The Battle of Asculum (or Ausculum)^[1] - took place in 279 BC between the Romans under the command of Consul Publius Decius Mus and the combined Tarantine, Oscan, Samnites, and Epiriotic forces, under the command of king Pyrrhus of Epirus. This battle is set within the Romano-Tarantine conflict, to control the Magna Graecia. For further information on this conflict, see the history of Taranto. Combatants Carthage* Roman Republic* Epirus Magna Graecia Samnium Commanders Publius Valerius Laevinus Publius Decius Mus Pyrrhus of Epirus * Note: Carthage and Rome were not strong allies in this conflict. ... Wars between Rome and Taranto Roma Beneventum (mod. ... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC - 270s BC - 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 284 BC 283 BC 282 BC 281 BC 280 BC - 279 BC - 278 BC 277 BC 276... The Battle of Asculum took place in 279 BC between the Romans under the command of consul Publius Decius P.f. ... Province of Foggia 80. ... This article is about the Italian region. ... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus Roman provinces on the eve of the assassination of Julius Caesar, c. ... Epirus (Greek Ήπειρος, Ípiros) is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in south-eastern Europe. ... Magna Graecia around 280 b. ... P. Decius Mus was a Roman politician and general. ... Pyrrhus of Epirus Pyrrhus (318-272 BC) (Greek: Πύρρος), king of the Molossians (from ca. ... Combatants Carthage* Roman Republic* Epirus Magna Graecia Samnium Commanders Publius Valerius Laevinus Publius Decius Mus Pyrrhus of Epirus * Note: Carthage and Rome were not strong allies in this conflict. ... Combatants Roman Republic Epirus Magna Graecia Commanders Valerius Laevinus Pyrrhus of Epirus Strength 39,000 infantry 6,000 cavalry 31,500 infantry 4,000 cavalry 20 war elephants Casualties 7,000 dead 4,000 dead The Battle of Heraclea took place in 280 BC between the Romans under the command... Combatants Roman Republic Epirus, Magna Graecia Commanders Manius Curius Dentatus Pyrrhus of Epirus The Battle of Beneventum (275 BC) was the last battle fought between the forces of Pyrrhus of Epirus (without Samnite allies) and the Romans, led by consul Manius Curius Dentatus. ... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC - 270s BC - 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 284 BC 283 BC 282 BC 281 BC 280 BC - 279 BC - 278 BC 277 BC 276... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus Roman provinces on the eve of the assassination of Julius Caesar, c. ... Consul (abbrev. ... P. Decius Mus was a Roman politician and general. ... Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, southern Italy. ... Samnite warriors Samnium (Oscan Safinim) was a region of the southern Apennines in Italy that was home to the Samnites, a group of Sabellic tribes that controlled the area from about 600 BC to about 290 BC. Samnium was delimited by Latium in the north, by Lucania in the south... Epirus (Greek Ήπειρος, Ípiros) is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in south-eastern Europe. ... Pyrrhus of Epirus Pyrrhus (318-272 BC) (Greek: Πύρρος), king of the Molossians (from ca. ... Magna Graecia around 280 b. ... Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, southern Italy. ...

Armies

This battle was the second encounter between an Alexandrian, phalanx-based army and the Roman legion. The two armies were equally numbered.

The Romans had more infantry (four legions, 20,000 Romans, plus Dauni allies) and 300 anti-elephant devices. After the battle of Heraclea, in which the Epiriotic war elephants had a heavy impact on the Romans, the legions were provided with flammable weapons and anti-elephant devices: these were ox-led chariots, equipped with long spikes to wound the elephants, pots of fire to scare them, and screening troops who would hurl javelins at the elephants to drive them away. Combatants Roman Republic Epirus Magna Graecia Commanders Valerius Laevinus Pyrrhus of Epirus Strength 39,000 infantry 6,000 cavalry 31,500 infantry 4,000 cavalry 20 war elephants Casualties 7,000 dead 4,000 dead The Battle of Heraclea took place in 280 BC between the Romans under the command... Indian war elephant, relief at Mathura, 2nd century BC War elephants were important, although not widespread, weapons in ancient military history. ...

Pyrrhus deployed Macedonian infantry and cavalry, his own troops, Greek mercenary infantry, allied Italian Greeks, including a Tarantine militia, 20 elephants, and Samnite infantry and cavalry. The Epiriotic army had an advantage in cavalry and the 20 elephants. In order to counter the more flexible Roman legion, Pyrrhus had mixed some light Italic troops to his phalanx. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Battle

The battle was fought over two days. As was customary of the warfare of the period, both armies deployed their cavalry on the wings and infantry in the centre. Pyrrhus held his Guard cavalry in reserve behind the centre under his personal command. The elephants were also kept initially in reserve.

On the first day, Pyrrhus' cavalry and elephants were blocked by the woods and hills where the battle was fought, however, the Italic soldiers in the phalanxes fought well. The Macedonians broke the Roman first legion and Latin allies on their left wing but the Roman third and fourth legions defeated the Tarantines, Oscans and Epirots of Pyrrhus' centre. Meanwhile a force of Dauni attacked his camp. He sent reserve cavalry to deal with the breakthrough, more cavalry and some elephants to drive off the Dauni. When they withdrew to an inaccessible steep hill he deployed the elephants against the third and fourth legions; these too took refuge on wooded heights, but took fire from the archers and slingers escorting the elephants, and could not reply. Pyrrhus sent Athamanian, Acharnian and Samnite infantry to drive the Romans out of the woods, who were intercepted by Roman cavalry. Both sides withdrew at dusk, neither having gained a significant advantage.

At dawn Pyrrhus sent light infantry to occupy the difficult ground which had proven a weak point the previous day, forcing the Romans to fight a set battle in the open. As at Heraclea, an collision of legion and phalanx followed, until the elephants, supported by light infantry, broke through the Roman line. At this point the anti-elephant wagons were driven against them; having proven effective briefly, these were overwhelmed by psiloi who negated the Roman chariots. The elephants then charged the Roman infantry, which buckled. Pyrrhus simultaneously ordered the Royal Guard to charge, completing the rout. The Romans retreated to their camp. In Ancient Greek warfare, Psiloi (Ancient Greek ψιλοί, singular ψιλός[1], literally “bare, stripped”) were infantry without heavy armor, usually archers or javelin throwers. ...

The Romans lost 6,000 men, Pyrrhus 3,500, including many of his officers. A narrow Epirotic victory, it is this battle which gave rise to the term "Pyrrhic victory," meaning a victory at so high a cost as to be worthless. Pyrrhus is later reported to have said, "One more such victory, and we shall be undone."

Bibliography

• Information about this war can be found in Plutarch's Lives (Pyrrus 2 1), Polybius, Dionysius of Halicarnassus (XX 1--3), and Livy.