• PugJesus@lemmy.worldOPMEnglish
    22·
    5 days ago

    Explanation: The Greek king Pyrrhus of Epirus famously fought the Roman Republic in a number of battles, most of which he won. However, his victories were not sustainable - his forces he could transport to Italy were limited, while the Romans had a seemingly inexhaustible supply of manpower. Pyrrhus supposedly stated after winning against the Romans, “One more such victory and we shall be undone”, referring to his own losses incurred in the battle. From this, we get the term ‘Pyrrhic Victory’, meaning a victory not worth the cost to achieve it. Pyrrhus eventually was forced to withdraw from Italy, despite his battlefield successes (or ‘successes’).

    Pyrrhus of Epirus would later be killed in Greece during street fighting, a soldier’s mother tossing a roof tile onto his skull to defend her son, killing Pyrrhus.

    • ChicoSuave@lemmy.worldEnglish
      7·
      5 days ago

      Given how much he changed organized warfare during his time, he should have earned more recognition than patron saint of unsustainable victory.

      There is also a story that Scipio encountered Hannibal during a diplomatic mission to Antiochus III during the run-up to the war between Rome and the Seleucid Kingdom. Spooked by his political enemies and perceived Roman intervention, Hannibal had fled Carthage and offered his services to Antiochus III. Scipio asked Hannibal who he thought were the greatest generals of all time.

      “I would give first place to Alexander,” said Hannibal. “With a small force he defeated armies whose numbers were beyond reckoning. He overran the remotest areas, as far away as India, places where most men would not even dream of visiting.”

      “And who would be second in your estimation.”

      “I would give second place to Pyrrhus of Epirus. He was the first to master the art of military encampment, and no one other general showed such exquisite judgement in choosing his battle ground and disposing his troops. He was also skilled at conciliating people to such a degree that the natives of Italy preferred his rule to that of Rome.”

      “And who would be third?”

      He smiled. “Myself, of course.”

      “But what would you have said if you had defeated me at Zama?”

      “Then I would have placed myself not only before Alexander and Pyrrhus, but before all other commanders,” It was a sort of back-handed compliment to Scipio.