Any person strives to fill his speech with colorful epithets, metaphors, non-banal comparisons and turns, which serve not only to give words brightness, but also testify to the level of education and erudition of their carrier.
Unfortunately, many “juicy” turns, despite their popularity,
are used in a meaning often opposite to their true meaning. Such use can play a cruel joke with someone who likes to show off a bright word. Any phrase requires a deep understanding and knowledge of what or to whom it owes its appearance, and in what situation its use will be appropriate.
One such expression is Pyrrhic victory. Who or what was this Pierre? Why is the memory of this victory preserved in history?
A little background
Tsar Pyrrhus (in some sources Pyrrhus I) - Tsar Epirus (one of the territories of Greece), who lived in the period 319 (320) - 270 (272) years. BC (before the birth of Christ).
In view of the fact that there are quite a lot of sources containing references to this ruler and commander, it can be assumed that he was, if not popular, then quite noticeable.
According to historical records, in 313 B.C. his father Eakid was ousted from the throne, and the young heir secretly removed from the borders of Epirus to Illyria, where he was transferred under the protection of the ruler of this territory, Tsar Glavkiy. Despite repeated offers of enemies to ransom the young prince, Glavky refused to extradite his pupil. Moreover, in the year when Pyrrhus turned 12, the ruler of Illyria returned to him the throne of Epirus.
During his reign, Pyrrhus waged internecine wars, familiar to those times. His troops repeatedly invaded Thessaly and Macedonia. He managed to visit Egypt as a hostage, but from there he returned as the wife of the adopted daughter of the Egyptian king. For some time, Pyrrhus was even the king of Macedonia, but pretty soon he was forced to abandon this throne.
Soon, the Greek metropolis of Tarentus appealed to his help in protecting against the attacks of the Romans. Not without the help of the Egyptian and Macedonian rulers, Pyrrhus gathered a rather impressive army and arrived in Tarentum. At his disposal were more than 50 fighting elephants, 25,000 soldiers (foot soldiers and horsemen). Moreover, Egypt financed the transportation and subsistence of the army.
The first battle with the army of the Romans took place in 280 BC, and the first Pyrrhic victory was won in it. It is well deserved, despite the fact that the ruler has lost some of the most experienced and valuable warriors. The second battle took place near the town of Auskulum (in some sources - Auskul) in 279 BC The king of Epireus turned out to be the winner, however, as eyewitnesses say in his notes, the losses in the two-day battle were such that the commander noted that another such victory would leave him without an army (in some translations: “If we win again at that price, we will die "). It was this outcome of the military confrontation that was called the Pyrrhic victory, which over time became a stable phrase.
Nowadays, you can often hear the phrase "Pyrrhic victory." The meaning of these words has not changed. As before, they talk about winning with losses of such magnitude that losing would be more profitable. In other words, it is a victory equal to defeat.