When he saw many shields of the Roman infantry appearing over the river bank and their horsemen all ranged in order, he closed up his own ranks and charged them first himself.
Continuing Pyrrhus Attacks Rome,
our selection from Plutarch. The selection is presented in five easy 5 minute installments.
Previously in Pyrrhus Attacks Rome.
Time: 280 BC
Place: Southern Italy
When he saw many shields of the Roman infantry appearing over the river bank and their horsemen all ranged in order, he closed up his own ranks and charged them first himself, a conspicuous figure in his beautiful glittering armor and proving by his exploits that he deserved his high reputation; especially as although he fought personally and engaged in combat with the enemy, yet he continually watched the whole battle and handled his troops with as much facility as though he were not in the thick of the fight, appearing always wherever his presence was required and reinforcing those who seemed likely to give way. In this battle Leonnatus the Macedonian, observing one of the Italians watching Pyrrhus and constantly following him about the field, said to him: “My King, do you see that barbarian on the black horse with white feet? He seems to be meditating some desperate deed. He is a man of spirit and courage and he never takes his eyes off you and takes no notice of anyone else. Beware of that man.”
Pyrrhus answered: “Leonnatus, no man can avoid his fate; but neither that Italian nor anyone else who attacks me will do so with impunity.” While they were yet talking the Italian levelled his lance and urged his horse in full career against Pyrrhus. He struck the King’s horse with his spear and at the same instant his own horse was struck a sidelong blow by Leonnatus. Both horses fell; Pyrrhus was saved by his friends and the Italian perished fighting. He was of the nation of the Frentani, Hoplacus by name and was the captain of a troop of horse.
This incident taught Pyrrhus to be more cautious. He observed that his cavalry were inclined to give way and therefore sent for his phalanx and arrayed it against the enemy. Then he gave his cloak and armor to one of his companions, Megacles and after partially disguising himself in those of his friend, led his main body to attack the Roman army. The Romans stoutly resisted him and an obstinate battle took place, for it is said that the combatants alternately yielded and again pressed forward no less than seven distinct times. The King’s exchange of armor, too, though it saved his life, yet very nearly lost him the victory: for many attacked Megacles and the man who first struck him down, who was named Decius, snatched up his cloak and helmet and rode with them to Lævinus, displaying them and shouting aloud that he had slain Pyrrhus.
The Romans, when they saw these spoils carried in triumph along their ranks, raised a joyful cry, while the Greeks were correspondingly disheartened, until Pyrrhus, learning what had taken place, rode along the line with his head bare, stretching out his hands to his soldiers and telling them that he was safe. At length he was victorious, chiefly by means of a sudden charge of his Thessalian horse on the Romans after they had been thrown into disorder by the advance of the elephants. The Roman horses were terrified at these animals and, long before they came near, ran away with their riders in panic. The slaughter was very great: Dionysius says that of the Romans there fell but little short of fifteen thousand but Hieronymus reduces this to seven thousand, while on Pyrrhus’ side there fell, according to Dionysius, thirteen thousand but according to Hieronymus less than four thousand.
These, however, were the very flower of Pyrrhus’ army; for he lost all his most trusty officers and his most intimate personal friends. Still, he captured the Roman camp, which was abandoned by the enemy, induced several of their allied cities to join him, plundered a vast extent of country and advanced within three hundred stades — less than forty English miles — of Rome itself. After the battle many of the Lucanians and Samnites came up; these allies he reproached for their dilatory movements but was evidently well pleased at having conquered the great Roman army with no other forces but his own Epirotes and the Tarentines.
The Romans did not remove Laevinus from his office of consul, although Caius Fabricius is reported to have said that it was not the Epirotes who had conquered the Romans but Pyrrhus who had conquered Laevinus; meaning that he thought that the defeat was owing not to the greater force but the superior generalship of the enemy. They astonished Pyrrhus by quickly filling up their ranks with fresh levies and talking about the war in a spirit of fearless confidence. He decided to try whether they were disposed to make terms with him, as he perceived that to capture Rome and utterly subdue the Roman people would be a work of no small difficulty and that it would be vain to attempt it with the force at his disposal, while after his victory he could make peace on terms which would reflect great luster on himself. Cineas was sent as ambassador to conduct this negotiation.
He conversed with the leading men of Rome and offered their wives and children presents from the King. No one, however, would accept them but they all, men and women alike, replied that if peace were publicly concluded with the King, they would then have no objection to regard him as a friend. And when Cineas spoke before the senate in a winning and persuasive manner he could not make any impression upon his audience, although he announced to them that Pyrrhus would restore the prisoners he had taken without any ransom and would assist them in subduing all Italy, while all that he asked in return was that he should be regarded as a friend and that the people of Tarentum should not be molested. The common people, however, were evidently eager for peace, in consequence of their having been defeated in one great battle and expecting that they would have to fight another against a larger force, because the Italian states would join Pyrrhus.
We want to take this site to the next level but we need money to do that. Please contribute directly by signing up at https://www.patreon.com/history
Some History Moments selections posted before 2012 need to be updated to meet HM’s quality standards. These relate to: (1) links to outside sources for modern, additional information; (2) graphics; (3) navigation links; and (4) other presentation issues. The reader is assured that the author’s materiel is faithfully reproduced in all History Moments posts.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.