King of Misfortune: The Life of Pyrrhus

By Anthony Holland

Dive into the tumultuous and captivating world of ancient warfare with "King of Misfortune: The Life of Pyrrhus," a riveting exploration of one of history's most enigmatic military leaders. This meticulously researched biography chronicles the extraordinary life of Pyrrhus, a figure whose immense potential and formidable talents were overshadowed by his relentless pursuit of fleeting victories and short-lived conquests.

 

From his early days as a promising ruler of Epirus to his ambitious campaigns across Macedon, Italy, and Greece, Pyrrhus's life was a whirlwind of battles, alliances, and betrayals. Each chapter vividly recounts his daring exploits and the grandeur of his military maneuvers, painting a portrait of a man who was both a brilliant tactician and a tragic figure. Despite his numerous victories, Pyrrhus's inability to sustain his gains and his tendency to engage in one conflict after another without a clear strategy ultimately led to his downfall.

 

"King of Misfortune: The Life of Pyrrhus" delves deep into the psychological and emotional complexities of Pyrrhus, revealing a character driven by impulsive ambition and a desire for recognition. His story serves as a poignant reminder of the thin line between greatness and ruin, illustrating how even the mightiest of leaders can falter when guided by caprice rather than wisdom.

 

Engaging and richly detailed, this book is not just a biography but a lens into the broader historical context of the Hellenistic world. It offers insights into the political and military landscapes of the time, shedding light on the intricate web of relationships and power struggles that defined the era.

 

Whether you are a history enthusiast, a student of military strategy, or simply someone who enjoys a compelling narrative, "King of Misfortune: The Life of Pyrrhus" promises to captivate and educate. It is a testament to the enduring legacy of a king whose life, despite its many misfortunes, continues to intrigue and inspire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anthony Holland
• Release date: Jun 5, 2024
• ISBN: 9798227895479

Book preview

King of Misfortune

The Life of Pyrrhus

Ophir History

Copyright © 2024 Ophir History

All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

Contents

Title Page

Copyright

1 - Epirus

2 - Cassander

3 - Pyrrhus

4 - Restoration

5 - Italy

6 - Pyrrhus and Rome

7 - Sicily

9 - Retreat

10 - Royal Wrath

11 - Relentless Warrior

12 - Spartan Rivalries

13 - Final Campaign

Sources

1 - Epirus

At the very outset of his life, Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, embarked on an extraordinary series of romantic adventures that would come to define his remarkable career. At the tender age of two, Pyrrhus became an exile and a fugitive from his father's household. He was hastily taken away by household attendants to evade a dire and imminent personal danger. The circumstances leading to this extraordinary escape are as follows:

Epirus was located on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea and bordered the southwestern region of Macedonia. The kingdom of Epirus was geographically and politically close to the kingdom of Macedon, and in some respects, it was dependent on Macedon. The political affairs of the two kingdoms were often closely intertwined due to the personal relations and connections between their respective royal families. Consequently, any significant war or major civil discord in Macedon would inevitably involve the king or people of Epirus, compelling them to participate in the conflict on one side or the other. In instances where the king and the people of Epirus found themselves on opposing sides of these Macedonian political issues, the resulting strife often brought significant turmoil and confusion to the smaller kingdom of Epirus.

The period of Pyrrhus's career immediately followed that of Alexander the Great, with Pyrrhus being born about four years after Alexander's death. During this time, the royal families of Epirus and Macedon shared very close ties, primarily due to a significant intermarriage in the previous generation: Philip of Macedon's marriage to Olympias, the daughter of a king of Epirus. Philip and Olympias were the parents of Alexander the Great. Consequently, the people of Epirus, like those of Macedon, held a deep interest in Alexander's achievements, viewing him as a descendant of their own royal lineage as well as Macedon's. They thus naturally claimed a share in the glory he attained. Olympias, who alternated her residence between Epirus and Macedon following her marriage to Philip, maintained strong connections with both her own family and Philip's. Her influence, along with the renown of Alexander's conquests, continually intertwined the governments of Epirus and Macedon.

However, it should not be assumed that the connections fostered by Olympias between the courts of Epirus and Macedon were always amicable. On the contrary, they were frequently contentious. Olympias was known for her passionate and ungovernable temper, coupled with a very determined will. Philip, being equally impetuous and resolute, often found their domestic life to be a series of conflicts. Early in her marriage, Olympias generally succeeded in achieving her aims. Among her accomplishments was persuading Philip to install her brother on the throne of Epirus, displacing another prince who was the more direct heir. This action led to the formation of two opposing factions within Epirus, each supporting different branches of the royal family, resulting in prolonged civil wars. Thus, while Olympias held significant influence over Philip, she wielded it in ways that brought substantial calamity and strife to her homeland of Epirus.

Over time, Olympias's influence over Philip of Macedon completely waned. Their ongoing disputes culminated in a bitter and irreconcilable quarrel. In a move that was both a political alliance and an act of personal hostility against Olympias, Philip married another woman named Cleopatra. Philip accused Olympias of heinous crimes, leading her to leave Macedon in a rage and seek refuge at the court of her brother in Epirus.

During this familial rift, Olympias's son, Alexander, remained in Macedon. Nineteen years old at the time, Alexander sided with his mother in the dispute. Although he stayed at Philip's court for a while, his disposition was notably irritable and sullen. Eventually, during a significant public festival, an altercation erupted between Alexander and Philip, triggered by remarks about Olympias made by some guests. In a fit of anger, Alexander openly defied the king and promptly left the court, traveling to Epirus to join his mother. This familial discord captured the attention of the people of Epirus, who were divided in their allegiances, with some supporting Philip and others siding with Olympias and Alexander.

Shortly after these events, Philip was assassinated under mysterious and extraordinary circumstances. Olympias was widely suspected of instigating the assassination. Although there was no concrete evidence to prove her guilt, her character and past conduct lacked any semblance of justice or humanity that might suggest her innocence. In essence, Olympias was perceived as a woman whose guilt seemed more plausible than her innocence. Consequently, despite the scant evidence, she has been largely condemned as an accessory to Philip's murder.

The death of Philip, whether orchestrated by Olympias or not, significantly benefited her ambitions and position. This event paved the way for her return to Macedon, as her son Alexander ascended to the throne immediately after Philip's demise. Given Alexander's youth, Olympias presumed he would readily submit to her influence. In some respects, this proved accurate. Despite any faults, Alexander was a dutiful son, treating his mother with the utmost respect and consideration throughout his life. However, he maintained his independence in political matters, formulating and executing his plans autonomously. Whenever disagreements arose, Olympias quickly realized that Alexander could not be controlled in these aspects, and she relinquished any attempts to assert her influence.

During Alexander's reign, relations with his mother remained relatively smooth. Olympias maintained a friendly rapport with Alexander himself but quarreled incessantly with the commanders and ministers of state he left in Macedon while he campaigned in Asia. These disputes did not escalate into severe issues because Alexander adeptly managed to resolve them before they became unmanageable. He did so with a manner that was both respectful and considerate toward his mother, while ensuring that the actual administrative power of the kingdom remained with those he trusted.

Alexander skillfully balanced his mother's demands by showing her respect and maintaining her dignity within the royal household, all the while confiding very little substantial power to her. He soothed her irritable temper with marks of consideration and regard, thereby preserving her elevated status without compromising the effective governance of his kingdom.

Antipater, the officer whom Alexander left in chief command in Macedon during his Asiatic expedition, was a venerable man nearly seventy years old. He had served as the principal minister of state in Macedonia for a long period, demonstrating great fidelity and success during his tenure under Philip before Alexander's accession. Throughout his public service, Antipater maintained an exalted reputation for wisdom and virtue. Philip had absolute confidence in him and often entrusted him with the most critical affairs.

Despite his illustrious position and significant influence in Macedonian public affairs, Antipater was known for his simple and unpretentious manners. He was kind and considerate to all, seemingly devoid of personal ambition, motivated only by a sincere dedication to the cause of those he served. Numerous anecdotes circulated in the Macedonian court highlighting the high regard in which he was held. For instance, on one occasion, Philip, finding himself in a situation requiring special caution and vigilance, appeared late in the morning and excused himself to his officers by saying, I have slept rather late this morning, but then I knew that Antipater was awake.

Alexander also held the highest respect and veneration for Antipater's character. When someone expressed surprise that Antipater did not wear a purple robe—the badge of nobility and greatness—like other great commanders and ministers of state, Alexander remarked, Those men wear purple on the outside, but Antipater is purple within. This statement underscored the deep and intrinsic nobility that Alexander recognized in Antipater, valuing his inner virtues over external symbols of status.

During Alexander's absence, the entire country placed immense trust in Antipater's wisdom, justice, and moderation, readily accepting his governance. However, Olympias constantly caused trouble for Antipater. In his role as regent, he governed with a sense of duty to the people and to Alexander, disregarding Olympias's demands and expectations. Frustrated by his resistance, Olympias did everything in her power to disrupt his plans and hinder his administration. She persistently wrote letters to Alexander, often misrepresenting events or making entirely false accusations against Antipater.

Similarly, Antipater wrote to Alexander, detailing the interference and difficulties Olympias caused him. Although Alexander managed to mitigate these conflicts temporarily, he eventually decided a change in the regency was necessary. When a large contingent of new recruits from Macedon was to be sent to Asia, Alexander ordered Antipater to accompany them. Concurrently, he sent Craterus, another general, back to Macedon in charge of returning troops whose service had ended. Alexander's plan was to retain Antipater's service in Asia and appoint Craterus as the governor of Macedon, hoping Craterus might cooperate better with Olympias.

Antipater was instructed to remain in Macedon until Craterus arrived. However, during Craterus's journey, Alexander suddenly died. This unexpected event dramatically altered the political landscape of the empire, triggering a series of significant events that profoundly affected Olympias's condition and fortunes. The ensuing developments created a complex narrative requiring careful attention to fully understand.

Upon Alexander's death, the foremost question on everyone's mind was that of succession. Alexander left no clear and undisputed heir. At the time of his death, he had no child, but his wife Roxana, the daughter of an Asiatic prince, gave birth to a son a few months later. Roxana had been captured by Alexander along with other ladies at a fort where her father had placed her for safety. Renowned for her exceptional beauty, Roxana captivated Alexander, who decided to marry her. Considered the loveliest among the thousands of captives from his Asiatic campaign, Roxana was still in the bloom of youth and beauty when her son was born, only four years after their marriage.

In addition to Roxana's newborn son, another potential claimant to the throne was Alexander's half-brother, Aridæus. Aridæus's claim to the succession appeared more direct since he was alive at the time of Alexander's death. However, Aridæus was intellectually impaired and politically insignificant, except for his birthright as the next heir in the Macedonian line. He was not Olympias's son but was born to another mother. According to accounts, his intellectual impairment was the result of an attempted poisoning by Olympias during his youth, driven by her rage and jealousy toward his mother, whom Philip had favored over her. Although the poison did not kill him, it severely damaged his intellect.

When Alexander ascended to the throne, he took measures to protect Aridæus from any further attempts on his life by Olympias. For this reason, and possibly others, Alexander brought Aridæus with him on his Asiatic campaign. Both Aridæus and Roxana were present in Babylon at the time of Alexander's death. This complex situation intensified the uncertainty and disputes regarding the rightful heir to Alexander's empire.

In evaluating the comparative claims of Aridæus and Roxana's infant son to the Macedonian crown, it was evident that neither could effectively wield actual power. Alexander's son was incapacitated by his youth, and his brother by his imbecility. Consequently, the real power immediately shifted to Alexander's leading generals and counselors of state. These generals, upon consulting one another, decided not to resolve the succession in favor of either heir. Instead, they chose to invest the sovereignty of the empire jointly in both. They named Aridæus Philip and Roxana's son Alexander, making these two princes the nominal sovereigns while they divided the actual power among themselves.

In this division of power, Egypt and the adjoining African territories were assigned to the distinguished general Ptolemy, who subsequently founded the Ptolemaic dynasty. This dynasty, several centuries later, produced the renowned Cleopatra. Macedon, Greece, and the other European provinces were allocated to Antipater and Craterus. At the time, Craterus was en route to Macedon with the invalid and disbanded troops sent home by Alexander. Due to his poor health, Craterus was unable to fully command the detachment. Therefore, Alexander had appointed an officer named Polysperchon to assist him during the march. As events unfolded in Macedonia, Polysperchon played a crucial role, significantly influencing the course of events after his and Craterus's arrival.

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