Pyrrhus was the king of Epirus and lived from 318 BCE to 272 BCE. He is widely recognized as one of the most brilliant generals of his time. He led his soldiers to many victories, but he is most famous for his battles against Rome. In addition to being an exceptional general, he was an acclaimed author. His books on the art of war have been cited and acclaimed by many ancient authors. Despite his many qualities, Pyrrhus was a bad politician. Many people believe that if he had had better political acumen, he could have retained control of the lands he conquered and his battles against Rome. Pyrrhus became king at the age of 12 but was soon dethroned by an uprising in 302 BCE. In later years he served as an officer in the Diadochi Wars. In 298 BCE he was sent to Alexandria as a hostage under the treaty of Demetrius and Ptolemy. Pyrrhus befriended Ptolemy and then married Ptolemy's daughter-in-law, Antigone. In 297 BCE, Ptolemy restored Pyrrhus to his kingdom. Three years later, with the military and financial help of Ptolemy, Pyrrhus went to war against his former ally Demetrius, king of Macedonia. Pyrrhus took control of the entire western half of Macedonia and Thessaly. He was driven out of Macedonia in 286 BCE when he was defeated by Lysimachus at Edessa. Pyrrhus' battle against Rome began in 281 BCE when the Greek city of Taranto in southern Italy requested his aid against Rome. It was the first time that the Romans and Greeks met on the battlefield. Pyrrhus arrived in Italy with an army of around 25,000 men and 20 war elephants. The first battle (the Battle of Heraclea) took place in 280 BCE. Thanks to his elephants and superior cavalry, Pyrrhus' army won a costly victory. After this v...... middle of paper ......military power and trained professionals. After being defeated at Heraclea, many Roman senators feared that Pyrrhus would conquer all of Rome. Pyrrhus himself may have influenced Rome only in a limited way, but the Pyrrhic War foreshadowed how Rome would fight and conquer in years to come. Rome emerged from these wars as an even greater military power than it had been before. Pyrrhus' skills as a general and his books on the art of war influenced many generals who followed him, including Hannibal. Plutarch wrote that “the other kings…represented Alexander with their purple robes, their bodyguards, the tilt of their necks, and their louder tone in conversation; but Pyrrhus alone, in arms and in action. (3) What Pyrrhus lacked as a king, he made up for on the battlefield. He will always be remembered for his bravery as a soldier and his genius as a commander..