Pyrrhus
Pyrrhus of Epirus (319/318–272 BC) was a Greek general and statesman of the Hellenistic period. He was king of the Molossians and later became king of Epirus and Macedon. Pyrrhus is best known for his campaigns against the Roman Republic and his costly military victories, which gave rise to the term "Pyrrhic victory".
Early Life[edit | edit source]
Pyrrhus was born into the royal Aeacidae dynasty of Epirus. His father was Aeacides of Epirus, and his mother was Phthia of Epirus. At the age of two, Pyrrhus was dethroned along with his family and taken to the court of Glaukias, the king of the Taulantii.
Rise to Power[edit | edit source]
With the help of Glaukias, Pyrrhus was restored to the throne of Epirus in 306 BC. He later married Antigone of Epirus, the stepdaughter of Ptolemy I Soter, which helped him secure an alliance with the Ptolemaic Kingdom.
Military Campaigns[edit | edit source]
Pyrrhus is most famous for his military campaigns in Italy and Sicily. In 280 BC, he responded to a call for help from the Greek city of Tarentum in southern Italy, which was under threat from Rome. Pyrrhus won several battles against the Romans, including the Battle of Heraclea and the Battle of Asculum, but suffered heavy losses.
Pyrrhic Victories[edit | edit source]
The term "Pyrrhic victory" originates from Pyrrhus's costly victories against the Romans. Despite winning battles, the heavy casualties weakened his army, leading him to famously remark, "One more such victory and we are lost."
Later Years and Death[edit | edit source]
After his campaigns in Italy, Pyrrhus turned his attention to Sicily, where he fought against the Carthaginians. He eventually returned to Epirus and later engaged in conflicts in Greece. Pyrrhus died in 272 BC during a street fight in Argos.
Legacy[edit | edit source]
Pyrrhus is remembered as one of the greatest military commanders of his time. His tactics and strategies were studied by later generals, including Hannibal and Julius Caesar.
Related Pages[edit | edit source]
- Epirus
- Molossians
- Hellenistic period
- Roman Republic
- Pyrrhic victory
- Battle of Heraclea
- Battle of Asculum
- Tarentum
- Ptolemaic Kingdom
- Carthaginians
- Argos
Categories[edit | edit source]
 | This Ancient Greek biographical article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
