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| 0:00 | · | [Music] |
| 0:06 | · | famously after having won a battle |
| 0:08 | · | against Rome the general Pyrrhus of a |
| 0:10 | · | Pyrrhus is said to have remarked if we win |
| 0:12 | · | one more Victory against Rome we shall |
| 0:14 | · | be utterly |
| 0:15 | · | ruined that comment and his many battles |
| 0:18 | · | against Rome at Great cost to his own |
| 0:20 | · | forces led to the term AIC Victory a |
| 0:24 | · | term that has become so associated with |
| 0:25 | · | Pyrrhus that we seem to have forgotten |
| 0:26 | · | virtually everything else that he did |
| 0:29 | · | but despite his eventual defeat in Italy |
| 0:31 | · | against Rome Pyrrhus had a long and Broad |
| 0:34 | · | military career across the Greek World |
| 0:36 | · | Hannibal famous for his own victories |
| 0:39 | · | against Rome raided Pyrrhus among the |
| 0:40 | · | greatest generals of his time it is |
| 0:43 | · | history that deserves to be |
| 0:46 | · | remembered pus who was born in 319 BC to |
| 0:50 | · | the then Prince of ayrus a asdes just |
| 0:53 | · | four years after the death of his second |
| 0:55 | · | cousin Alexander the Great, Epirus |
| 0:58 | · | located largely in modern Albania on the |
| 1:00 | · | Adriatic Sea was according to Greek |
| 1:02 | · | legend founded by the only son of |
| 1:03 | · | Achilles from him supposedly descended |
| 1:06 | · | the kingship all the way down to Pyrrhus. |
| 1:09 | · | Pyrrhus' life was dominated by Alexander |
| 1:11 | · | the Great's Legacy and the fight between |
| 1:13 | · | his successor over Alexander's Empire |
| 1:15 | · | fighting between Powers was constant |
| 1:17 | · | alliances were fluid and all the power |
| 1:19 | · | sought every opportunity to undermine |
| 1:21 | · | the others most important to Pius was |
| 1:23 | · | antigonus who ruled over much of modern |
| 1:25 | · | turkey and into modern Israel and his |
| 1:27 | · | son Demetrius it was impossible to to be |
| 1:30 | · | a king in the period did not become |
| 1:31 | · | involved though a pyus was a minor |
| 1:33 | · | player pius's father lost his crown |
| 1:36 | · | attempting to support Alexander's mother |
| 1:37 | · | in the fight over Macedon and was killed |
| 1:39 | · | trying to retake it from the Macedonian |
| 1:41 | · | King Cassander Pyrrhus was raised in the |
| 1:44 | · | court of an Illyrian King who himself |
| 1:46 | · | likely saw the advantages of an ally |
| 1:47 | · | with a claim to Macedon according to |
| 1:49 | · | historical sources the Illyrian King was |
| 1:51 | · | convinced by the baby Pyrrhus himself who |
| 1:53 | · | either supplicated himself before the |
| 1:55 | · | king or clung to the Statue of a god |
| 1:58 | · | convincing the king it was the will of |
| 2:00 | · | the gods that Pyrrhus be protected when |
| 2:02 | · | Pyrrhus was 11 or 12 the yyan king even |
| 2:05 | · | fought a war to put Pyrrhus back on the |
| 2:06 | · | throne rule that lasted only 5 years |
| 2:09 | · | before he was dethroned while attending |
| 2:11 | · | a wedding without a kingdom Pyrrhus found |
| 2:13 | · | work with Demetrius a son of the |
| 2:15 | · | successor antigonus antigonus was |
| 2:17 | · | reportedly impressed with Pyrrhus and |
| 2:19 | · | allegedly said that he would be the |
| 2:21 | · | greatest general of his time if he lived |
| 2:23 | · | long enough Demetrius was married to |
| 2:25 | · | pius's Sister making them family and |
| 2:27 | · | Pius served with the antigonids at the |
| 2:29 | · | battle of ipsis the largest and one of |
| 2:32 | · | the most important battles between the |
| 2:33 | · | successor States at ipsis antigonus |
| 2:36 | · | faced all of the other de odachi at the |
| 2:39 | · | Battle Pyrrhus served with Demetrius in |
| 2:41 | · | the position of Honor on the right wing |
| 2:43 | · | while Pyrrhus distinguished himself |
| 2:44 | · | demetrius's successful cavalry charge at |
| 2:46 | · | the beginning of the battle turned into |
| 2:47 | · | a disaster when a contingent of |
| 2:49 | · | elephants which had been left un |
| 2:50 | · | reserved block him from returning to Aid |
| 2:52 | · | his father antigonus was killed and his |
| 2:55 | · | kingdom split between the victors |
| 2:57 | · | Demetrius embarked on a quest to restore |
| 2:59 | · | his father's territory but Pyrrhus was |
| 3:01 | · | sent to Egypt as a hostage in exchange |
| 3:02 | · | for tmy exiting the war tmy was also |
| 3:06 | · | impressed with Pyrrhus who he married to |
| 3:08 | · | one of his daughters it was tmy who |
| 3:10 | · | became his principal supporter when he |
| 3:12 | · | returned to ayrus to regain his throne |
| 3:15 | · | instead of fighting the king already in |
| 3:17 | · | place his cousin Pyrrhus ruled the kingdom |
| 3:19 | · | jointly until he got word that a plot |
| 3:20 | · | was a foot to assassinate him Pyrrhus |
| 3:23 | · | struck first killing his cousin |
| 3:25 | · | according to Plutarch the chief men |
| 3:26 | · | among the aites were devoted to Pyrrhus |
| 3:29 | · | despite the murder and in fact were |
| 3:30 | · | eager to see Pyrrhus rid himself of his |
| 3:32 | · | cousin he was finally and firmly back in |
| 3:36 | · | place as king of the kingdom of his |
| 3:39 | · | father ancient sources repeatedly say |
| 3:41 | · | that he had a single great interest War |
| 3:44 | · | once when asked who was a better flu |
| 3:45 | · | player he answered instead that one was |
| 3:47 | · | a great General Plutarch says that Pyrrhus |
| 3:50 | · | was constantly studying and meditating |
| 3:52 | · | upon military matters and that other |
| 3:54 | · | parts of his life he regarded as mere |
| 3:56 | · | accomplishments and held them in no |
| 3:57 | · | esteem he was also a specially well |
| 4:00 | · | known for his haughtiness and was |
| 4:01 | · | inclined to look down upon his inferiors |
| 4:04 | · | he was also bored by peace he found it |
| 4:06 | · | tedious to the point of nausea if he |
| 4:08 | · | were not for inflicting Mischief on |
| 4:09 | · | others or suffering it at others hands |
| 4:12 | · | Pierce's Army was trained in the |
| 4:13 | · | Macedonian style armed with long pipes |
| 4:15 | · | and supported by significant Cavalry |
| 4:17 | · | forces Cassandra's death in 297 followed |
| 4:20 | · | quickly by the death of his Heir led to |
| 4:22 | · | a Scramble for the kingdom Pierce fell |
| 4:24 | · | out with his former brother-in-law |
| 4:26 | · | Demetrius as they both attempted to |
| 4:27 | · | seize the territory in one battle Pius |
| 4:30 | · | fought the enemy General one-on-one his |
| 4:32 | · | victory earned in the nickname Eagle the |
| 4:35 | · | rest of the diodati Allied against |
| 4:36 | · | Demetrius Pius played the most important |
| 4:38 | · | role in their multipronged attack using |
| 4:40 | · | his popularity in Macedon to convince |
| 4:42 | · | much of demetrius's army to desert in |
| 4:44 | · | mass in favor of Pyrrhus as king despite |
| 4:47 | · | his success Pyrrhus allies took their own |
| 4:49 | · | share forcing Pyrrhus to satisfy himself |
| 4:51 | · | with half of Macedon and the Greek |
| 4:53 | · | region of thessy it would become a theme |
| 4:56 | · | that Pyrrhus conquests were quickly lost |
| 4:58 | · | lysimachus who ruled thce seiz pius's |
| 5:01 | · | half of Macedon forcing him to withdraw |
| 5:03 | · | to |
| 5:04 | · | ayrus that too would last only for a |
| 5:06 | · | short time as intrig saw several rulers |
| 5:08 | · | change place in quick succession instead |
| 5:10 | · | of pressing his own claims Pierce turned |
| 5:12 | · | his attention to Italy there Greek |
| 5:14 | · | colonies have been battling Italians for |
| 5:16 | · | years but now they faced a greater power |
| 5:19 | · | Rome at some point Rome had signed a |
| 5:21 | · | treaty with the Greek colony of torum |
| 5:23 | · | not to enter their Harbor but during a |
| 5:25 | · | drunken Festival several Roman ships had |
| 5:26 | · | appeared driven there by a storm tum IM |
| 5:29 | · | immediately attacked and soon struck at |
| 5:31 | · | Roman garrisons in nearby cities Rome |
| 5:33 | · | was already fighting on multiple fronts |
| 5:35 | · | but formed another Army to fight tum |
| 5:37 | · | Pierce agreed to help the torren ties on |
| 5:40 | · | the severe condition that he'd be |
| 5:41 | · | allowed to Garrison and thereby control |
| 5:43 | · | torum with some concerns they accepted |
| 5:46 | · | Pierce landed in Italy with a force of |
| 5:47 | · | around 25,000 including 20 war elephants |
| 5:50 | · | gifted to him by doodi allies the Romans |
| 5:53 | · | had never before faced war elephants |
| 5:55 | · | which would be a terrifying threat |
| 5:56 | · | horses often hated even approaching an |
| 5:58 | · | elephant nor had they faced the |
| 6:00 | · | impressive Macedonian Pike fail lanks in |
| 6:03 | · | Italy he would fight two important |
| 6:04 | · | battles first the Romans rushed a four |
| 6:06 | · | Legions more than 40,000 soldiers to |
| 6:09 | · | heraclea sources agree that Pius was |
| 6:11 | · | outnumbered with around 35,000 soldiers |
| 6:14 | · | Pius had his men on one side of a river |
| 6:16 | · | forcing the Romans to cross when they |
| 6:18 | · | did he attacked with his Cavalry at one |
| 6:20 | · | point he was nearly killed so he |
| 6:22 | · | exchanged some of his armor with the |
| 6:23 | · | liutenant so he'd be less recognizable |
| 6:26 | · | Plutarch says the battle swung back and |
| 6:28 | · | forth seven times and was nearly when |
| 6:29 | · | the lieutenant wearing pius's helmet was |
| 6:31 | · | killed he was forced to ride bareheaded |
| 6:33 | · | among his men to Rally them finally the |
| 6:36 | · | Roman Commander moved Cavalry to strike |
| 6:37 | · | at the Greek flanks Pyrrhus brought in his |
| 6:39 | · | elephants and the Cavalry routed with |
| 6:42 | · | the Roman infantry exposed the elephants |
| 6:43 | · | turned to Route them in turn Pierce did |
| 6:46 | · | not pursue either because one of his |
| 6:48 | · | elephants threatened to Panic or because |
| 6:49 | · | as Pierce allegedly wrote that one |
| 6:51 | · | should never press relentlessly on the |
| 6:53 | · | heels of an enemy in flight to make him |
| 6:55 | · | more inclined to withdraw another time |
| 6:57 | · | knowing the Victor would not strive to |
| 6:58 | · | destroy him in flight |
| 7:00 | · | the results of the battle are uncertain |
| 7:02 | · | One account says that the Romans lost |
| 7:03 | · | 15,000 and the Greeks 13,000 while Pak |
| 7:06 | · | reports 7 and 4,000 |
| 7:08 | · | respectively this first encounter with |
| 7:10 | · | elephants led the Romans to call them |
| 7:11 | · | lucanian oxes after the name of the |
| 7:14 | · | region Pyrrhus was faced with his first |
| 7:16 | · | pic Victory and to acknowledge The |
| 7:18 | · | Bravery of the Romans the Romans blamed |
| 7:21 | · | the defeat on poor General ship saying |
| 7:22 | · | that it was not the pyrro who had |
| 7:24 | · | conquered the Romans but pus who |
| 7:26 | · | conquered the Roman general this is the |
| 7:28 | · | battle that when Pyrrhus his greatest |
| 7:29 | · | Renown nearby cities switched their |
| 7:31 | · | allegiance to the Greeks Pyrrhus sent a |
| 7:34 | · | delegation seeking peace if ROM would |
| 7:36 | · | sign a treaty and guaranteed the tantine |
| 7:38 | · | freedom as well as most of the rest of |
| 7:40 | · | southern Italy according to ancient |
| 7:42 | · | sources a blind Senator exhorted the |
| 7:43 | · | Romans not to surrender until Pyrrhus left |
| 7:45 | · | Italy for good the delegation on the |
| 7:48 | · | return to the pyot were impressed with |
| 7:50 | · | Rome especially her ability to raise |
| 7:52 | · | more troops they were a Hydra for them |
| 7:54 | · | to fight against since the Cil already |
| 7:56 | · | had twice as many soldiers collected as |
| 7:58 | · | those who fa their in before and the |
| 8:00 | · | Romans had at least two other armies in |
| 8:02 | · | the field at that time Pyrrhus marched |
| 8:05 | · | within 2 km of Rome itself but was |
| 8:07 | · | forced to retreat as four Roman armies |
| 8:08 | · | threatened to trap him the following |
| 8:11 | · | year Pius marched more cautiously |
| 8:12 | · | threatening several Roman cities and |
| 8:14 | · | drawing the Romans into another battle |
| 8:15 | · | near the city of asculum the battle had |
| 8:18 | · | several conflicting descriptions in |
| 8:19 | · | ancient sources most sources say the |
| 8:21 | · | battle lasted only one day while plutar |
| 8:23 | · | insists it took two ancient estimates |
| 8:26 | · | say the armies were fairly evenly |
| 8:27 | · | matched with between 40 and 70,000 |
| 8:29 | · | soldiers a peace to counter the |
| 8:31 | · | elephants the Romans constructed wagons |
| 8:33 | · | with a swinging arm pushed by oxen with |
| 8:35 | · | archers inside and Spears on the front |
| 8:37 | · | dipped in pits That Could set be set a |
| 8:38 | · | flame and they were miniature movable |
| 8:41 | · | fortresses according to Plutarch the |
| 8:43 | · | first day was fought in difficult |
| 8:44 | · | terrain which made the pike failinks |
| 8:46 | · | ineffective and prevented the Greeks |
| 8:47 | · | from bringing their elephants to Bear |
| 8:49 | · | overnight Pyrrhus occupied the worst |
| 8:51 | · | ground so that the Romans would be |
| 8:52 | · | forced to fight on level ground other |
| 8:55 | · | sources describe it |
| 8:56 | · | differently cassus Doo says that the |
| 8:59 | · | Army's camped on each side of the river |
| 9:00 | · | were nervous about engaging but that |
| 9:02 | · | finally Pyrrhus allowed the Romans to |
| 9:04 | · | cross before engaging several accounts |
| 9:06 | · | point out that again Pius held his |
| 9:08 | · | elephants in reserve and used them to |
| 9:09 | · | counter Roman Cavalry the wagons seemed |
| 9:12 | · | to been at least somewhat effective |
| 9:13 | · | although they were vulnerable to attacks |
| 9:15 | · | by light infantry according to most |
| 9:17 | · | sources the ayotes lost the battle When |
| 9:19 | · | approaching Roman allies marched |
| 9:21 | · | tortuously into the greatek camp Pius |
| 9:23 | · | sent soldiers to intercept the enemy but |
| 9:25 | · | his soldiers panicked believing the camp |
| 9:26 | · | had fallen Pius himself was wounded most |
| 9:29 | · | say Pius lost more men plutar is alone |
| 9:31 | · | in claiming the Romans lost casualties |
| 9:34 | · | for the battle are also vary plutar |
| 9:36 | · | reported 6,000 Romans dead and 3,55 |
| 9:38 | · | Greeks well others say only 5,000 Romans |
| 9:41 | · | were killed but 20,000 Greeks it is |
| 9:43 | · | after this battle that Pak reports the |
| 9:45 | · | famous pic quotation if we are |
| 9:48 | · | victorious in one more battle with the |
| 9:49 | · | Romans we shall be utterly ruined the |
| 9:52 | · | Battle Force pi to accept that he could |
| 9:54 | · | not defeat the Romans in battle for the |
| 9:56 | · | enemy though defeated were in no way |
| 9:57 | · | humbled since their Dominion was so |
| 9:59 | · | great whereas the Victor had suffered |
| 10:01 | · | the damage and disaster that goes with |
| 10:03 | · | defeat as historian theodoris wrote |
| 10:06 | · | instead of fighting it out pus chose a |
| 10:07 | · | new adventure invading Sicily to fart |
| 10:09 | · | the carthaginians several Greek cities |
| 10:12 | · | in Sicily gave him their allegiance in |
| 10:13 | · | exchange for his generalship of course |
| 10:16 | · | torum was upset but Pyrrhus merely set a |
| 10:18 | · | Garrison and sailed for new |
| 10:20 | · | Shores first he sailed to Syracuse then |
| 10:22 | · | under sieged by the carthaginians he |
| 10:24 | · | broke the naval blockade without a fight |
| 10:26 | · | and forced the carthaginians to abandon |
| 10:28 | · | The Siege his campaign in Sicily is |
| 10:30 | · | little documented but he quickly |
| 10:31 | · | Advanced across the island during one |
| 10:34 | · | especially contested Siege he scaled the |
| 10:35 | · | walls first himself knocking Defenders |
| 10:37 | · | off of it and leaving the dead in heaps |
| 10:39 | · | about him with Strokes of his sword his |
| 10:42 | · | successes led him to be declared king of |
| 10:44 | · | Sicily as pbus wrote Pyrrhus was the only |
| 10:47 | · | man whom all the Sicilians had accepted |
| 10:49 | · | as their leader and King deliberately |
| 10:51 | · | out of affection he captured the whole |
| 10:54 | · | island with the exception of the port of |
| 10:55 | · | Lily bayom which was heavily fortified |
| 10:58 | · | failing to take he forced the Greek |
| 11:00 | · | cities to help him build a new Fleet to |
| 11:01 | · | invade Africa which his Sicilian allies |
| 11:04 | · | did not like nor did they like that he |
| 11:05 | · | abandoned the siege of Lily biome his |
| 11:08 | · | popularity cratered and he instituted |
| 11:10 | · | purges until the cities threw him out |
| 11:13 | · | putuk writes that what he won by his |
| 11:14 | · | exploits he lost by indulging in vain |
| 11:18 | · | hopes he returned to torum but in the |
| 11:21 | · | intervening years Rome had gained much |
| 11:22 | · | it was additionally out of money and the |
| 11:24 | · | war Tor Greek cities had little to give |
| 11:26 | · | him the carthaginians sank what treasure |
| 11:28 | · | they had cured in Sicily and he even |
| 11:31 | · | robbed but returned money from a temple |
| 11:34 | · | he needed a significant Victory and met |
| 11:36 | · | the Romans at the city of maleventum at |
| 11:39 | · | this battle he outnumbered the Romans |
| 11:41 | · | but he made a series of mistakes he |
| 11:43 | · | attempted to Ambush the Romans at night |
| 11:44 | · | but his men became lost and his |
| 11:46 | · | attacking forces wiped out in the |
| 11:47 | · | morning his main Army engaged the Romans |
| 11:50 | · | later and using his elephants he seemed |
| 11:51 | · | poised to win as the enemy routed |
| 11:53 | · | however upon reaching the enemy camp a |
| 11:55 | · | young elephant was wounded crying for |
| 11:57 | · | its mother it panicked the other |
| 11:58 | · | elephants causing a route which |
| 11:59 | · | devastated his own forces the Greeks |
| 12:02 | · | were broken and several elephants were |
| 12:03 | · | captured some Roman sources say that the |
| 12:06 | · | elephants were panicked instead by pigs |
| 12:08 | · | that were lit on fire and sent into the |
| 12:10 | · | Greek ranks the battle was probably not |
| 12:13 | · | decisive however it forced Pyrrhus slow on |
| 12:15 | · | funds to return to ayrus pus left a |
| 12:18 | · | force in torum intending to return |
| 12:20 | · | however within 5 years he was dead and |
| 12:21 | · | the whole region was under Roman control |
| 12:24 | · | he needed money and once again Macedonia |
| 12:26 | · | was vulnerable under the control of |
| 12:28 | · | antigonus son of his for Rao Demetrius |
| 12:30 | · | again he was quickly successful |
| 12:32 | · | capturing nearly the whole country while |
| 12:33 | · | antigonus fled to his Fleet but again he |
| 12:36 | · | was quickly distracted instead of |
| 12:38 | · | securing his gains he marched on Sparta |
| 12:40 | · | at the invitation of a Spartan |
| 12:42 | · | Aristocrat Pyrrhus took his army and |
| 12:44 | · | invaded the ppenis the Spartans were |
| 12:46 | · | well past their Prime and Pius destroyed |
| 12:48 | · | their army but was unable to take the |
| 12:50 | · | city instead of pressing a Siege Pius |
| 12:52 | · | again got word of an opportunity this |
| 12:54 | · | time North in the Argos where two |
| 12:56 | · | politicians VI for control he marched on |
| 12:58 | · | Argos and a constant attack from the |
| 13:00 | · | Spartans P's own son was killed in the |
| 13:02 | · | fighting in his rage Pio said to be |
| 13:04 | · | Invincible as he destroyed the force |
| 13:07 | · | responsible in Argos he found antigonus |
| 13:09 | · | already waiting on good ground Argos |
| 13:12 | · | asked the forces to withdraw the |
| 13:14 | · | Macedonian Force did but ayrus instead |
| 13:17 | · | ambushed the city in the night |
| 13:18 | · | encouraged by Fifth column supporters in |
| 13:19 | · | the city itself he was able to enter the |
| 13:22 | · | city but the dark was too great an |
| 13:23 | · | obstacle and fighting had to be |
| 13:25 | · | postponed in the morning Pius faced |
| 13:27 | · | larger than expected resistance and the |
| 13:29 | · | return turn of the Macedonian army Pyrrhus |
| 13:32 | · | decided to withdraw sent orders to tear |
| 13:33 | · | down part of the wall to give him space |
| 13:35 | · | to retreat however the order was |
| 13:36 | · | misheard and reinforcements instead |
| 13:38 | · | attempted to enter the city as Pierce |
| 13:39 | · | attempted to withdraw an elephant became |
| 13:41 | · | trapped in the gate and other elephants |
| 13:43 | · | panicked causing many casualties pius's |
| 13:45 | · | force was trapped as the argives |
| 13:48 | · | descended Pius gave his distinctive |
| 13:50 | · | helmet to a lieutenant and turned to |
| 13:51 | · | fight a young argive Soldier threw a |
| 13:54 | · | spear which pierced his armor and in his |
| 13:56 | · | rage Pierce turned on the boy in despair |
| 13:58 | · | his mother chucked a ceiling tile which |
| 14:00 | · | hit Pius in the neck he fell from his |
| 14:02 | · | horse either dead or unconscious finding |
| 14:04 | · | him defenseless an enemy soldier messily |
| 14:06 | · | decapitated the king and so ended the |
| 14:09 | · | exploits of a great General who despite |
| 14:11 | · | winning many battles always seemed to |
| 14:13 | · | lack the patience to consolidate his |
| 14:16 | · | gains still he was the only Greek |
| 14:19 | · | General who was able to check even for a |
| 14:21 | · | brief time the Ambitions of Rome and |
| 14:24 | · | thus his reputation grew as Rome's power |
| 14:28 | · | grew |
| 14:29 | · | ancient sources say that Hannibal |
| 14:31 | · | thought him a great General second only |
| 14:33 | · | to Alexander himself and say that his |
| 14:36 | · | writings on war were highly |
| 14:39 | · | influential even though none of those |
| 14:41 | · | writings have survived to today they are |
| 14:45 | · | lost to |
| 14:47 | · | history making it an interesting irony |
| 14:49 | · | that a general so successful is |
| 14:52 | · | remembered almost uniquely for the term |
| 14:55 | · | peric Victory meaning a VI Victory won |
| 15:00 | · | at too great a |
| 15:03 | · | cost I hope you enjoyed this episode of |
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