King Pyrrhus: Eagle of the Epirotes

The term “Pyrrhic victory,” has become so closely associated with Pyrrhus of Epirus that we seem to forget almost everything else about him. Despite his ultimate defeat in Italy against Rome, Pyrrhus had a long and broad military career across the known Greek world. Hannibal, famous for his own victories against Rome, rated Pyrrhus as one of the greatest generals of his time.

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Script by JCG

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[magellantv]

To be called one of the greatest generals by Hannibal, second only to Alexander, is quite outstanding.

[stenbak]

There is something comforting about The History Guy first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee

[northernepirushellenicland]

Pyrrhus or Pyrrhos (Ancient Greek: Πύρρος, Pyrrhos; 319/318--272 BC) was a Greek general and statesman of the Hellenistic era.He was king of the Greek tribe of Molossians, of the royal Aeacid house (from c. 297 BC), and later he became king of Epirus (r. 306--302, 297--272 BC) and Macedon (r. 288--284, 273--272 BC). He was one of the strongest opponents of early Rome. Some of his battles, though successful, cost him heavy losses, from which the term "Pyrrhic victory" was coined. He is the subject of one of Plutarch's Parallel Lives (Greek: Βίοι Παράλληλοι).

[hyperbomb]

To be fair to Pyrrhus, the Roman military has always been built and trained to to wear down enemies, relying on stamina and attrition to win the day. If you take a look at later battles, such as Caesar in Gaul and even contemporary to Pyrrhus, with Hannibal, Rome, even in loss, wears down attackers making them unable to continue even in victory. In Gaul they brought superior numbers against Rome and just couldn't win, Carthage brought overwhelming numbers and carefully picked battlefields but always stalled out. Pyrrhus was able to win a few times, while being outnumbered and/or definitely always at a men and material disadvantage.

[WinterInTheForest]

It's astounding how relevant Rome continues to be.

[stevebailey]

Wow, another great episode! I've always loved history and have a few history channels I follow. Yours is my favorite. I commute to work and leave my house around the time you release m, w, f episodes. Your episode length is about as long as my bus commmute and I so look forward to that being the start of my workday. Hats off to you Lance and thank you again!

[GhostCountries]

I just really began digging into Epirus' history last year and it's truly a fascinating story: from Pyrrhus, to the Despotate of Epirus (i.e. Byzantine successor state), and the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus that popped up in wake of the Balkans War.

[edencollier]

I just want to say I've been absolutely devouring these videos after stumbling across them a couple of weeks ago. I've also just tested positive for covid and thus will be self isolating for the next week or so, which while unpleasant has been made easier by binge watching your back catalogue with my cats Grogu and Praytell on my lap. Keep up the good work! -Eden

[drzarkov]

Whenever people talk about the greatest generals, they never mention Michiel De Ruyter, whose rank was Lieutenant-Admiral General.  Apparently, being on a ship instead of on a horse or in a jeep, disqualifies him from being a great strategist or military leader.  He won battles against Spain, Sweden, France, and, most-famously, led a raid up the Thames and into the heart of London.

[wilsontheconqueror]

The blood of Alexander was definitely in his 2cnd cousin Phyrus! Well done!

[batTorah]

I watch with the captions on.
The word pirates was used a lot 😉
Thanks THG for another great episode!
Have a wonderful 4th of July 🇺🇸

[corey]

Love these videos! When we perfect cloning I say we get a bunch of clones of this dude and make them high school history teachers!

[richardmattingly]

The greatest American general of the US Civil War and perhaps in its history is largely forgotten but he would make a fine episode for the History Guy. Having won the first battle of the war for the Union in Kentucky and the most pivotal in the West that doomed the Confederacy it was surprising that he was from Virginia. Having been labeled a traitor to the South and calls for him to be changed if captured Gen. George Thomas fought many who he once served with before the war. At the battle if Chickamaga he and his men fought a desperate delaying action that saved an entire Union Army from being destroyed and possibly the War by sheer tenacity he became known for. Called the Rock of Chickmaga afterwards because of it he turned that favor by all but obliterating the Confederate Army under his former student Gen. John Bell Hood years later that it closed the West to it forever. Indeed he never lost a movement or battle he was involved with or commanded and unlike others generals North or South he went into a self imposed exile not fame and died in the command at the Presidio in California far away from its battlefields. Indeed he was writing a response to a critic who said he hadn't the the dash of others to be famous when death came for him defending his dogged and relentless pursuit that destroyed the Confederacy opening the South for Sherman to run free hastened its end all the more. He wrote a prophetic note that he'd expected his South to rewrite its history in the following years to all but exclude Slavery in its cause and be a noble but doomed defense of States Rights in the mythology of Lost Cause. Even in death he couldn't return to Virginia and as a testament to his importance both Sherman-Grant attended his funeral and the former was moved when his horse named Billy went past named after him. In Grants Tomb a bust of Thomas was placed overlooking his grave is still there though in the pantheon if the Civil War Thomas still is in exile of sorts even if his actions were central to keeping the United States remains unremebered...

[earlyburg]

I learned a lot from this video. Thanks for posting it.

[tomriley]

Really intersting video, Belasarius - another great Roman general who is always forgotten.

[ilect]

it feels weird to think that even during alexander the greats conquest rome was slowly making waves and would quickly find themselves as the dominant player in italy during the wars of the diodachi...

[edwardheida]

‘Empiric victory’ whoa, my apologies beforehand, but kind of reminds me of marriages I know ( not mine ) or other relationships. Thank you history guy for more, uhhh, history. One of my favorite channels to watch. Though very seldom comment as you can see why

[gavinmclaren]

A very enjoyable episode, as always. However I was mildly surprised not to see one with a Canadian theme or reference, as it is July 1st.

[BuzzinVideography]

The History Guy... giving us all free knowledge under his own good will.
I very much appreciate you

[chiseldrock]

Thanks, so few remember at what cost victory comes, history well worth remembering!