Battle of Asculum (279 BC)

:"This article refers to the Pyrrhic War battle fought in 279 BC. For the Second Punic War battle fought in 209 BC, see Battle of Asculum (209 BC)."

Infobox Military Conflict

caption=Most_important_places_in_the_Pyrrhic_War
conflict=Battle of Asculum
partof=the Pyrrhic War
date=279 BC
place=Asculum, modern Ascoli Satriano, Apulia, Italy
result=Pyrrhic Greek victory
combatant1=Roman Republic
combatant2=Epirus,
Magna Graecia|
commander1=Publius Decius Mus
commander2=Pyrrhus of Epirus
strength1=40,000 cavalry and infantry,
300 anti-elephant devices
strength2=40,000 cavalry and infantry,
20 war elephants
casualties1=6,000 dead
casualties2=3,500 dead

The Battle of Asculum (or Ausculum) [Michael Grant, The History of Rome, p. 79] took place in 279 BC between the Romans under the command of Consul Publius Decius Mus and the combined Tarantine, Oscan, Samnite, and Epirote army forces, under the command of the Greek king Pyrrhus of Epirus. This battle is set within the Romano-Tarantine conflict, to control Magna Graecia. For further information on this conflict, see the history of Taranto.

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 Greek 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.

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 Greek 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.

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 Epirotes 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, a 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.

The Romans lost 6,000 men, Pyrrhus 3,500, including many of his officers. A narrow Greek 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.

References