Pyrrhus (also Pyrrhos or Phyrrhus, c. 319 - 272 BCE ) was the king of Epirus in northern Greece between 306 and 302 BCE and again between 297 and 272 BCE. Winning great victories against the armies of Macedon and Rome, he is considered one of the finest military commanders in history and was favourably compared to Alexander the Great by such noted generals as Hannibal. Due to the large losses suffered during his battles he has famously given his name to the expression a 'Pyrrhic victory' which refers to any military success which comes at a high cost to the victor.
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Definition
Timeline
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306 BCE - 302 BCEFirst reign of King Pyrrhus of Epirus.
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301 BCEPyrrhus of Epirus fights at the Battle of Ipsos.
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297 BCE - 272 BCESecond reign of King Pyrrhus of Epirus.
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288 BCEPyrrhus of Epirus becomes ruler of Macedon.
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284 BCELysimachus drives Pyrrhus out of Macedon.
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280 BCE - 275 BCEKing Pyrrhus of Epirus wages the Pyrrhic War against the Romans in Italy, defence of Tarentum being the pretext.
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Jul 280 BCEPyrrhus defeats the Romans at the Battle of Heraclea.
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279 BCEPyrrhus defeats the Romans at the Battle of Asculum.
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275 BCEThe Romans defeat Pyrrhus of Epirus at the Battle of Maleventum.
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273 BCEPyrrhus of Epirus attacks Macedon and Sparta.
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272 BCEDeath of Pyrrhus of Epirus in a street battle in Argos.
