A History of the Pyrrhic War by Patrick Alan Kent

Author:Patrick Alan Kent
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9781138543829
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Published: 2019-08-28T04:00:00+00:00

The diplomatic situation in 279

There were diplomatic contacts between the Romans and Pyrrhus following the battle of Ausculum, which had ended in another victory for Pyrrhus. Plutarch, Appian, and Zonaras refer to a second attempt at peace by the king, which is missing in the epitomized accounts of Justin and the Periochae of Livy. Unfortunately, those that record a second round of negotiations differ significantly in detail. Further, they bear a great many similarities to the negotiations of 280, with some clear duplication of materials.38 The Romans certainly had reason to again meet with the king after a second defeat. Pyrrhus, our Roman sources insist, was now desperate for peace, which was fueled by a sense of futility in the face of Roman manpower and a desire to seek easier conquests. Of course such assertions are meant to bolster the positive portrayal of the Romans by making Pyrrhus the one pursuing peace. But, given the strategic situation, Pyrrhus had ample reason to want an end to the fighting beyond the anachronisms of the sources. In 279, the king sought to shore up his control of southern Italy in order to move onto a new phase of his campaign beyond Italy.

As with so much surrounding the Pyrrhic War, the impetus for the negotiations in 279 found in the sources is unbelievably fanciful. In sum, Pyrrhus’ doctor approached the consul Fabricius offering to poison the king in return for money.39 Fabricius refused the offer and informed Pyrrhus, who was so impressed that he attempted again to make peace with the virtuous Romans. Pyrrhus, we are told, was already regretful of getting involved in the war and so this was a perfect excuse for him to reach out again. In general, the story as described is too far-fetched to give any historical credence. In addition, Fabricius was not the consul in 279 but 278.40 The most likely explanation is that this story of incredible Roman nobility, whatever its original form, was attached to the noblest character of the war without regards to whether it fit the timeline or not.

Pyrrhus did not need some fabulous proof of Roman virtue in 279 in order to desire peace. He was in a strong position having defeated the Romans in two battles, invaded Latium, and firmly held much of southern Italy. His battlefield casualties may have been serious and the recruitment of new armies by the Romans a concern, but the war was clearly still in his favor. Pyrrhus’ growing interest in Sicily is only surprising if we accept the idea that he had up to this point desired to conquer all of Italy. However, this claim is later Roman tradition meant to give the impression that the Romans had through their perseverance blunted his aspiration to conquer Italy. Historic attempts to unify the Greeks of Italy and Sicily provided a useful model for Pyrrhus, making this shift in theaters a natural extension of the king’s current efforts. Pyrrhus wanted peace in 279 for the same reasons he had in 280; he desired the resources of the western Greeks, not to conquer Rome.

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