Roman Conquests of Italy The Pyrrhic Wars 280– 275BC

Where was the Pyrrhic War fought?

Background to the Pyrrhic War As we saw in the Samnite Wars, Italy was made up of many different groups; Samnites, Etruscans, Latins, Umbrians, Sabines, Campanians etc. The Samnite Wars finished in 290BC with Rome cementing its control of Samnium and Latin territory. However, Rome had not attempted to control southern Italia or Sicily; which was controlled by Greek and Carthaginian groups. Rome did not have experience in international affairs in the Mediterranean and were seen as a local Italian concern. It had not proven itself against the dominant Greek cultures or Carthage. The Pyrrhic War would propel Rome in a new direction; that of international expansion. Therefore, the Pyrrhic War (280–275 BC) was a complex series of battles and shifting political alliances among the Greeks, Romans, the Italian peoples, and the Carthaginians.

Why did it start? The Pyrrhic War initially started as a minor conflict between Rome and the city of Tarentum over a naval treaty violation by one of the Roman consuls. 282 BC – Tensions boil over in Tarentum  The city of Thurii asks Rome for military assistance in a dispute it has with a rival.  Roman consul Publius Cornelius Dolabella mounts a 10- ship exploratory expedition along the southern coast of Italia.  Tarentum viewed the Roman fleet as a threat and attacked it; the Roman fleet had broken a treaty, which excluded them from Tarentum waters.  Rome was angered by this incident and send a diplomatic mission to Tarentum to diffuse the situation.  Seeking assistance, Tarentum turned to Pyrrhus, King of Epirus (in Greece) to assist them in their war with Rome.

Pyrrhus lands in Italy Pyrrhus saw the dispute between Tarentum and Rome as an opportunity to build an empire of his own. 280 BC – Escalation and Battle of Heraclea  Pyrrhus landed with 25,000 troops, including a score of war elephants, in Italy.  A Roman army of 50,000 led by Publius Laevinius was sent into the Lucanian territory, where the first battle took place near the city of Heraclea.  Pyrrhus expected the Italic tribes to rise against Rome, however, the Romans had already secured support in the area.

Battle of Asculum 279 BC – Second major battle of the wars  This one was of a much greater scale, taking two days in the hills of Apulia.  The Romans lost about 6,000 men while Pyrrhus' army suffered 3,500 casualties.  According to the Greek historian Plutarch, Pyrrhus said that "that one other such (victory) would utterly undo him." Thus, the phrase "Pyrrhic victory" entered the language.

Rome allies with Carthage: wHAT?! Pyrrhus next offered to negotiate a truce with Rome, but Rome refused to talk as long as Pyrrhus remained on Italian soil. Pyrrhus tried to ally with Carthage against Rome, but the Carthaginians, seeing Pyrrhus as the greater threat, refused and sent a fleet and army up to the Tiber mouth to help the Romans. Third Roman Treaty with Carthage centres on an alliance against Pyrrhus.

Pyrrhus and invasion of Sicily Following success on the Italian mainland, Pyrrhus moved on to Sicily (278 BC) to aid the Greeks, who were being hard pressed by the Carthaginians. The Roman legions were able to defeat the rearguard of Pyrrhus’ army in Italy. Defeated the Carthaginians on both land and see and captured the Sicilian cities of Panormus and Eryx. Pyrrhus’s losses were heavy and his reinforcements few. City of Tarentum was besieged by the Roman army, and the Carthaginian fleet was also putting pressure on him. He risked being trapped in Sicily.

Pyrrhus returns to Italy 275 BC - Battle of Beneventum Romans defeat Pyrrhus at the town of Maleventum (which means ‘Bad Event’) in Southern Italy – Roman army learnt his tactics. The Romans renamed the city; Beneventum (which means ‘Good Event’) The Romans had learned that they could wound the elephants in the side using their pila; thus creating panic in the Pyrric army. Pyrrhus retreats to Tarentum and leaves a considerable force there. Pyrrhus famously states upon leaving Italy: ‘What a battlefield I am leaving for Carthage and Rome!’

The Aftermath 272 BC Tarentum surrendered to Rome. Rome treated Tarentum leniently; allowed self rule as allies of Rome. Many of the other Greek cities in southern Italy allied to Rome. After the defeat of Pyrrhus Rome was regarded as a significant world power in the Mediterranean, as evidenced by the opening of a permanent embassy of amity by the Macedonian king of Egypt in Rome in 273 BC. Roman colonies were founded in southern Italy to strengthen control.

How did the Romans control Italy? A great quote: “Who is so worthless or indolent that they do not wish to know by what means and under what political system the Romans, in less than 53 years, have succeeded in bringing nearly the whole inhabited world under a single government, something never before achieved?” Polybius (c BC) in his Histories Please review chapter 5 and 6 of Ancient Rome Using Evidence. Please make a list of policies that Rome employed to control Italy. (This will help for the test).