Pyrrhus of Epiros

Pyrrhus of Epiros (319-272 bc). Pyrrhus was king of Epiros in northern Greece and a soldier of fortune of the early Hellenistic period. He was rated as the foremost general in history by no less an authority than Hannibal and is known to have written a treatise on warfare, now lost. His extensive military career started in Alexander's successors' wars, but he is most famous for his costly Italian victories over the Romans at Heraclea (280), Asculum (279), and Beneventum (275) from which we derive the term Pyrrhic victory. He was killed in street fighting in Argos in 272 bc.

Bibliography

• Plutarch, Life of Pyrrhus

— Stephen Nutt