Battle of Heraclea
Part of the Pyrrhic War
Most important places in Rome-Taranto wars
Date July 280 BC Location Heraclea, Basilicata, southern Italy Result Pyrrhic Epirot victory
Combatants
Roman Republic	Epirus, Magna Graecia
Commanders
Publius Valerius Laevinus	Pyrrhus of Epirus
Strength
29,000 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 of Consul Publius Valerius Laevinus and the combined forces of Greeks from Epirus, Tarentum, Thurii, Metapontum, and Heraclea under the command of King Pyrrhus of Epirus. 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. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 330s BC 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC - 280s BC - 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 285 BC 284 BC 283 BC 282 BC 281 BC 280 BC 279 BC 278 BC 277... Map of ancient Lucania Heraclea (also Heracleia or Herakleia; Greek: was an ancient city of Magna Graecia, situated in Lucania on the Gulf of Tarentum (modern Gulf of Taranto), but a short distance from the sea, and between the rivers Aciris (modern Agri) and Siris (modern Sinni), the site of... Basilicata is a region in the south of Italy, bordering on Campania to the west, Puglia (Apulia) to the east, Calabria to the south, it has one short coastline on the Tyrrhenian Sea and another of the Gulf of Taranto in the Ionian Sea to the south-east. ... A Pyrrhic victory is a victory with devastating cost to the victor. ... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus Roman provinces on the eve of the assassination of Julius Caesar, c. ... Epirus, spanning Greece and Albania. ... Magna Graecia around 280 b. ... Publius Valerius Laevinus was commander of the Roman forces in Battle of Heraclea, in which he was defeated by Pyrrhus of Epirus. ... Pyrrhus of Epirus Pyrrhus (318-272 BC) (Greek: Πύρρος), king of the Molossians (from ca. ... The elephants thick hide protects it from injury. ... 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 Publius Decius Mus Pyrrhus of Epirus Strength 40,000 cavalry and infantry, 300 anti-elephant devices 40,000 cavalry and infantry, 20 war elephants Casualties 6,000 dead 3,500 dead The Battle of Asculum (or Ausculum)[1] - took place in 279 BC... 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: 330s BC 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC - 280s BC - 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 285 BC 284 BC 283 BC 282 BC 281 BC 280 BC 279 BC 278 BC 277... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus Roman provinces on the eve of the assassination of Julius Caesar, c. ... Consul (abbrev. ... Publius Valerius Laevinus was commander of the Roman forces in Battle of Heraclea, in which he was defeated by Pyrrhus of Epirus. ... Epirus, spanning Greece and Albania. ... Map of Italy showing Taranto in the bottom right Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, southern Italy. ... Thurii, or Thueium, was a city of Magna Graecia on the Gulf of Taranto, near the site of the older Sybaris. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Map of ancient Lucania Heraclea (also Heracleia or Herakleia; Greek: was an ancient city of Magna Graecia, situated in Lucania on the Gulf of Tarentum (modern Gulf of Taranto), but a short distance from the sea, and between the rivers Aciris (modern Agri) and Siris (modern Sinni), the site of... Pyrrhus of Epirus Pyrrhus (318-272 BC) (Greek: Πύρρος), king of the Molossians (from ca. ...

Background

Tarentum was a Greek colony, part of Magna Graecia. The members of the leading faction in Tarentum, the democrats under Philocharis or Ainesias, were against Rome, because they knew that if the Romans entered Taranto the Greeks would lose their independence. The Greeks in Tarentum had grown afraid of Roman expansion after the Third Samnite War. After the surrender of the Samnites in 290 BC, the Romans founded many colonies in Apulia and Lucania, the most important of which was Venusia. In 282 BC, after a battle against the Samnites, Lucanians, Bruttians and Thurii, Roman troops entered the Italian Greek colonies of Croton, Lokroi, and Rhegium. Democrats from Tarentum knew that as soon as Rome finished its war with the Gauls, Lucanians, Etruscans, Samnites, and Bruttians, they would enter Tarentum too. Another event that concerned the Tarentines was that the aristocratic faction of Thurii had taken the power, and had invited a Roman garrison in their city; the Tarentines, who had been the referents of all the Magna Graecia colonies, were deeply worried about this fact. Colonies in antiquity were city-states founded from a mother-city, not from a territory-at-large. ... Magna Graecia around 280 b. ... Democracy describes a number of related forms of government. ... The Samnite Wars were three wars between the early Roman Republic and the tribes of Samnium. ... 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... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 340s BC 330s BC 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 295 BC 294 BC 293 BC 292 BC 291 BC 290 BC 289 BC 288 BC 287... This article is about the Italian region. ... For the mountain in Canada named after Lucania, see Mount Lucania. ... Venusia (modern Venosa) was an ancient city of Basilicata, Italy, on the Via Appia, about 10 km south of the river Aufidus (Ofanto), and not far from the boundary of Lucania. ... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 330s BC 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC - 280s BC - 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 287 BC 286 BC 285 BC 284 BC 283 BC 282 BC 281 BC 280 BC 279... For the mountain in Canada named after Lucania, see Mount Lucania. ... Calabria, formerly Brutium, is a region in southern Italy which occupies the toe of the Italian peninsula south of Naples. ... Crotone is a city in Calabria, southern Italy, on the Gulf of Taranto. ... Locri Epizephyri (epi-Zephyros, under the West wind; see also List of traditional Greek place names) was founded about 680 BC on the Italian shores of the Ionian Sea, near modern Capo Zefirio, by the Locrians, apparently by Opuntii (East Locrians) from the city of Opus, but including Ozolae (West... Categories: Italy-related stubs | Coastal cities | Towns in Calabria ... Gallia (in English Gaul) is the Latin name for the region of western Europe occupied by present-day France, Belgium, western Switzerland and the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine river. ... For the mountain in Canada named after Lucania, see Mount Lucania. ... The Etruscan civilization existed in Etruria and the Po valley in the northern part of what is now Italy, prior to the formation of the Roman Republic. ... 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... Wikisource has an original article from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica about: Bruttii The Bruttii (Greek: , Italian: Bruzi), were an ancient people who inhabited the southern extremity of Italy, from the frontiers of Lucania to the Sicilian Straits and the promontory of Leucopetra, roughly corresponding to modern Calabria. ... Magna Graecia around 280 b. ...

The second faction in Tarentum were the aristocrats, led by Agis, who did not oppose surrendering to Rome, as it would led to the return of the aristocratic faction to the power. The aristocrats, however, could not surrender directly and become unpopular with the population. In the autumn of 282 BC, Tarentum celebrated their festival of Dionysus; while in their theatre in front of sea, they saw ten Roman ships, with soldiers and supplies for the Roman garrison of Thurii, entering the Gulf of Taranto.^[1] The Tarentines were angry, because the Romans had signed an agreement not to sail into the Gulf of Taranto, and they prepared their navy to attack the Roman ships. A few of the ships were sunk, and one was captured. For uses of the similar name Dionysius, see Dionysius. ... The Gulf of Taranto (Italian: Golfo di Taranto, Latin: Sinus Tarentinus) is a gulf of the Ionian sea, in southern Italy. ...

The Tarentines knew that they had few chances of victory against Rome. They decided to call for help Pyrrhus, King of Epirus. The army and fleet of Taranto moved to Thurii and helped the democrats there exile the aristocrats. The Roman garrison placed in Thurii withdrew. Epirus, spanning Greece and Albania. ...

The Romans sent a diplomatic mission to settle the matter and take back the prisoners, but the negotiations ended abruptly, so Rome declared war on Tarentum. In 281 BC, Roman legions under the command of Lucius Aemilius Barbula entered Tarentum and plundered it. Tarentum, with Samnite and Salentinian reinforcements, then lost a battle against the Romans. After the battle the Greeks chose Agis to sign a truce and begin diplomatic talks. These talks were also broken off when 3,000 soldiers from Epirus under the command of Milon entered the town. The Roman consul withdrew and suffered losses from attacks by the Greek ships. Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 330s BC 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC - 280s BC - 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 286 BC 285 BC 284 BC 283 BC 282 BC 281 BC 280 BC 279 BC 278... L. Aemilius Q.f. ...

Pyrrhus decided to help Tarentum because he was in debt to them — they had earlier helped him conquer the island of Corcyra. He also knew that he could count on help from the Samnites, Lucanians, Bruttians, and some Illyrian tribes. His ultimate goal was to re-conquer Macedon he had lost in 285 BC, but did not have enough money to recruit soldiers. He planned to help Tarentum, then go to Sicily and attack Carthage. After winning a war against Carthage and capturing south Italy he would have enough money to organise a strong army and capture Macedon. (This article is about the Greek island known in English as Corfu. ... Location of Illyria Illyria (Albanian Iliria Land of the Free; Ancient Greek ; Latin Illyria [1] (see also Illyricum) was in Classical antiquity a region in the western part of todays Balkan Peninsula, founded by the tribes and clans of Illyrians, an ancient people who spoke the Illyrian languages. ... Ancient Macedons regions and towns Macedon or Macedonia (Greek ) was the name of an ancient kingdom in the northern-most part of ancient Greece, bordered by the kingdom of Epirus to the west and the region of Thrace to the east. ... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 330s BC 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC - 280s BC - 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 290 BC 289 BC 288 BC 287 BC 286 BC 285 BC 284 BC 283 BC 282... Sicily (Sicilia in Italian and Sicilian) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,708 km² (9,926 sq. ... Roman Carthage with former military harbor Carthage (Greek: , Latin: , from the Phoenician meaning new town; Arabic: ) refers both to an ancient city in Tunisia and to the civilization that developed within the citys sphere of influence. ...

Preparation

Pyrrhus arrives in Italy with his Troup.

Before he left Epirus, he borrowed some phalanxes from King Ptolemy Keraunos of Macedon, and demanded ships and money from the Syrian king and from Antigonus II Gonatas of Antioch. The Egyptian king also promised to send 9,000 soldiers and 50 war elephants. These forces had to defend Epirus while Pyrrhus was gone. He recruited soldiers in Greece as well — horsemen from Thessaly and archers from Rhodes — as the Greek rulers wanted to avoid a war with Epirus. In the spring of 280 BC Pyrrhus landed without losses in Italy. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 525 pixelsFull resolution (2739 × 1797 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 525 pixelsFull resolution (2739 × 1797 pixel, file size: 1. ... The Macedonian phalanx is an infantry formation developed by Philip II and used by his son Alexander the Great to conquer the Persian Empire and other armies. ... Ptolemy Keraunos (Ceraunus) (? - 279 BC), King of Macedon from 281 BC to 279 BC. He was the eldest son of Ptolemy I Soter (ruler of Egypt) and his third wife Eurydice (daughter of Antipater). ... Coin of Antigonus II Gonatas Antigonus II Gonatas (c. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Antakya. ... The elephants thick hide protects it from injury. ... Map showing Thessaly periphery in Greece Thessaly (Θεσσαλια; modern Greek Thessalía; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is one of the 13 peripheries of Greece, and is further sub-divided into 4 prefectures. ... Deer statues in Mandraki harbor, where the Colossus of Rhodes once stood This article is about the Greek island of Rhodes. ... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 330s BC 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC - 280s BC - 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 285 BC 284 BC 283 BC 282 BC 281 BC 280 BC 279 BC 278 BC 277...

After hearing of Pyrrhus' arrival in Italy the Romans mobilized eight legions with auxiliares, totalling about 80,000 soldiers. They divided it into four armies:

• One army under the command of Barbula, with orders to distract the Samnites and Lucanians so they could not join Pyrrhus' army. They were placed in Venusia.
• A second army left behind to secure Rome.
• A third army under the command of consul Tiberius Coruncanius marched against Etruscans, to avoid an alliance between them and Pyrrhus.
• A fourth army under the command of Publius Valerius Laevinus marched to Tarentum. They also plundered Lucania.

Publius Laevinus moved towards Heraclea, a city founded by the Tarentines, with the intention of cutting Pyrrhus from the Greek colonies of Calabria, thus avoiding their uprising against Rome. L. Aemilius Q.f. ... Tiberius Coruncanius was Roman consul with Publius Valerius Laevinus, and military commander in 280 BC. He lead an expedition into Etruria against the Etruscan cities. ... Map of Italy showing Taranto in the bottom right Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, southern Italy. ... Map of ancient Lucania Heraclea (also Heracleia or Herakleia; Greek: was an ancient city of Magna Graecia, situated in Lucania on the Gulf of Tarentum (modern Gulf of Taranto), but a short distance from the sea, and between the rivers Aciris (modern Agri) and Siris (modern Sinni), the site of...

Battle

Pyrrhus didn't march against the Romans while he was waiting for his allies' reinforcements. When he understood that reinforcements were not coming, he decided to fight the Romans on a plain near the river Siris (modern Sinni), between Pandosia and Heraclea. Pyrrhus took up position there and waited. Before the fight he sent diplomats to the Roman consul, proposing that he could arbitrate the conflicts between Rome and the population of south Italy. He promised that his allies recognised him as a judge and demanded the same from the Romans. The Romans denied his request, and entered the plains on the right of the Siris river where they set up camp. Siris may refer to: Siris (mythology) - a figure in Greek mythology; also known as Sinis Siris (goddess) - the Mesopotamian goddess of beer. ... The Sinni is a river in southern Italy. ... Pandosia (Greek: ) was an ancient town of Lucania (now Basilicata), Italy, situated near Heraclea. ...

It is unknown how many troops Pyrrhus had left in Tarentum, but he probably had about 25-35,000 troops with him at Heraclea. He took up position on left bank of the Siris, hoping that the Romans would have difficulty crossing the river, which would allow him more time to prepare his attack. He set up some light infantry units near the river to let him know when the Romans began to cross, and planned first to attack them with his cavalry and elephants. Valerius Laevinus had about 30,000 soldiers under his command, including many cavalry, peltasts, and spearmen. It would be the first time in history that two very different juggernauts of war clashed: the Roman Legion, and the Macedonian Phalanx. Traditionally light infantry (or skirmishers) were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. ... The Roman Legion (from Latin , from lego, legere, legi, lectus — to collect) is a term that can apply both as a transliteration of legio (conscription or army) to the entire Roman army and also, more narrowly (and more commonly), to the heavy infantry that was the basic military unit of... Roman mosaic of the Battle of Issus The army of ancient Macedon is considered to be among the greatest military forces of the ancient world. ...

At dawn, the Romans started to cross the river Siris. The Roman cavalry attacked on the flanks the illyrian-epirots scouts and light infantry, who were forced to flee.

When Pyrrhus learned that the Romans had begun crossing the river he led his Macedonian and Thessalian cavalry to attack the Roman cavalry. His infantry, with peltasts and archers and heavy infantry, began their march as well. The epirot cavalry successfully disrupted the Roman battle formation, and then withdrew. Pyrrhus' peltasts and archers began to fire and his phalanxes began to attack. The illyrian-epirot infantry line was near equal to the Romans' in length. Although Pyrrhus had a small advantage in number, the phalanx was by design deeper than the legion.

The phalanxes made seven attacks, but failed to peirce the legion. It had met a foe that was stronger than it had ever encountered. The Romans made seven attacks, yet it could not break the illyrian-epirot phalanx. The battle hung in the air. At one point, the battle became so pitched that Pyrrhus -- realizing that if he were to fall in combat, his soldiers would lose heart and reason -- switched armor with one of his bodygaurds. The same bodyguard did end up dying in arms, and the illyrian-epirots mistakenly thought that their king had fallen. With a great sigh of demorilization the illyrian-epirots began to waver severely, and the Romans gave a thunderous cheer at the turn of events. Grasping the magnitude of the situation, Pyyrhus rode forward, bare-faced, along the lines of his men to show he was among the living. The illyrian-epirots strengthened their resolve, and the battle raged on.

Unable to make any significant gains in action, Pyrrhus deployed his elephants, held in reserve until now. The Roman cavalry was threatening his flank too strongly. Aghast at the sight of these strange and brooding creatures which none had seen before, the horses galloped away and threw the Roman legion into rout. Pyrrhus then launched his Thessalian cavalry among the disorganized legions, which completed the Romans' defeat. The Romans fell back across the river and Pyrrhus held the field.

In the opinion of Dionysius the Romans lost 15,000 soldiers and had thousands taken prisoner; Hieronymus states 7,000. Dionysius totalled Pyrrhus' losses at around 13,000 soldiers, 4,000 according to Hieronymus. In any rate this could be considered the earliest of his Pyrrhic victories against Rome.

Order of battle

This is a possible order of battle for Heraclea[1].

Epirus and Tarentum

Commander: Pyrrhus

• 3,000 hypaspists under Milon command
• 20,000 phalangites, illyrian-epirots including 5,000 Macedonian soldiers given by Ptolemy
• 6,000 Tarentine levy hoplites
• 4,000 horsemen, including the Thessalian contingent and 1,000 Tarentine horsemen
• 2,000 archers
• 500 Rhodian slingers
• 20 war elephants with towers holding troops.

Hypaspistai, or hypaspists, were elite foot guardsmen as used by Alexander the Greats Macedonian army. ... The Macedonian phalanx is an infantry formation developed by Philip II and used by his son Alexander the Great to conquer the Persian Empire and other armies. ... The hoplite was a heavy infantryman that was the central focus of warfare in Ancient Greece. ... A sling is a projectile weapon typically used to throw a blunt missile such as a stone, it is also known as the shepherds sling to distinguish it from other meanings. ...

Roman Republic

Commander: Publius Valerius Laevinus

• 20,000 Roman legionaries, in four legions
• 16,800 allied legionaries, in four legions
• 2,400 light infantry, Bruttians and Campanians
• 1,200 Roman horsemen
• 3,600 allied horsemen
• 1,200 light horsemen from Southern Italian allies

Some of these were probably guarding the camp, thus not fighting the battle. Roman legionaries, 1st century. ... The Roman Legion (from Latin , from lego, legere, legi, lectus — to collect) is a term that can apply both as a transliteration of legio (conscription or army) to the entire Roman army and also, more narrowly (and more commonly), to the heavy infantry that was the basic military unit of...

Aftermath

After the battle reinforcements from south Italy joined Pyrrhus. The Greeks of Rhegium who wanted to join him were massacred by Roman soldiers under the command of Decius Vibelius, who was proclaimed as ruler of the town. Pyrrhus then began to march into Etruria. He captured many small towns in Campania, and his forces plundered Latium. His march was stopped in Anagni, two days from Rome, when he met another Roman army under Corunciatus. Pyrrhus was afraid that he did not have enough soldiers to fight, and knew Laevinus and Barbula were probably marching behind him. Instead he withdrew and the Romans did not follow him. For other uses, see Campania (disambiguation). ... Latium (Lazio in Italian) is a region of central Italy, bordered by Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, Marche, Molise, Campania and the Tyrrhenian Sea. ... Anagni, (Latin Anagnia) is an ancient town in Latium, Italy, in the hills east-southeast of Rome, famous for its connections with the papacy and for the picturesque monuments of its unspoiled historical center. ...

Notes

References

• Kęciek, Krzysztof, Benewent 275 p.n.e, Bellona, Warsaw, 2001.
• Information about this war can be found in Plutarch's Lives, Polybius, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, and Livy.

Mestrius Plutarchus (Greek: Πλούταρχος; 46 - 127), better known in English as Plutarch, was a Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist. ... Polybius (c. ... Dionysius Halicarnassensis (of Halicarnassus), Greek historian and teacher of rhetoric, flourished during the reign of Augustus. ... A portrait of Titus Livius made long after his death. ...