As
gan to make complaints in the public assemblies soon as peace was concluded on these terms, he
respecting the demands of Pyrrhus and the conduct promised to return all the Roman prisoners with-
of his troops; but Pyrrhus forth with treated them out ransom.
gan to make complaints in the public assemblies soon as peace was concluded on these terms, he
respecting the demands of Pyrrhus and the conduct promised to return all the Roman prisoners with-
of his troops; but Pyrrhus forth with treated them out ransom.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
Though so young, he bore down for a
Schorn, pp. 396, 397, 2d ed. ) Raoul-Rochette time every thing before him with that impetuous
makes the very ingenious suggestion that the courage, which always distinguished him in his
statue of Athena Hygieia by Pyrrhus should be subsequent engagements. But his efforts could not
identified with that statue which was dedicated by restore the day, and he was obliged to fly from the
Pericles to the goddess in gratitude for the recovery field. Antigonus fell in the battle, and Demetrius
of his favourite Mnesicles from the injuries re became a fugitive ; but Pyrrhus did not desert his
ceived by a fall during the building of the Pro- brother-in-law in his misfortunes, and shortly after-
pylaea. (MNESICLES. ] Be this as it may, it is wards went for him as a hostage into Egypt, when
clear that Pyrrhus was an eminent artist of the Demetrius concluded a peace with Ptolemy. Here
Athenian school at the middle of the fifth cen- Pyrrhus was fortunate enough to win the favour of
tury, B. C.
Berenice, the wife of Ptolemy, and received in
3. Agathobulus F. L. Pyrrhus, a Greek freed marriage Antigone, her daughter by her first hus
man of the Roman era, whose name occurs in an band. Ptolemy now supplied him with a fleet
inscription found at Pesaro, as Figulus Sigillator, and men, and he was thus once more able to return
that is, a maker of the small terra-cotta images to Epeirus. Neoptolemus, probably the son of
called sigilla. (Orelli, Inscr. Lat. Select. No. 4191; Alexander who died in Italy, had reigned from the
R. Rochette, Lettre à M. Schorn, pp. 397, 398, 2d time that Pyrrhus had been driven from the king-
ed. )
[P. S. ] dom ; but as he had made himself unpopular by
PYRRHUS (Túpsos), king of Epeirus, born his harsh and tyrannical rule, Pyrrhus found many
about the year B. C. 318, was the son of Aeacides partisans. The two rivals consented to a compromise
and Phthia, the daughter of Menon of Pharsalus, a and agreed to share the sovereignty between them.
distinguished leader in the struggle between Mace But such an arrangement could not last long; and
donia and Greece after the death of Alexander, Pyrrhus anticipated his own destruction by putting
usually called the Lamian war. The ancestors of his rival to death. This appears to have happened
Pyrrhus claimed descent from Pyrrhus, the son of in B. c. 295, in which year Pyrrhus is said to have
Achilles, who was said to have settled in Epeirus begun to reign (Vell. Pat. i. 14. & 6); and as Cas.
after the Trojan war, and to have become the sander did not die till the end of B. C. 297, the
founder of the race of Molossian kings. His father joint sovereignty of Pyrrhus and Neoptolemus
had succeeded to the throne on the death of his could have lasted only a short time, as it is impro-
cousin Alexander, who was slain in Italy in B. C. bable that Pyrrhus ventured to return to his native
326. Alexander was the brother of Olympias, country during the life-time of his great enemy
the wife of Philip and the mother of Alexander the Cassander.
Great ; and it was this connection with the royal Pyrrhus was twenty-three years of age when he
family of Macedonia, which brought misfortune was firmly established on the throne of Epeirus
upon the early years of Pyrrhus. His father (B. C. 295), and he soon became one of the most
Aeacides had taken part with his relative Olympias, popular princes of his age. His daring courage
and had marched into Macedonia to support her made him a favourite with his troops, and his affa-
against Cassander ; but when the latter proved bility and generosity secured the love of his people.
victorious, and Aeacides and Olympias were obliged His character resembled in many respects that of
to take to flight, the Epeirots, who disliked their his great kinsman, the conqueror of Persia ; and
king and were unwilling to be any longer involved he seems at an early age to have made Alexander
in war with Cassander, met in a general assembly, his model, and to have been fired with the ambition
and deprived Aeacides of the throne. Aeacides of imitating his exploits and treading in his footsteps.
himself was out of the way ; but many of his His eyes were first directed to the conquest of Ma-
friends were put to death, and Pyrrhus, who was cedonia. Master of that country, he might hope to
then a child of only two years old, was with diffi- obtain the sovereignty of Greece ; and with the
culty saved from destruction by the faithful ad- whole of Greece under his sway, there was a bound-
herents of the king. They escape:] with the child less prospect for his ambition, terminating on the
to Glaucias, the king of the Taulantians, an Illyrian one side with the conquest of Italy, Sicily, and
people, who afforded him protection, and nobly Carthage, and on the other with the dominions of
refused to surrender him to Cassander. Aeacides the Greek monarchs in the East. The unsettled
died soon afterwards in battle, and Pyrrhus was state of Macedonia after the death of Cassander.
brought up by Glaucias along with his own children. soon placed the first object of his ambition within
About ten years afterwards, when Demetrius had his grasp. Antipater and Alexander, the sons of
shaken the power of Cassander in Greece, Glaucias Cassander, quarrelled for the inheritance of their
restored Pyrrhus to the throne ; but as he was then father ; and Alexander, unable to maintain his
only twelve years old, the kingdom was governed ground, applied to Pyrrhus for assistance. This
by guardians. But Pyrrhus did not long remain was granted on condition of Alexander's ceding to
in possession of his hereditary dominions. Deme Pyrrhus the whole of the Macedonian dominions
trius was obliged to abandon Greece, in order to on the western side of Greece. These were Acar-
cross over to Asia to the assistance of his father, nania, Amphilochia, and Ambracia, and likewise
Antigonus, who was menaced by the united forces the districts of Tymphaea and Parauaea, which
of Cassander, Ptolemy, Seleucus, and Lysimachus; formed part of Macedonia itself. (Plut. Pyrrh. 6,
and as Cassander had now regained his supremacy with the emendation of Niebuhr, Hist. of Rome,
in Greece, he prevailed upon the Epeirots to expel vol. iii. note 311, Napavalay instead of Olapaxlav. )
their young king a second time. Pyrrhus, who was | Pyrrhus fulfilled his engagements to Alexander
## p. 611 (#627) ############################################
PYRRHUS.
611
PYRRHUS.
and drovė his brother Antipater out of Macedonia, / who brought him the island of Corcym ns a dowry
B. C. 294, though it appears that the latter was But Lanassa, offended with the attention which
subsequently allowed to retain a small portion of Pyrrhus paid to his barbarian wives, had with-
the country. (Thirlwall's Greece, vol. viii. p. 16. ) drawn to her principality of Corcyra, which she
• Pyrrhus had greatly increased his power by the now bestowed upon Demetrius together with her
large accession of territory which he had thus hand. Pyrrhus accordingly returned to Epeirus
gained, and he still further strengthened himself by more incensed than ever against Demetrius The
forming an alliance with the Aetolians ; but the latter had previously withdrawn into Macedonia.
rest of Macedonia unexpectedly fell into the hands At the beginning of the following year, B. C. 288,
of a powerful neighbour. Alexander had applied Pyrrhus took advantage of a dangerous illness of
to Demetrius for assistance at the same time as he Demetrius to invade Macedonia. He advanced as
sent to Pyrrhus for the same purpose ; but as the far as Edessa without meeting with any opposition ;
latter was the nearest at hand, he had restored but when Demetrius was able to put himself at
Alexander to his kingdom before Demetrius could the head of his troops, ho drove his rival out of the
arrive at the scene of action. Demetrius, however, country without difficulty. But as he had now
was unwilling to lose such an opportunity of ag- formed the vast design of recovering the whole of
grandizement ; he' accordingly left Athens, and his father's dominions in Asia, he hastened to con-
reached Macedonia towards the end of the year clude a peace with Pyrrhus, in order to continuo
B. C. 294. He had not been there many days be his preparations undisturbed. His old enemies,
fore he put Alexander to death, and thus became Seleucus, Ptolemy, and Lysimachus, once more
king of Macedonia. Between two such powerful entered into a league against him, and resolved to
neighbours and such restless spirits, as Demetrius crush him in Europe before he had time to cross
and Pyrrhus, jealousies and contentions were sure over into Asia. They easily persuaded Pyrrhus to
to arise. Each was anxious for the dominions of break his recent treaty with Demetrius, and join
the other, and the two former friends soon became the coalition against him. Accordingly, in the
the most deadly enemies. Deïdameia, who might spring of B. C. 287, while Ptolemy appeared with a
have acted as a mediator between her husband and powerful fleet off the coasts of Greece, Lysimachus
her brother, was now dead. The jealousies between invaded the upper and Pyrrhus the lower provinces
the two rivals at length broke out into open war of Macedonia at the same time. Demetriun first
in B. C. 291. It was during this year that Thebes marched against Lysimachus, but alarmed at the
revolted a second time against Demetrius, probably growing disaffection of his troops, and fearing that
at the instigation of Pyrrhus; and while the Ma- they might go over to Lysimachus, who had been
cedonian monarch proceeded in person to chastise one of the veteran generals and companions of Alex-
the rebellious inhabitants, Pyrrhus effected a diver- ander, he suddenly retraced his steps and proceeded
sion in their favour by invading Thessaly, but was against Pyrrhus, who had already advanced as far
compelled to retire into Epeirus before the superior as Beroea and had taken up his quarters in that city.
forces of Demetrius. In B. C. 290 Thebes surren- But Pyrrhus proved a rival as formidable as Lysi-
dered, and Demetrius was thus at liberty to take machus. The kindness with which he had treated
vengeance on Pyrrhus and his Aetolian allies. Ac- his prisoners, and his condescension and affability
cordingly, he invaded Aetolia in the spring of B. C. to the inhabitants of Beroea, had won all hearts;
289, and after overrunning and ravaging the country and accordingly, when Demetrius drew near, his
almost without opposition, he marched into Epeirus, troops deserted him in a body and transferred
leaving Pantauchus with a strong body of his troops their allegiance to Pyrrhus. Demetrius was obliged
to keep the Aetolians in subjection. Pyrrhus ad- to fly in disguise, and leave the kingdom to his
vanced to meet him ; but as the two armies took dif- rival. Pyrrhus, however, was unable to obtain
ferent roads, Demetrius entered Epeirus and Pyrrhus possession of the whole of Macedonia: Lysima-
Aetolia almost at the same time. Pantauchus im- chus claimed his share of the spoil, and the king-
mediately offered him battle, in the midst of which dom was divided between them. But Pyrrhus
he challenged the king to single combat. This was did not long retain his portion ; the Macedonians
immediately accepted by the youthful monarch ; preferred the rule of their old general Lysimachus ;
and in the conflict which ensued, Pyrrhus bore his and Pyrrhus was accordingly driven out of his
enemy to the ground, and would have killed him newly acquired kingdom ; thus leaving Lysimachus
on the spot, had he not been rescued by his friends. master of the entire country. It is doubtful
The Macedonians, dismayed by the fall of their how long Pyrrhus reigned in Macedonia. Dexip-
leader, took to flight and left Pyrrhus master of pus and Porphyry (apud Euseb. Arm. p. 329, ed.
the field. This victory, however, was attended Aucher ; apud Syncell. p. 266, a. ) state that it was
with more important advantages than its immediate only seven months, which would place the expul-
fruits. The impetuous movements and daring sion of Pyrrhus at the end of B. C. 287, or the
valour of the Epeirot king reminded the veterans beginning of 286; but as other writers relate
in the Macedonian army of the great Alexander, (Plut. Pyrr. 12; Paus. i. 10. § 2) that this hap-
and thus paved for Pyrrhus his accession to the pened after the defeat of Demetrius in Syria, which
Macedonian throne. Demetrius meantime had did not take place till the middle of 286, the reign
found no one to resist him in Epeirus, and during of Pyrrhus in Macedonia was probably somewhat
his expedition into this country he also obtained longer. (Comp. Niebuhr, Hist. of Rome, vol. iii.
possession of Corcyra. After the death of Antigone, note 813. )
Pyrrhus, in accordance with the custom of the For the next few years Pyrrhus appears to have
monarchs of his age, had married three wives, in reigned quietly in Epeirus without embarking in
order to strengthen his power by a close connection any new enterprize. "But a life of inactivity was
with foreign princes of these wives one was a insupportable to him, and he pined for fresh scenes
Paeonian princess, another an Illyrian, and a third of action in which he might gain glory and ac-
Lanassa, the daughter of Agathocles of Syracuse, 1 quire dominion. At lengtă, in B. c. 281, the long
!
RR 2
## p. 612 (#628) ############################################
612
PYRRHUS.
PYRRHUS.
wished for opportunity presented itself. The Ta. I own business and retire to Epeirus. Fearing to
rentines, against whom the Romans had declared remain inactive any longer, although he was not yet
war, sent an embassy to Pyrrhus in the summer joined by his allies, Pyrrhus marched out against
of this year, begging him in the name of all the the Romans with his own troops and the Taren-
Italian Greeks to cross over to Italy in order to tines. He took up his position between the towns
conduct the war against the Romans. They told of Pandosia and Heracleia, on the left or northern
him that they only wanted a general, and that bank of the river Siris. The Romans were en-
they would supply him with an army of 350,000 camped on the southern bank of the river, and they
foot, and 20,000 horse, as all the nations of south- were the first to begin the battle. They crossed
ern Italy would flock to his standard. This was the river and were immediately attacked by the
tco tempting an offer to be resisted. It realized one cavalry of Pyrrhus, who led them to the charge in
of the earliest dreams of his ambition. The con person, and distinguished himself as usual by the
quest of Roine would naturally lead to the bove- most daring acts of valour. The Romans, how-
reignty of Sicily and Africa ; and he would then ever, bravely sustained the attack; and Pyrrhus,
be able to return to Greece with the united forces finding that his cavalry could not decide the day,
of Italy, Sicily, and Carthage, to overcome his ordered his infantry to advance. The battle was
rivals in Greece, and reign as master of the world. still contested most furiously ; seven times did
He therefore eagerly promised the Tarentines to both armies advance and retreat ; and it was not
come to their assistance, notwithstanding the re till Pyrrhus brought forward his elephants, which
monstrances of his wise and faithful counsellor bore down every thing before them, that the Ro-
Cineas ; but as he would not trust the success of his mans took to flight. The Thessalian cavalry com-
enterprize to the valour and fidelity of Italian troops, pleted the rout. The Romans fied in the utmost
he began to make preparations to carry over a confusion across the river Siris, leaving their camp
powerful army with him. These preparations occu- to the conqueror. The battle had lasted all day,
pied him during the remainder of this year and the and it was probably the fall of night alone which
beginning of the next. The Greek princes did saved the Roman army from complete destruction.
every thing to favour his views, as they were glad Those who escaped took refuge in an Apulian town,
to get rid of so powerful and dangerous a neighbour. which Niebuhr conjectures to have been Venusia
Antigonus supplied him with ships, Antiochus with The number of the slain in either army is differently
money, and Ptolemy Ceraunus with troops. He stated ; but the loss of Pyrrhus, though inferior to
left as guardian of his kingdom his son Ptolemy that of the Romans, was still very considerable,
by his first wife Antigone, who was then only a and a large proportion of his officers and best troops
youth of fifteen years of age. (Justin. xvii. 2, had fallen. He is reported to have said, as he
xviii. 1. )
viewed the field of battle, “ Another such vic-
Pyrrhus crossed over to Italy early in B. c. 280, tory, and I must return to Epeirus alone. " He
in the thirty-eighth year of his age. He took with acted with generosity after the battle, burying
him 20,000 foot, 3000 horse, 2000 archers, 500 the dead bodies of the Romans like those of his
slingers, and either 50 or 20 elephants, having own troops, and treating his prisoners with kind-
previously sent Milo, one of his generals, with a
detachment of 3000 men. (Plut. Pyrrh. 15; This victory was followed by important results.
Justin. xvii. 2. ) Such was his impatience to ar- The allies of Pyrrhus, who had hitherto kept aloof,
rive at Tarentum in time to enter upon military joined him now; and even many of the subjects of
operations early in the spring, that he set sail be- Rome espoused his cause. But Pyrrhus bad
fore the stormy season of the year had passed ; and bought his victory dearly, and must have learnt
he had scarcely put out to sea before a violent by the experience of the late battle the difficulty he
tempest arose, which dispersed his fleet. He him- would have to encounter in conquering Rome. He
self hardly escaped with his life, and arrived at therefore sent his minister Cineas to Rome with
Tarentum with only a small part of his army, proposals of peace, while he himself collected the
After a time the scattered ships gradually made forces of the allies and marched slowly towards
their appearance ; and after collecting his troops, Central Italy. The terms which he offered were
he began to make preparations to carry on the those of a conqueror. He proposed that the Ro-
war with activity. The inhabitants of Taren- mans should recognise the independence of the
tum were a giddy and licentious people, unac- Greeks in Italy, should restore to the Samnites,
customed to the toils of war, and unwilling to Lucanians, Apulians, and Bruttians, all the pos-
endure its hardships. They accordingly attempted sessions which they had lost in war, and should
to evade entering the ranks of the army, and be- make peace with himself and the Tarentines.
As
gan to make complaints in the public assemblies soon as peace was concluded on these terms, he
respecting the demands of Pyrrhus and the conduct promised to return all the Roman prisoners with-
of his troops; but Pyrrhus forth with treated them out ransom. Cineas, whose persuasive eloquence
as their master rather than as their ally, shut up was said to have won more towns for Pyrrhus than
the theatre and all other public places, and com- his arms, neglected no means to secure the favour
pelled their young men to serve in his ranks. of the Romans for his master, and to induce them
Notwithstanding all the activity of Pyrrhus the to accept the peace. The prospects of the republic
Romans were the first in the field. The consul seemed so dark and threatening that many mem-
M. Valerius Laevinus marched into Lucania ; but bers of the senate thought that it would be
.
as the army of Pyrrhus was inferior to that of the more prudent to comply with his demands; and
Romans, he attempted to gain time by negotia- this party would probably have carried the day,
tion, in order that he might be joined by his Italian had it not been for the patriotic speech of the aged
allies. He accordingly wrote to the consul, offer- Ap. Claudius Caecus, who denounced the idea
ing to arbitrate between Rome and his Italian of a peace with a victorious foe with such effect,
allies ; but Laevinus bluntly told him to mind his that the senate resolved to decline the proposals of
ness.
## p. 613 (#629) ############################################
PYRRHUS.
613
PYRRHUS.
Pyrrhus, and commanded Cineas to quit Rome on of battle, that not more than 6000 of the Romans
the same day.
fell, while Pyrrhus, according to his own state-
Cineas returned to Pyrrhus, and told him he ment in his commentaries, lost 3505 men. This
must hope for nothing from negotiation. The king was the account of Hieronymus, which is pre-
accordingly resolved to prosecute the war with served by Plutarch, and is doubtless correct in the
vigour. He advanced by rapid marches towards main. The Roman annalists, on the contrary,
Roine, plundering the country of the Roman allies either represented it as a drawn battle, or claimed
As he went along. He was followed by the consul the victory for their own nation (Liv. Epit. 13;
Laevinus, whose army had been reinforced by two Zonar. viii. 5; Eutrop. ii. 13; Oros. iv. 1; Flor, i.
legions, which had been levied in the city while 18. 8 9; comp. Mus, Decius, No. 3. ) The vic-
the senate was considering the king's proposals of tory however yielded Pyrrhus no advantage, and
peace. Laevinus, however, did not venture to he was obliged to retire to Tarentum for the winter
attack the superior forces of the enemy, but con- without effecting any thing more during the cam-
tented himself with harassing their march and paign. In the last battle, as well as in the first,
delaying their advance by petty skirmishce. Pyr- ihe brunt of the action had fallen almost ex-
rhus, therefore, continued to advance steadily clusively on the Greek troops of the king ; and the
without meeting with any serious opposition, and state of Greece, which was overrun by the Gauls
at length arrived at Praeneste, which fell into his in this year, made it hopeless for hiin to obtain
handa. He was now only twenty-four miles from any reinforcements from Epeirus. He was therefore
Rome, and his outposts advanced six miles further. unwilling to hazard his surviving Greeks by another
Another march would have brought him under the campaign with the Romans, and accordingly lent
walls of the city ; but here his progress was stop- a ready ear to the invitations of the Greeks in
ped. At this moment he was informed that peace Sicily, who begged him to come to their assistance
was concluded with the Etruscans, and that the against the Carthaginians. This seemed an easier
other consul, Ti. Coruncanius, had returned with enterprise than the one he was already engaged in,
his army to Rome. All hope was now gone of and it had moreover the charm of novelty, which
compelling the Romans to accept the peace, and always had great attractions for Pyrrhus. It was
he therefore resolved to retreat. He retired slowly necessary, however, first to suspend hostilities with
into Campania, and from thence withdrew into the Romans, who were likewise anxious to get rid
winter-quarters to Tarentum. No other battle was of so formidable an opponent that they might com-
fought this year.
plete the subjugation of southern Italy without
As soon as the armies were quartered for the further interruption. When both parties had the
winter, the Romans sent an embassy to Pyrrhus, same wishes, it was not difficult to find a fair pre-
to endeavour to obtain the ransom of the Roman text for bringing the war to a conclusion. This
prisoners or their exchange for an equal number of was afforded at the beginning of the following
the Tarentines or their allies. The ambassadors were year, B. C. 278, by one of the servants of Pyrrhus
received by Pyrrhus in the most distinguished deserting to the Romans and proposing to the
manner; and his interviews with C. Fabricius consuls to poison his master. The consuls Fa-
Luscinus, who was at the head of the embassy, bricius and Aemilius sent back the deserter to the
form one of the most celebrated stories in Roman king, stating that they abhorred a victory gained
history, and bare been briefly related elsewhere. by treason. Thereupon Pyrrhus, to show his gra-
(Vol. II. p. 842, a. ] He refused, however, to titude, sent Cineas to Rome with all the Roman
comply with the request of the Romans ; but at prisoners without ransom and without conditions
the same time to show them his trust in their and the Romans appear to have granted him a
honour, and his admiration of their character, he al- truce, though not a formal peace, as he had not
lowed them to go to Rome in order to celebrate the consented to evacuate Italy.
Saturnalia, stipulating that they were to return to Pyrrhus was now at liberty to cross over into
Tarentum if the senate would not accept the terms Sicily, which he did immediately afterwards,
which he had previously offered them through leaving Milo with part of his troops in possession
Cineas. The senate remained firm in their resolve, of Tarentum, and his son Alexander with another
and all the prisoners returned to Pyrrhus, the garrison at Locri (Justin, xviii
. 2; Zonar. viii. 5. )
punishment of death having been denounced against The Tarentines had demanded that his troops
those who should remain in the city. This is the should be withdrawn, if he would not assist them
account in Appian (Samm. x. 4, 5), and Plutarch in the field ; but Pyrrhus paid no heed to their
(Pyrrh. 20); but other writers state with less remonstrances, and retained possession of their
probability that the prisoners were set free by town, as well as of Locri, in hopes of being soon
Pyrrhus unconditionally and without ransom. (Liv. able to return to Italy at the head of the Greeks
Epit. 13; Zonar. viii. 4; Flor. i. 18; Eutrop. ü. of Sicily, of which island his warm imagination had
7; Aurel Vict. de Vir. II. 35. )
already pictured him as the sovereign.
of the campaiga of the following year, B. C. 279, Pyrrhus remained in Sicily upwards of two
we know but litile. The consuls were P. Decius years, namely from the middle of B. C. 478, to the
Mus and P. Sulpicius Saverrio. Apulia was the latter end of B. c. 476. At first he met with bril-
field of operations, and the great battle of the cam- liant success in Sicily. He drove the Cartha-
paign was fought near Asculum. The first en- ginians before him, and took the strongly fortified
counter took place near the banks of a river, where city of Eryx, in the assault of which he was the
the uneven nature of the ground was ill adapted first to mount the scaling ladders, and distin-
for the movements of the phalanx, and the Romans guished himself as usual by his daring and im-
accordingly gained the advantage. But Pyrrhus petuous valour. The Carthaginians became so
manoeuvred so as to bring the enemy into the alarmed at his success, that they offered him both
open plain, where the Romans were defeated, and ships and money on condition of his forming an
filed to their camp. This was so near to the field | alliance with them, although they had only a
;
RR 3
## p. 614 (#630) ############################################
614
PYRRHUS.
PYRRHUS.
1
short time before made a treaty with the Romans. camp. Still their arrival was quite unexpected,
Pyrrhus was foolish enough to reject this offer, but as a battle was now inevitable, Curius led out
which would have afforded him immense advan- his men. The troops of Pyrrhus, exhausted by
inges for the prosecution of the war with home ; fatigue, were easily put to the rout ; two elephants
and at the instigation of the Sicilian Greeks he were killed and eight more taken. Encouraged by
refused to come to any terms with the Cartha- this success, Curius no longer hesitated to meet
ginians unless they would evacuate Sicily alto- the king in the open plain. One wing of the
gether. Shortly after Pyrrhus received a severe Romans was victorious. The other was driven back
repulse in an attempt which he made upon the im- by the phalanx and the elephants to their camp,
pregnable town of Lily baeum. The prestige of but their retreat was covered by a shower of mis-
success was now gone. The Greeks, who had in- siles from the ramparts of the camp, which so an-
vited him to the island, were desirous to see him noyed the elephants that they turned round and
depart, and began to form cabals and plots against trod down all before them. The Romans now
him. This led to retaliation on the part of Pyrrhus, returned to the charge, and easily drove back the
and to acts which were deemed both cruel and enemy which had been thus thrown into disorder.
tyrannical by the Greeks. He was involved in The rout was complete, and Pyrrhus arrived at
plots and insurrections of all kinds, and soon Tarentum with only a few horsemen. It was now
became as anxious to abandon the island as he impossible to continue the war any longer without
had been before to leave Italy. Accordingly, when a fresh supply of troops, and he therefore applied
bis Italian allies again begged him to come to their to the kings of Macedonia and Syria for assistance ;
ussistance, he readily complied with their request. but as they turned a deaf ear to his request, he had
Pyrrhus returned to Italy in the autumn of no alternative but to quit Italy. He crossed over
B. C. 276.
He was attacked by a Carthaginian to Greece towards the end of the year, leaving Milo
tjeet on his passage, and lost seventy of his ships with a garrison at Tarentum, as if he still clung to
of war, which he had obtained in Sicily ; and the idea of returning to Italy at some future time.
when he landed, he had to fight his way through Pyrrhus arrived in Epeirus at the end of B. C.
the Mamertines, who had crossed over from Sicily 274, after an absence of six years. He brought
to dispute his passage. He defeated them after a back with him only 8000 foot and 500 horse, and
sharp struggle, and eventually reached Tarentum had not money to maintain even these without
in safety. His troops were now almost the same undertaking new wars. Accordingly, at the be.
in number as when he first landed in Italy, but ginning of the following year, B. c. 273, he invaded
very different in quality. His faithful Epeirots had Macedonia, of which Antigonus Gonatas, the son of
for the most part fallen, and his present soldiers Demetrius, was at that time king. His army bad
consisted chiefly of mercenaries, whom he had levied been reinforced by a body of Gallic mercenaries, and
in Italy, and on whose fidelity he could only rely his only object at first seems to have been plunder.
so long as he led them to victory, and supplied But his success far exceeded his expectations. He
them with pay and plunder. Pyrrhus did not obtained possession of several towns without re-
remain inactive at Tarentum, but forth with com- sistance ; and when at lergth Antigonus advanced
menced operations, although the season seems to to meet him, the Macedonian monarch was deserted
have been far advanced. He recovered Locri, by his own troops, who welcomed Pyrrhus as their
which had revolted to the Romans; and as he king. Pyrrhus thus became king of Macedonia a
here found himself in great difficulties for want of second tiine, but had scarcely obtained possession
money to pay his troops, and could obtain none of the kingdom before his restless spirit drove him
from his allies, he was induced at the advice of into new enterprises. Cleonymus had many years
some Epicureans to take possession of the treasures before been excluded from the Spartan throne; and he
of the temple of Proserpine in that town. The bad recently received a new insult from the family
ships in which the money was to be embarked to which was reigning in his place. Acrotatus, the son
be carried to Tarentum, were driven back by a of the Spartan king Areus, had seduced Chelidonis,
storm to Locri. This circumstance deeply affected the young wife of Cleonymus, and the latter, now
the mind of Pyrrhus; he ordered the treasures to burning for revenge, repaired to the court of Pyr-
be restored to the temple, and put to death the rhus, and persuaded him to make war upon Sparta.
unfortunate men who had advised him to commit This invitation was readily complied with: and
the sacrilegious act ; and from this time he became Pyrrhus accordingly marched into Laconia in the
haunted by the idea, as he himself related in his following year, B. C. 272, with an army of 25,000
memoirs, that the wrath of Proserpine was pur- foot, 2000 horse, and 24 elephants. Such a force
suing him and dragging him down to ruin. seemed irresistible ; no preparations had been made
(Dionys. xix. 9, 10; Appian, Samn. xii. )
for defence, and king Areus himself was absent in
The following year, B. c. 274, closed the career Crete. As soon as Pyrrhus arrived, Cleonymus
of Pyrrhus in Italy. The consuls were Curius urged him to attack the city forth with, But as
Dentatus and Servilius Merenda ; 'of whom the the day was far spent, Pyrrhus resolved to defer
former marched into Samnium and the latter into the attack till next day, fearing that his soldiers
Lucania. Pyrrhus advanced against Curius, who would pillage the city, if it were taken in the night.
was encamped in the neighbourhood of Beneven- But during the night the Spartans were not idle.
tuin, and resolved to attack him before he was All the inhabitants, old and young, men and wo-
joined by his colleague. As Curius, however, did men, laboured incessantly in digging a deep ditch
not wish to risk a battle with his own army alone, opposite the enemy's camp, and at the end of each
Pyrrhus planned an attack upon his camp by ditch formed a strong barricade of waggons. The
night. But he miscalculated the time and the next day Pyrrhus advanced to the assault, but was
distance ; the torches burnt out, the men missed repulsed by the Spartans, who fought under their
their way, and it was already broad day-light youthful leader Acrotatus in a manner worthy of
wen he reached the heights above the Roman their ancient courage. The assault was again re-
;
1
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PYRRHUS.
615
PYRRHUS.
newed on the next day, but with no better success ; ! ordered the body to be interred with becoming
and the arrival of Areus with 2000 Cretans, as bonours. His remains were deposited by the Ar-
well as of other auxiliary forces, at length com- gives in the temple of Demeter. "(Paus. 1. 13. 8 8. )
pelled Pyrrhus to abandon all hopes of taking the Pyrrhus perished in B. c. 272, in the forty-sixth
city. He did not, however, relinquish his enter- year of his age, and in the twenty-third of his
prise altogether, but resolved to winter in Pelopon- reign. He was the greatest warrior and one of the
Tiesus, that he might be ready to renew operations best princes of his time. If judged by a righteous
at the commencement of the spring. But while standard of public morality, he will appear as a ma
making preparations for this object, he received an narch intent only upon his personal aggrandisement,
invitation from Aristeas, one of the leading citizens and ready to sacrifice the rights of other nations
at Argos, to assist him against his rival Aristippus, to the advancement of his glory and the gratifi-
whose cause was espoused by Antigonus. Pyrrhus cation of his ambition. But if judged by the
forth with commenced his march from the neighbour morality of the profligate times in which he lived,
hood of Sparta, but did not reach Argog without when every Greek prince thought he had a right
some sharp fighting, as the Spartans under Areus to whatever dominions his sword could win, we
both molested his march and occupied some of the shall see more to admire than to censurc in his
pnsses through which his road lay. In one of conduct. His government of his native dominions
these encounters his eldest son Ptolemy fell, greatly seems to have been just and lenient, for his Epei-
to the grief of his father, who avenged his death by rots always remained faithful to him even during
killing with his own hand the leader of the Lacedae- his long absence in Italy. and Sicily. His foreign
nionian detachment which had destroyed his son. On wars were carried on with no unnecessary cruelty
arriving in the neighbourhood of Argos, he found and oppression, and he is accused of fewer crimes
Antigonus encamped on one of the heights near the than any of his contemporaries. The greatest
city, but he could not induce him to risk a battle. testimony to the excellence of his private life is,
There was a party at Argos, which did not belong that in an age of treachery and corruption he
to either of the contending factions, and which was ever retained the affection of his personal attend-
anxious to get rid both of Pyrrhus and Antigonus. ants; and hence, with the solitary exception of
They accordingly sent an embassy to the two the physician who offered to poison him, we read
kings, begging them to withdraw from the city. of no instance in which he was deserted or betrayed
Antigonus promised compliance, and sent his son by any of his officers or friends. With his daring
as a hostage ; but though Pyrrhus did not refuse, courage, his military skill, his affable deportment,
he would not give any hostage. In the night-time and his kingly bearing, he might have become the
Aristeas admitted Pyrrhus into the city, who most powerful monarch of his day, if he had
marched into the market-place with part his steadily and perseveringly pursued the immediate
troops, leaving his son Helenus with the main body object before him. But he never rested satisfied
of his army on the outside. But the alarm having with any acquisition, and was ever grasping at
been given, the citadel was seized by the Argives some fresh object: hence Antigonus compared him
of the opposite faction. Areus with his Spartans, to a gambler, who made many good throws with
who had followed close upon Pyrrhus, was ad- the dice, but was unable to make the proper use of
mitted within the walls, and Antigonus also sent the game. Pyrrhus was regarded in subsequent
a portion of his troops into the city, under the times as one of the greatest generals that had ever
command of his son Halcyoneus, while he himself lived. Procles, the Carthaginian, thought him
remained without with the bulk of his forces. On superior even to Alexander in the military art
the dawn of day Pyrrhus saw that all the strong (Paus. iv. 35. § 4); and Hannibal said that of all
places were in the possession of the enemy, and generals Pyrrhus was the first, Scipio the second,
that it would be necessary for him to retreat.
Schorn, pp. 396, 397, 2d ed. ) Raoul-Rochette time every thing before him with that impetuous
makes the very ingenious suggestion that the courage, which always distinguished him in his
statue of Athena Hygieia by Pyrrhus should be subsequent engagements. But his efforts could not
identified with that statue which was dedicated by restore the day, and he was obliged to fly from the
Pericles to the goddess in gratitude for the recovery field. Antigonus fell in the battle, and Demetrius
of his favourite Mnesicles from the injuries re became a fugitive ; but Pyrrhus did not desert his
ceived by a fall during the building of the Pro- brother-in-law in his misfortunes, and shortly after-
pylaea. (MNESICLES. ] Be this as it may, it is wards went for him as a hostage into Egypt, when
clear that Pyrrhus was an eminent artist of the Demetrius concluded a peace with Ptolemy. Here
Athenian school at the middle of the fifth cen- Pyrrhus was fortunate enough to win the favour of
tury, B. C.
Berenice, the wife of Ptolemy, and received in
3. Agathobulus F. L. Pyrrhus, a Greek freed marriage Antigone, her daughter by her first hus
man of the Roman era, whose name occurs in an band. Ptolemy now supplied him with a fleet
inscription found at Pesaro, as Figulus Sigillator, and men, and he was thus once more able to return
that is, a maker of the small terra-cotta images to Epeirus. Neoptolemus, probably the son of
called sigilla. (Orelli, Inscr. Lat. Select. No. 4191; Alexander who died in Italy, had reigned from the
R. Rochette, Lettre à M. Schorn, pp. 397, 398, 2d time that Pyrrhus had been driven from the king-
ed. )
[P. S. ] dom ; but as he had made himself unpopular by
PYRRHUS (Túpsos), king of Epeirus, born his harsh and tyrannical rule, Pyrrhus found many
about the year B. C. 318, was the son of Aeacides partisans. The two rivals consented to a compromise
and Phthia, the daughter of Menon of Pharsalus, a and agreed to share the sovereignty between them.
distinguished leader in the struggle between Mace But such an arrangement could not last long; and
donia and Greece after the death of Alexander, Pyrrhus anticipated his own destruction by putting
usually called the Lamian war. The ancestors of his rival to death. This appears to have happened
Pyrrhus claimed descent from Pyrrhus, the son of in B. c. 295, in which year Pyrrhus is said to have
Achilles, who was said to have settled in Epeirus begun to reign (Vell. Pat. i. 14. & 6); and as Cas.
after the Trojan war, and to have become the sander did not die till the end of B. C. 297, the
founder of the race of Molossian kings. His father joint sovereignty of Pyrrhus and Neoptolemus
had succeeded to the throne on the death of his could have lasted only a short time, as it is impro-
cousin Alexander, who was slain in Italy in B. C. bable that Pyrrhus ventured to return to his native
326. Alexander was the brother of Olympias, country during the life-time of his great enemy
the wife of Philip and the mother of Alexander the Cassander.
Great ; and it was this connection with the royal Pyrrhus was twenty-three years of age when he
family of Macedonia, which brought misfortune was firmly established on the throne of Epeirus
upon the early years of Pyrrhus. His father (B. C. 295), and he soon became one of the most
Aeacides had taken part with his relative Olympias, popular princes of his age. His daring courage
and had marched into Macedonia to support her made him a favourite with his troops, and his affa-
against Cassander ; but when the latter proved bility and generosity secured the love of his people.
victorious, and Aeacides and Olympias were obliged His character resembled in many respects that of
to take to flight, the Epeirots, who disliked their his great kinsman, the conqueror of Persia ; and
king and were unwilling to be any longer involved he seems at an early age to have made Alexander
in war with Cassander, met in a general assembly, his model, and to have been fired with the ambition
and deprived Aeacides of the throne. Aeacides of imitating his exploits and treading in his footsteps.
himself was out of the way ; but many of his His eyes were first directed to the conquest of Ma-
friends were put to death, and Pyrrhus, who was cedonia. Master of that country, he might hope to
then a child of only two years old, was with diffi- obtain the sovereignty of Greece ; and with the
culty saved from destruction by the faithful ad- whole of Greece under his sway, there was a bound-
herents of the king. They escape:] with the child less prospect for his ambition, terminating on the
to Glaucias, the king of the Taulantians, an Illyrian one side with the conquest of Italy, Sicily, and
people, who afforded him protection, and nobly Carthage, and on the other with the dominions of
refused to surrender him to Cassander. Aeacides the Greek monarchs in the East. The unsettled
died soon afterwards in battle, and Pyrrhus was state of Macedonia after the death of Cassander.
brought up by Glaucias along with his own children. soon placed the first object of his ambition within
About ten years afterwards, when Demetrius had his grasp. Antipater and Alexander, the sons of
shaken the power of Cassander in Greece, Glaucias Cassander, quarrelled for the inheritance of their
restored Pyrrhus to the throne ; but as he was then father ; and Alexander, unable to maintain his
only twelve years old, the kingdom was governed ground, applied to Pyrrhus for assistance. This
by guardians. But Pyrrhus did not long remain was granted on condition of Alexander's ceding to
in possession of his hereditary dominions. Deme Pyrrhus the whole of the Macedonian dominions
trius was obliged to abandon Greece, in order to on the western side of Greece. These were Acar-
cross over to Asia to the assistance of his father, nania, Amphilochia, and Ambracia, and likewise
Antigonus, who was menaced by the united forces the districts of Tymphaea and Parauaea, which
of Cassander, Ptolemy, Seleucus, and Lysimachus; formed part of Macedonia itself. (Plut. Pyrrh. 6,
and as Cassander had now regained his supremacy with the emendation of Niebuhr, Hist. of Rome,
in Greece, he prevailed upon the Epeirots to expel vol. iii. note 311, Napavalay instead of Olapaxlav. )
their young king a second time. Pyrrhus, who was | Pyrrhus fulfilled his engagements to Alexander
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PYRRHUS.
and drovė his brother Antipater out of Macedonia, / who brought him the island of Corcym ns a dowry
B. C. 294, though it appears that the latter was But Lanassa, offended with the attention which
subsequently allowed to retain a small portion of Pyrrhus paid to his barbarian wives, had with-
the country. (Thirlwall's Greece, vol. viii. p. 16. ) drawn to her principality of Corcyra, which she
• Pyrrhus had greatly increased his power by the now bestowed upon Demetrius together with her
large accession of territory which he had thus hand. Pyrrhus accordingly returned to Epeirus
gained, and he still further strengthened himself by more incensed than ever against Demetrius The
forming an alliance with the Aetolians ; but the latter had previously withdrawn into Macedonia.
rest of Macedonia unexpectedly fell into the hands At the beginning of the following year, B. C. 288,
of a powerful neighbour. Alexander had applied Pyrrhus took advantage of a dangerous illness of
to Demetrius for assistance at the same time as he Demetrius to invade Macedonia. He advanced as
sent to Pyrrhus for the same purpose ; but as the far as Edessa without meeting with any opposition ;
latter was the nearest at hand, he had restored but when Demetrius was able to put himself at
Alexander to his kingdom before Demetrius could the head of his troops, ho drove his rival out of the
arrive at the scene of action. Demetrius, however, country without difficulty. But as he had now
was unwilling to lose such an opportunity of ag- formed the vast design of recovering the whole of
grandizement ; he' accordingly left Athens, and his father's dominions in Asia, he hastened to con-
reached Macedonia towards the end of the year clude a peace with Pyrrhus, in order to continuo
B. C. 294. He had not been there many days be his preparations undisturbed. His old enemies,
fore he put Alexander to death, and thus became Seleucus, Ptolemy, and Lysimachus, once more
king of Macedonia. Between two such powerful entered into a league against him, and resolved to
neighbours and such restless spirits, as Demetrius crush him in Europe before he had time to cross
and Pyrrhus, jealousies and contentions were sure over into Asia. They easily persuaded Pyrrhus to
to arise. Each was anxious for the dominions of break his recent treaty with Demetrius, and join
the other, and the two former friends soon became the coalition against him. Accordingly, in the
the most deadly enemies. Deïdameia, who might spring of B. C. 287, while Ptolemy appeared with a
have acted as a mediator between her husband and powerful fleet off the coasts of Greece, Lysimachus
her brother, was now dead. The jealousies between invaded the upper and Pyrrhus the lower provinces
the two rivals at length broke out into open war of Macedonia at the same time. Demetriun first
in B. C. 291. It was during this year that Thebes marched against Lysimachus, but alarmed at the
revolted a second time against Demetrius, probably growing disaffection of his troops, and fearing that
at the instigation of Pyrrhus; and while the Ma- they might go over to Lysimachus, who had been
cedonian monarch proceeded in person to chastise one of the veteran generals and companions of Alex-
the rebellious inhabitants, Pyrrhus effected a diver- ander, he suddenly retraced his steps and proceeded
sion in their favour by invading Thessaly, but was against Pyrrhus, who had already advanced as far
compelled to retire into Epeirus before the superior as Beroea and had taken up his quarters in that city.
forces of Demetrius. In B. C. 290 Thebes surren- But Pyrrhus proved a rival as formidable as Lysi-
dered, and Demetrius was thus at liberty to take machus. The kindness with which he had treated
vengeance on Pyrrhus and his Aetolian allies. Ac- his prisoners, and his condescension and affability
cordingly, he invaded Aetolia in the spring of B. C. to the inhabitants of Beroea, had won all hearts;
289, and after overrunning and ravaging the country and accordingly, when Demetrius drew near, his
almost without opposition, he marched into Epeirus, troops deserted him in a body and transferred
leaving Pantauchus with a strong body of his troops their allegiance to Pyrrhus. Demetrius was obliged
to keep the Aetolians in subjection. Pyrrhus ad- to fly in disguise, and leave the kingdom to his
vanced to meet him ; but as the two armies took dif- rival. Pyrrhus, however, was unable to obtain
ferent roads, Demetrius entered Epeirus and Pyrrhus possession of the whole of Macedonia: Lysima-
Aetolia almost at the same time. Pantauchus im- chus claimed his share of the spoil, and the king-
mediately offered him battle, in the midst of which dom was divided between them. But Pyrrhus
he challenged the king to single combat. This was did not long retain his portion ; the Macedonians
immediately accepted by the youthful monarch ; preferred the rule of their old general Lysimachus ;
and in the conflict which ensued, Pyrrhus bore his and Pyrrhus was accordingly driven out of his
enemy to the ground, and would have killed him newly acquired kingdom ; thus leaving Lysimachus
on the spot, had he not been rescued by his friends. master of the entire country. It is doubtful
The Macedonians, dismayed by the fall of their how long Pyrrhus reigned in Macedonia. Dexip-
leader, took to flight and left Pyrrhus master of pus and Porphyry (apud Euseb. Arm. p. 329, ed.
the field. This victory, however, was attended Aucher ; apud Syncell. p. 266, a. ) state that it was
with more important advantages than its immediate only seven months, which would place the expul-
fruits. The impetuous movements and daring sion of Pyrrhus at the end of B. C. 287, or the
valour of the Epeirot king reminded the veterans beginning of 286; but as other writers relate
in the Macedonian army of the great Alexander, (Plut. Pyrr. 12; Paus. i. 10. § 2) that this hap-
and thus paved for Pyrrhus his accession to the pened after the defeat of Demetrius in Syria, which
Macedonian throne. Demetrius meantime had did not take place till the middle of 286, the reign
found no one to resist him in Epeirus, and during of Pyrrhus in Macedonia was probably somewhat
his expedition into this country he also obtained longer. (Comp. Niebuhr, Hist. of Rome, vol. iii.
possession of Corcyra. After the death of Antigone, note 813. )
Pyrrhus, in accordance with the custom of the For the next few years Pyrrhus appears to have
monarchs of his age, had married three wives, in reigned quietly in Epeirus without embarking in
order to strengthen his power by a close connection any new enterprize. "But a life of inactivity was
with foreign princes of these wives one was a insupportable to him, and he pined for fresh scenes
Paeonian princess, another an Illyrian, and a third of action in which he might gain glory and ac-
Lanassa, the daughter of Agathocles of Syracuse, 1 quire dominion. At lengtă, in B. c. 281, the long
!
RR 2
## p. 612 (#628) ############################################
612
PYRRHUS.
PYRRHUS.
wished for opportunity presented itself. The Ta. I own business and retire to Epeirus. Fearing to
rentines, against whom the Romans had declared remain inactive any longer, although he was not yet
war, sent an embassy to Pyrrhus in the summer joined by his allies, Pyrrhus marched out against
of this year, begging him in the name of all the the Romans with his own troops and the Taren-
Italian Greeks to cross over to Italy in order to tines. He took up his position between the towns
conduct the war against the Romans. They told of Pandosia and Heracleia, on the left or northern
him that they only wanted a general, and that bank of the river Siris. The Romans were en-
they would supply him with an army of 350,000 camped on the southern bank of the river, and they
foot, and 20,000 horse, as all the nations of south- were the first to begin the battle. They crossed
ern Italy would flock to his standard. This was the river and were immediately attacked by the
tco tempting an offer to be resisted. It realized one cavalry of Pyrrhus, who led them to the charge in
of the earliest dreams of his ambition. The con person, and distinguished himself as usual by the
quest of Roine would naturally lead to the bove- most daring acts of valour. The Romans, how-
reignty of Sicily and Africa ; and he would then ever, bravely sustained the attack; and Pyrrhus,
be able to return to Greece with the united forces finding that his cavalry could not decide the day,
of Italy, Sicily, and Carthage, to overcome his ordered his infantry to advance. The battle was
rivals in Greece, and reign as master of the world. still contested most furiously ; seven times did
He therefore eagerly promised the Tarentines to both armies advance and retreat ; and it was not
come to their assistance, notwithstanding the re till Pyrrhus brought forward his elephants, which
monstrances of his wise and faithful counsellor bore down every thing before them, that the Ro-
Cineas ; but as he would not trust the success of his mans took to flight. The Thessalian cavalry com-
enterprize to the valour and fidelity of Italian troops, pleted the rout. The Romans fied in the utmost
he began to make preparations to carry over a confusion across the river Siris, leaving their camp
powerful army with him. These preparations occu- to the conqueror. The battle had lasted all day,
pied him during the remainder of this year and the and it was probably the fall of night alone which
beginning of the next. The Greek princes did saved the Roman army from complete destruction.
every thing to favour his views, as they were glad Those who escaped took refuge in an Apulian town,
to get rid of so powerful and dangerous a neighbour. which Niebuhr conjectures to have been Venusia
Antigonus supplied him with ships, Antiochus with The number of the slain in either army is differently
money, and Ptolemy Ceraunus with troops. He stated ; but the loss of Pyrrhus, though inferior to
left as guardian of his kingdom his son Ptolemy that of the Romans, was still very considerable,
by his first wife Antigone, who was then only a and a large proportion of his officers and best troops
youth of fifteen years of age. (Justin. xvii. 2, had fallen. He is reported to have said, as he
xviii. 1. )
viewed the field of battle, “ Another such vic-
Pyrrhus crossed over to Italy early in B. c. 280, tory, and I must return to Epeirus alone. " He
in the thirty-eighth year of his age. He took with acted with generosity after the battle, burying
him 20,000 foot, 3000 horse, 2000 archers, 500 the dead bodies of the Romans like those of his
slingers, and either 50 or 20 elephants, having own troops, and treating his prisoners with kind-
previously sent Milo, one of his generals, with a
detachment of 3000 men. (Plut. Pyrrh. 15; This victory was followed by important results.
Justin. xvii. 2. ) Such was his impatience to ar- The allies of Pyrrhus, who had hitherto kept aloof,
rive at Tarentum in time to enter upon military joined him now; and even many of the subjects of
operations early in the spring, that he set sail be- Rome espoused his cause. But Pyrrhus bad
fore the stormy season of the year had passed ; and bought his victory dearly, and must have learnt
he had scarcely put out to sea before a violent by the experience of the late battle the difficulty he
tempest arose, which dispersed his fleet. He him- would have to encounter in conquering Rome. He
self hardly escaped with his life, and arrived at therefore sent his minister Cineas to Rome with
Tarentum with only a small part of his army, proposals of peace, while he himself collected the
After a time the scattered ships gradually made forces of the allies and marched slowly towards
their appearance ; and after collecting his troops, Central Italy. The terms which he offered were
he began to make preparations to carry on the those of a conqueror. He proposed that the Ro-
war with activity. The inhabitants of Taren- mans should recognise the independence of the
tum were a giddy and licentious people, unac- Greeks in Italy, should restore to the Samnites,
customed to the toils of war, and unwilling to Lucanians, Apulians, and Bruttians, all the pos-
endure its hardships. They accordingly attempted sessions which they had lost in war, and should
to evade entering the ranks of the army, and be- make peace with himself and the Tarentines.
As
gan to make complaints in the public assemblies soon as peace was concluded on these terms, he
respecting the demands of Pyrrhus and the conduct promised to return all the Roman prisoners with-
of his troops; but Pyrrhus forth with treated them out ransom. Cineas, whose persuasive eloquence
as their master rather than as their ally, shut up was said to have won more towns for Pyrrhus than
the theatre and all other public places, and com- his arms, neglected no means to secure the favour
pelled their young men to serve in his ranks. of the Romans for his master, and to induce them
Notwithstanding all the activity of Pyrrhus the to accept the peace. The prospects of the republic
Romans were the first in the field. The consul seemed so dark and threatening that many mem-
M. Valerius Laevinus marched into Lucania ; but bers of the senate thought that it would be
.
as the army of Pyrrhus was inferior to that of the more prudent to comply with his demands; and
Romans, he attempted to gain time by negotia- this party would probably have carried the day,
tion, in order that he might be joined by his Italian had it not been for the patriotic speech of the aged
allies. He accordingly wrote to the consul, offer- Ap. Claudius Caecus, who denounced the idea
ing to arbitrate between Rome and his Italian of a peace with a victorious foe with such effect,
allies ; but Laevinus bluntly told him to mind his that the senate resolved to decline the proposals of
ness.
## p. 613 (#629) ############################################
PYRRHUS.
613
PYRRHUS.
Pyrrhus, and commanded Cineas to quit Rome on of battle, that not more than 6000 of the Romans
the same day.
fell, while Pyrrhus, according to his own state-
Cineas returned to Pyrrhus, and told him he ment in his commentaries, lost 3505 men. This
must hope for nothing from negotiation. The king was the account of Hieronymus, which is pre-
accordingly resolved to prosecute the war with served by Plutarch, and is doubtless correct in the
vigour. He advanced by rapid marches towards main. The Roman annalists, on the contrary,
Roine, plundering the country of the Roman allies either represented it as a drawn battle, or claimed
As he went along. He was followed by the consul the victory for their own nation (Liv. Epit. 13;
Laevinus, whose army had been reinforced by two Zonar. viii. 5; Eutrop. ii. 13; Oros. iv. 1; Flor, i.
legions, which had been levied in the city while 18. 8 9; comp. Mus, Decius, No. 3. ) The vic-
the senate was considering the king's proposals of tory however yielded Pyrrhus no advantage, and
peace. Laevinus, however, did not venture to he was obliged to retire to Tarentum for the winter
attack the superior forces of the enemy, but con- without effecting any thing more during the cam-
tented himself with harassing their march and paign. In the last battle, as well as in the first,
delaying their advance by petty skirmishce. Pyr- ihe brunt of the action had fallen almost ex-
rhus, therefore, continued to advance steadily clusively on the Greek troops of the king ; and the
without meeting with any serious opposition, and state of Greece, which was overrun by the Gauls
at length arrived at Praeneste, which fell into his in this year, made it hopeless for hiin to obtain
handa. He was now only twenty-four miles from any reinforcements from Epeirus. He was therefore
Rome, and his outposts advanced six miles further. unwilling to hazard his surviving Greeks by another
Another march would have brought him under the campaign with the Romans, and accordingly lent
walls of the city ; but here his progress was stop- a ready ear to the invitations of the Greeks in
ped. At this moment he was informed that peace Sicily, who begged him to come to their assistance
was concluded with the Etruscans, and that the against the Carthaginians. This seemed an easier
other consul, Ti. Coruncanius, had returned with enterprise than the one he was already engaged in,
his army to Rome. All hope was now gone of and it had moreover the charm of novelty, which
compelling the Romans to accept the peace, and always had great attractions for Pyrrhus. It was
he therefore resolved to retreat. He retired slowly necessary, however, first to suspend hostilities with
into Campania, and from thence withdrew into the Romans, who were likewise anxious to get rid
winter-quarters to Tarentum. No other battle was of so formidable an opponent that they might com-
fought this year.
plete the subjugation of southern Italy without
As soon as the armies were quartered for the further interruption. When both parties had the
winter, the Romans sent an embassy to Pyrrhus, same wishes, it was not difficult to find a fair pre-
to endeavour to obtain the ransom of the Roman text for bringing the war to a conclusion. This
prisoners or their exchange for an equal number of was afforded at the beginning of the following
the Tarentines or their allies. The ambassadors were year, B. C. 278, by one of the servants of Pyrrhus
received by Pyrrhus in the most distinguished deserting to the Romans and proposing to the
manner; and his interviews with C. Fabricius consuls to poison his master. The consuls Fa-
Luscinus, who was at the head of the embassy, bricius and Aemilius sent back the deserter to the
form one of the most celebrated stories in Roman king, stating that they abhorred a victory gained
history, and bare been briefly related elsewhere. by treason. Thereupon Pyrrhus, to show his gra-
(Vol. II. p. 842, a. ] He refused, however, to titude, sent Cineas to Rome with all the Roman
comply with the request of the Romans ; but at prisoners without ransom and without conditions
the same time to show them his trust in their and the Romans appear to have granted him a
honour, and his admiration of their character, he al- truce, though not a formal peace, as he had not
lowed them to go to Rome in order to celebrate the consented to evacuate Italy.
Saturnalia, stipulating that they were to return to Pyrrhus was now at liberty to cross over into
Tarentum if the senate would not accept the terms Sicily, which he did immediately afterwards,
which he had previously offered them through leaving Milo with part of his troops in possession
Cineas. The senate remained firm in their resolve, of Tarentum, and his son Alexander with another
and all the prisoners returned to Pyrrhus, the garrison at Locri (Justin, xviii
. 2; Zonar. viii. 5. )
punishment of death having been denounced against The Tarentines had demanded that his troops
those who should remain in the city. This is the should be withdrawn, if he would not assist them
account in Appian (Samm. x. 4, 5), and Plutarch in the field ; but Pyrrhus paid no heed to their
(Pyrrh. 20); but other writers state with less remonstrances, and retained possession of their
probability that the prisoners were set free by town, as well as of Locri, in hopes of being soon
Pyrrhus unconditionally and without ransom. (Liv. able to return to Italy at the head of the Greeks
Epit. 13; Zonar. viii. 4; Flor. i. 18; Eutrop. ü. of Sicily, of which island his warm imagination had
7; Aurel Vict. de Vir. II. 35. )
already pictured him as the sovereign.
of the campaiga of the following year, B. C. 279, Pyrrhus remained in Sicily upwards of two
we know but litile. The consuls were P. Decius years, namely from the middle of B. C. 478, to the
Mus and P. Sulpicius Saverrio. Apulia was the latter end of B. c. 476. At first he met with bril-
field of operations, and the great battle of the cam- liant success in Sicily. He drove the Cartha-
paign was fought near Asculum. The first en- ginians before him, and took the strongly fortified
counter took place near the banks of a river, where city of Eryx, in the assault of which he was the
the uneven nature of the ground was ill adapted first to mount the scaling ladders, and distin-
for the movements of the phalanx, and the Romans guished himself as usual by his daring and im-
accordingly gained the advantage. But Pyrrhus petuous valour. The Carthaginians became so
manoeuvred so as to bring the enemy into the alarmed at his success, that they offered him both
open plain, where the Romans were defeated, and ships and money on condition of his forming an
filed to their camp. This was so near to the field | alliance with them, although they had only a
;
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614
PYRRHUS.
PYRRHUS.
1
short time before made a treaty with the Romans. camp. Still their arrival was quite unexpected,
Pyrrhus was foolish enough to reject this offer, but as a battle was now inevitable, Curius led out
which would have afforded him immense advan- his men. The troops of Pyrrhus, exhausted by
inges for the prosecution of the war with home ; fatigue, were easily put to the rout ; two elephants
and at the instigation of the Sicilian Greeks he were killed and eight more taken. Encouraged by
refused to come to any terms with the Cartha- this success, Curius no longer hesitated to meet
ginians unless they would evacuate Sicily alto- the king in the open plain. One wing of the
gether. Shortly after Pyrrhus received a severe Romans was victorious. The other was driven back
repulse in an attempt which he made upon the im- by the phalanx and the elephants to their camp,
pregnable town of Lily baeum. The prestige of but their retreat was covered by a shower of mis-
success was now gone. The Greeks, who had in- siles from the ramparts of the camp, which so an-
vited him to the island, were desirous to see him noyed the elephants that they turned round and
depart, and began to form cabals and plots against trod down all before them. The Romans now
him. This led to retaliation on the part of Pyrrhus, returned to the charge, and easily drove back the
and to acts which were deemed both cruel and enemy which had been thus thrown into disorder.
tyrannical by the Greeks. He was involved in The rout was complete, and Pyrrhus arrived at
plots and insurrections of all kinds, and soon Tarentum with only a few horsemen. It was now
became as anxious to abandon the island as he impossible to continue the war any longer without
had been before to leave Italy. Accordingly, when a fresh supply of troops, and he therefore applied
bis Italian allies again begged him to come to their to the kings of Macedonia and Syria for assistance ;
ussistance, he readily complied with their request. but as they turned a deaf ear to his request, he had
Pyrrhus returned to Italy in the autumn of no alternative but to quit Italy. He crossed over
B. C. 276.
He was attacked by a Carthaginian to Greece towards the end of the year, leaving Milo
tjeet on his passage, and lost seventy of his ships with a garrison at Tarentum, as if he still clung to
of war, which he had obtained in Sicily ; and the idea of returning to Italy at some future time.
when he landed, he had to fight his way through Pyrrhus arrived in Epeirus at the end of B. C.
the Mamertines, who had crossed over from Sicily 274, after an absence of six years. He brought
to dispute his passage. He defeated them after a back with him only 8000 foot and 500 horse, and
sharp struggle, and eventually reached Tarentum had not money to maintain even these without
in safety. His troops were now almost the same undertaking new wars. Accordingly, at the be.
in number as when he first landed in Italy, but ginning of the following year, B. c. 273, he invaded
very different in quality. His faithful Epeirots had Macedonia, of which Antigonus Gonatas, the son of
for the most part fallen, and his present soldiers Demetrius, was at that time king. His army bad
consisted chiefly of mercenaries, whom he had levied been reinforced by a body of Gallic mercenaries, and
in Italy, and on whose fidelity he could only rely his only object at first seems to have been plunder.
so long as he led them to victory, and supplied But his success far exceeded his expectations. He
them with pay and plunder. Pyrrhus did not obtained possession of several towns without re-
remain inactive at Tarentum, but forth with com- sistance ; and when at lergth Antigonus advanced
menced operations, although the season seems to to meet him, the Macedonian monarch was deserted
have been far advanced. He recovered Locri, by his own troops, who welcomed Pyrrhus as their
which had revolted to the Romans; and as he king. Pyrrhus thus became king of Macedonia a
here found himself in great difficulties for want of second tiine, but had scarcely obtained possession
money to pay his troops, and could obtain none of the kingdom before his restless spirit drove him
from his allies, he was induced at the advice of into new enterprises. Cleonymus had many years
some Epicureans to take possession of the treasures before been excluded from the Spartan throne; and he
of the temple of Proserpine in that town. The bad recently received a new insult from the family
ships in which the money was to be embarked to which was reigning in his place. Acrotatus, the son
be carried to Tarentum, were driven back by a of the Spartan king Areus, had seduced Chelidonis,
storm to Locri. This circumstance deeply affected the young wife of Cleonymus, and the latter, now
the mind of Pyrrhus; he ordered the treasures to burning for revenge, repaired to the court of Pyr-
be restored to the temple, and put to death the rhus, and persuaded him to make war upon Sparta.
unfortunate men who had advised him to commit This invitation was readily complied with: and
the sacrilegious act ; and from this time he became Pyrrhus accordingly marched into Laconia in the
haunted by the idea, as he himself related in his following year, B. C. 272, with an army of 25,000
memoirs, that the wrath of Proserpine was pur- foot, 2000 horse, and 24 elephants. Such a force
suing him and dragging him down to ruin. seemed irresistible ; no preparations had been made
(Dionys. xix. 9, 10; Appian, Samn. xii. )
for defence, and king Areus himself was absent in
The following year, B. c. 274, closed the career Crete. As soon as Pyrrhus arrived, Cleonymus
of Pyrrhus in Italy. The consuls were Curius urged him to attack the city forth with, But as
Dentatus and Servilius Merenda ; 'of whom the the day was far spent, Pyrrhus resolved to defer
former marched into Samnium and the latter into the attack till next day, fearing that his soldiers
Lucania. Pyrrhus advanced against Curius, who would pillage the city, if it were taken in the night.
was encamped in the neighbourhood of Beneven- But during the night the Spartans were not idle.
tuin, and resolved to attack him before he was All the inhabitants, old and young, men and wo-
joined by his colleague. As Curius, however, did men, laboured incessantly in digging a deep ditch
not wish to risk a battle with his own army alone, opposite the enemy's camp, and at the end of each
Pyrrhus planned an attack upon his camp by ditch formed a strong barricade of waggons. The
night. But he miscalculated the time and the next day Pyrrhus advanced to the assault, but was
distance ; the torches burnt out, the men missed repulsed by the Spartans, who fought under their
their way, and it was already broad day-light youthful leader Acrotatus in a manner worthy of
wen he reached the heights above the Roman their ancient courage. The assault was again re-
;
1
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PYRRHUS.
615
PYRRHUS.
newed on the next day, but with no better success ; ! ordered the body to be interred with becoming
and the arrival of Areus with 2000 Cretans, as bonours. His remains were deposited by the Ar-
well as of other auxiliary forces, at length com- gives in the temple of Demeter. "(Paus. 1. 13. 8 8. )
pelled Pyrrhus to abandon all hopes of taking the Pyrrhus perished in B. c. 272, in the forty-sixth
city. He did not, however, relinquish his enter- year of his age, and in the twenty-third of his
prise altogether, but resolved to winter in Pelopon- reign. He was the greatest warrior and one of the
Tiesus, that he might be ready to renew operations best princes of his time. If judged by a righteous
at the commencement of the spring. But while standard of public morality, he will appear as a ma
making preparations for this object, he received an narch intent only upon his personal aggrandisement,
invitation from Aristeas, one of the leading citizens and ready to sacrifice the rights of other nations
at Argos, to assist him against his rival Aristippus, to the advancement of his glory and the gratifi-
whose cause was espoused by Antigonus. Pyrrhus cation of his ambition. But if judged by the
forth with commenced his march from the neighbour morality of the profligate times in which he lived,
hood of Sparta, but did not reach Argog without when every Greek prince thought he had a right
some sharp fighting, as the Spartans under Areus to whatever dominions his sword could win, we
both molested his march and occupied some of the shall see more to admire than to censurc in his
pnsses through which his road lay. In one of conduct. His government of his native dominions
these encounters his eldest son Ptolemy fell, greatly seems to have been just and lenient, for his Epei-
to the grief of his father, who avenged his death by rots always remained faithful to him even during
killing with his own hand the leader of the Lacedae- his long absence in Italy. and Sicily. His foreign
nionian detachment which had destroyed his son. On wars were carried on with no unnecessary cruelty
arriving in the neighbourhood of Argos, he found and oppression, and he is accused of fewer crimes
Antigonus encamped on one of the heights near the than any of his contemporaries. The greatest
city, but he could not induce him to risk a battle. testimony to the excellence of his private life is,
There was a party at Argos, which did not belong that in an age of treachery and corruption he
to either of the contending factions, and which was ever retained the affection of his personal attend-
anxious to get rid both of Pyrrhus and Antigonus. ants; and hence, with the solitary exception of
They accordingly sent an embassy to the two the physician who offered to poison him, we read
kings, begging them to withdraw from the city. of no instance in which he was deserted or betrayed
Antigonus promised compliance, and sent his son by any of his officers or friends. With his daring
as a hostage ; but though Pyrrhus did not refuse, courage, his military skill, his affable deportment,
he would not give any hostage. In the night-time and his kingly bearing, he might have become the
Aristeas admitted Pyrrhus into the city, who most powerful monarch of his day, if he had
marched into the market-place with part his steadily and perseveringly pursued the immediate
troops, leaving his son Helenus with the main body object before him. But he never rested satisfied
of his army on the outside. But the alarm having with any acquisition, and was ever grasping at
been given, the citadel was seized by the Argives some fresh object: hence Antigonus compared him
of the opposite faction. Areus with his Spartans, to a gambler, who made many good throws with
who had followed close upon Pyrrhus, was ad- the dice, but was unable to make the proper use of
mitted within the walls, and Antigonus also sent the game. Pyrrhus was regarded in subsequent
a portion of his troops into the city, under the times as one of the greatest generals that had ever
command of his son Halcyoneus, while he himself lived. Procles, the Carthaginian, thought him
remained without with the bulk of his forces. On superior even to Alexander in the military art
the dawn of day Pyrrhus saw that all the strong (Paus. iv. 35. § 4); and Hannibal said that of all
places were in the possession of the enemy, and generals Pyrrhus was the first, Scipio the second,
that it would be necessary for him to retreat.
