| Battle of Asculum | |||||||
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| Part of the Pyrrhic War | |||||||
Key locations of the Pyrrhic War |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Roman Republic | Epirus, Magna Graecia |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Publius Decius Mus | Pyrrhus of Epirus | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 40,000 cavalry and infantry, 300 anti-elephant devices |
40,000 cavalry and infantry, 20 war elephants |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 8,000 killed | 3,000 killed | ||||||
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The Battle of Asculum (or Ausculum)[1] took place in 279 BC between the Romans under the command of Consul Publius Decius Mus and the combined Tarantine, Oscan, Samnite, and Epirote forces, under the command of the Greek king Pyrrhus of Epirus. This battle is set within Pyrrhic War for control of Magna Graecia.
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This battle was the second encounter between a Macedonian phalanx-based army and the Roman legion. The two armies were equally numbered.
The Romans had more infantry (four legions, 25,000 Romans, plus Dauni allies) and 300 anti-elephant devices. After the Battle of Heraclea, in which Greek war elephants had proved decisive, the legions were provided with flammable weapons and anti-elephant devices: ox-led chariots, equipped with long spikes to wound the elephants, pots of fire to scare them and screening troops who would hurl pila 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 with his phalanx.
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 center. Pyrrhus held his Guard cavalry in reserve behind the centre under his personal command. The elephants were also initially kept in reserve.
On the first day, Pyrrhus' cavalry and elephants were blocked by the woods and hills where the battle was fought, although the Italic soldiers in the phalanxes fought well. The Macedonians broke the Roman first legion and Rome's Latin allies on their left wing but the Roman third and fourth legions defeated the Tarantines, Oscans and Epirotes in Pyrrhus' centre. Meanwhile a force of Dauni attacked his camp. He sent reserve cavalry to deal with the breakthrough, and more cavalry and some elephants to drive off the Dauni. When these 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. Pyrrhus sent Athamanian, Acharnian and Samnite infantry to drive the Romans out of the woods, but these 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 launched; having proven briefly effective, 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 8,000 men, and Pyrrhus 3,000, including many of his officers. Pyrrhus later commented on his victory, stating, "One more such victory, and we shall be undone." It is from this exceptionally high price in victory that the phrase "Pyrrhic victory" originates.