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The Pyrrhic War (/ ˈ p ɪr ɪ k / PIRR-ik; 280–275 BC) was largely fought between the Roman Republic and Pyrrhus, the king of Epirus, who had been asked by the people of the Greek city of Tarentum in southern Italy to help them in their war against the Romans.
The Tarentines asked Pyrrhus to lead their war against the Romans. [6] [34] Pyrrhus was encouraged to aid the Tarentines by the Oracle of Delphi. He recognized the possibility of carving out an empire for himself in Italy. He made an alliance with Ptolemy Keraunos, King of Macedon and his most powerful neighbor, and arrived in Italy in 280 BC. [35]
Pyrrhus features in the player's speech in Shakespeare's Hamlet (Act 2, Scene 2) where his killing of Priam is described; The Second Part of the Iron Age, the final play in the Ages series by Thomas Heywood; Pyrrhus is a leading character in Andromaque (1667), a play by Jean Racine; Astianatte (1725), an opera by Leonardo Vinci
Pyrrhus gathered an army of 25,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 24 war elephants and invaded the Peloponnese under the ruse of attacking Antigonid garrisons in southern Greece. He then marched his army through allied country all the way to the south of Sparta and tried to take the city.
Pyrrhus of Epirus (318–272 BC), king of Epirus, after whom the term Pyrrhic victory was named; Pyrrhus II of Epirus (fl. late 3rd century BC), brother of Ptolemy of Epirus; Pyrrhus of Athens (fl. 5th century BC), Athenian sculptor; Pyrrho of Elis (360–270 BC), Greek philosopher, founder of Pyrrhonism
Syracuse was weakened by a civil war between Thoenon and Sostratus. The Carthaginians used this opportunity to attack and besiege Syracuse both by land and sea. Thoenon and Sostratus then appealed to king Pyrrhus of Epirus to come to the aid of Syracuse. When Pyrrhus arrived, the Carthaginian army and navy retreated without a fight.
The Greek king Pyrrhus is known to have made Epirus a powerful state in the Greek realm (during 280–275 BC) that was comparable to the likes of Ancient Macedonia and Ancient Rome. Pyrrhus' armies also attempted an assault against the state of Ancient Rome during their unsuccessful campaign in what is now modern-day Italy.
The Roman–Greek wars were a series of armed conflicts between the Roman Republic and several Greek states.. The list includes: The Pyrrhic War (280–275 BC), which ended with the victory of the Romans and the conquest of Epirote territories in South Italy despite earlier albeit costly victories by king Pyrrhus of Epirus, since regarded as 'Pyrrhic victories' (making the origin of this term).