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477:, the city was powerless against the Carthaginian invasion, and both generals sought the support of Pyrrhus. Pyrrhus' strategic decision to march on Sicily has been debated in historiography, as it meant the opening of a new military front when the previous front was not completely closed in Italy. Apparently, Pyrrhus' plans to control the island of Sicily would be a first step towards conquering Carthage, as
515:, gave way to Syracuse. The arrival of Pyrrhus' army forced the besieging forces to disperse. He captured Syracuse and obtained 140 ships and several siege engines. The two leaders of Syracuse, Thinion and Sosistratus, put aside their differences and joined the cause of Pyrrhus, who appointed his son, Helenus, king of Sicily.
522:, held by Sosistratus, contributed 8,000 new experienced soldiers to Pyrrhus' army. Other cities surrendered to him. Pyrrhus did not remain inactive for long and immediately began marching towards the Carthaginian cities with an army that grew to over 30,000 foot and about 1,500 cavalry, according to
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voluntarily surrendered. The
Carthaginian soldiers fled without being able to do anything for fear of elephants. One can understand how bad the conditions were for the Carthaginian mercenaries, as they retreated through hostile territory, without food. The casualties must have been great. No wonder
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realize that the Roman legions, despite their strength, were no match for the war elephants of
Pyrrhus. This understanding led to Pyrrhus' peace with Rome. After that, an agreement was made, which forced Rome to vacate the territories gained in southern Italy.
417:. One of the main weapons of Pyrrhus' army was his war elephants, which no Roman soldier had faced before. The encounter with the Roman resistance was more difficult than he expected. He defeated the Romans with their help in the
559:, and then with ladders, so that his soldiers could climb the wall. He was the first to climb the walls and fought bravely, driving many defenders into the city himself. After a difficult siege, the city was captured.
391:. The core of Pyrrhus' army consisted of 5,000 Macedonian phalanxians, together with the phalanxes of the Epirus regions armed in the Macedonian style. Pyrrhus' army also had a small force of highly effective
442:. The Carthaginians told the Romans that they were ready to unite with them against Pyrrhus. The Romans, as if reawakened by this new covenant, annulled the treaty. The same Carthaginian fleet
488:, Pyrrhus embarked with his troops and elephants and crossed into Sicily. The Tarentines were not pleased to see him leave, but left a garrison in that city while other forces remained in
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were blocked by the
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on the northwest coast was held by a large
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he gained additional allies. The
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419:battle of Heraclea
385:Macedonian phalanx
367:was expelled from
347:Empire of Carthage
331:The Battle of Eryx
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359:Pyrrhic War
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121:Pyrrhic War
631:Categories
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571:, but his
563:Afterwards
520:Agrigentum
479:Agathocles
456:Mamertines
393:Thessalian
353:Background
319:Beneventum
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369:Macedonia
309:Lilybaeum
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373:Tarentum
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471:Thinion
460:Messina
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365:Pyrrhus
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314:Messina
304:Cranita
289:Rhegium
284:Venusia
279:Asculum
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642:278 BC
543:Battle
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486:278 BC
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