it negated any sense of achievement or profit, which is tantamount to defeat ie. a Pyrrhic Victory.

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Author: adex3g 4 months
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