23 moments

1. Birth in Epirus

   0319-01-01 BC · Epirus, Greece and Albania

   Pyrrhus was born into the Aeacid royal house of Epirus, beginning a career that would range across the eastern and central Mediterranean. The source gives an approximate birth year and identifies only Epirus, not a specific settlement; coordinates represent the historic region.

2. Refuge with Glaucias

   0317-01-01 BC · Taulantian territory, Illyria (near modern Durrës, Albania)

   

   After the overthrow of his father, the infant Pyrrhus and his family fled north and found protection under Glaucias of the Taulantians. The exact site of Glaucias's court is not specified; coordinates are a representative point for Taulantian territory.

3. Restoration as king of Epirus

   0307-01-01 BC · Epirus, Greece and Albania

   Glaucias invaded Epirus and restored the young Pyrrhus to its throne, though guardians governed during his minority. The source identifies Epirus rather than a particular royal center; coordinates represent the historic region.

4. Battle of Ipsus

   0301-01-01 BC · Ipsus, Phrygia, Turkey

   

   Pyrrhus fought alongside Demetrius in the decisive Battle of Ipsus during the Wars of the Diadochi. The source qualifies his participation as probable; coordinates follow the battle site's reported modern location near Çayırbağ.

5. Hostage at Alexandria

   0298-01-01 BC · Alexandria, Egypt

   Under a peace agreement between Demetrius and Ptolemy I, Pyrrhus was sent to Alexandria as a hostage and married Antigone there.

6. Return to Epirus

   0297-01-01 BC · Epirus, Greece and Albania

   Ptolemy supplied Pyrrhus with men and funds, enabling his return to Epirus and the recovery of his kingdom. The source identifies Epirus broadly; coordinates represent the historic region.

7. Invasion of Thessaly

   0292-01-01 BC · Thessaly, Greece

   Pyrrhus invaded Thessaly while Demetrius was conducting the siege of Thebes, but withdrew when confronted by a larger force. The campaign is located only at regional level; coordinates represent central Thessaly.

8. Battle with Pantauchus in Aetolia

   0289-01-01 BC · Aetolia, Greece

   Moving to aid his Aetolian allies, Pyrrhus encountered Pantauchus's detachment and won a hard-fought battle. The text places Pantauchus's force in Aetolia but does not identify the exact battlefield; coordinates represent the region.

9. Raid to Aegae

   0289-01-01 BC · Aegae (Vergina), Macedonia, Greece

   During Demetrius's illness, Pyrrhus raided Macedonia and advanced as far as its old royal capital, Aegae, before retreating. Coordinates are for archaeological Vergina, conventionally identified with ancient Aegae.

10. Headquarters at Beroea

    0288-01-01 BC · Beroea (Veria), Macedonia, Greece

    In the allied offensive against Demetrius, Pyrrhus seized Beroea and made it his headquarters before winning over Macedonian troops. The year follows the 288 BC Macedonian campaign chronology; the quotation is from Plutarch's narrative of that campaign.

11. Celebration at Athens

    0287-01-01 BC · Athens, Greece

    Pyrrhus arrived with his army to relieve Athens from Demetrius's siege; after the victory, the Athenians welcomed and celebrated him in the city.

12. Battle of Heraclea

    0280-01-01 BC · Heraclea, Lucania, Italy

    

    Pyrrhus defeated the Roman army of Publius Valerius Laevinus at Heraclea in Lucania during his Italian war. The precise battlefield is uncertain; coordinates represent the site of ancient Heraclea near modern Policoro.

13. Winter at Tarentum

    0280-01-01 BC · Tarentum (Taranto), Italy

    

    After advancing toward Rome, Pyrrhus withdrew to Tarentum and wintered his troops there.

14. Battle of Asculum

    0279-01-01 BC · Asculum (near Ascoli Satriano), Apulia, Italy

    

    Pyrrhus fought the Romans near Asculum in Apulia and won the costly victory later associated with the phrase “Pyrrhic victory.” Coordinates represent modern Ascoli Satriano, conventionally associated with ancient Asculum.

15. Landing in Sicily and relief of Syracuse

    0278-01-01 BC · Syracuse, Sicily, Italy

    Pyrrhus sailed to Sicily, disembarked his army, relieved Syracuse from the Carthaginian siege, and was proclaimed king of Sicily.

16. Assault on Eryx

    0277-01-01 BC · Eryx (Erice), Sicily, Italy

    Pyrrhus personally led the storming of Eryx, a major Carthaginian stronghold in western Sicily. The year is supplied by the broader campaign chronology; the quotation directly records Pyrrhus's personal participation in the assault.

17. Siege of Lilybaeum

    0276-01-01 BC · Lilybaeum (Marsala), Sicily, Italy

    Pyrrhus directed an unsuccessful two-month siege of Lilybaeum, recognizing that the fortress could not be effectively taken without a naval blockade. Coordinates represent the ancient city at modern Marsala.

18. Battle near Beneventum

    0275-01-01 BC · Beneventum (Benevento), Italy

    

    Pyrrhus led his principal force against Manius Curius near Beneventum; the campaign's outcome led him to abandon Italy. The exact battlefield location is debated; coordinates represent Benevento.

19. Return to Epirus after Italy and Sicily

    0275-01-01 BC · Epirus, Greece and Albania

    After six years of campaigning in Italy and Sicily, Pyrrhus returned to Epirus with the remnants of his army. The source identifies Epirus broadly; coordinates represent the historic region.

20. Battle of the Aous River

    0274-01-01 BC · Aous (Vjosa) River gorge, Albania

    Pyrrhus invaded Macedonia and defeated Antigonus Gonatas's army in a narrow gorge near the Aous River. The battle is located only near the Aous/Vjosa River; coordinates represent a defensible point in its upper gorge.

21. Occupation of Aegae

    0274-01-01 BC · Aegae (Vergina), Macedonia, Greece

    Following his Macedonian victory, Pyrrhus took possession of Aegae and left a Gallic garrison there. Coordinates are for archaeological Vergina, conventionally identified with ancient Aegae.

22. Death in the Battle of Argos

    0272-01-01 BC · Argos, Greece

    

    Pyrrhus entered Argos with his army during a civic conflict, became trapped in the street fighting, and was killed there.

23. Siege of Sparta

    0272-01-01 BC · Sparta (Lacedaemon), Greece

    

    Pyrrhus led an army against Sparta in an attempt to dominate the Peloponnese, but Spartan resistance forced him to abandon the siege.