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Pyrrhus Biography
Royalty
Pyrrhus inherited the throne of Epirus in Northern Greece around 306 B.C., and as a young man proved himself on the battlefield again and again. Pyrrhus apparently had great strategic skills, but he also had the reputation of not knowing when to stop. In 281 he went to Italy and defeated the Romans at Heraclea and Asculum, but suffered bitterly heavy losses. The devastation led to his famous statement, "One more such victory and I am lost" -- hence the term "Pyrrhic victory" for any victory so costly as to be ruinous.
For more about Pyrrhic victories and Freudian slips, see our loop titled Who's What.
Four Good Links
Pyrrhus, The Fool of Hope
Plutarch's Lives has an entry on the brave, foolish warrior
Pyrrhic War
His role in history, as described by a history of the Roman Empire
Pyrrhus, Molossian King of Epirus
Brief encyclopedia entry that gives him the cold shoulder
The Pyrrhic War, 280-270 B.C.
A few more details from a big site on Hannibal and the Punic Wars
Vital Stats
Birth
Birthplace
Death
Best Known As
King of hellenistic Epirus whose gave up a lot to win