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Bloody Europe - Episode 7
The Battle of Asculum Part 1 - A Thread
The Battle of Asculum Part 1 - A Thread
This is going to be a long one. Rip me.
Throughout this series, we've focused on two places. Rome's expansion in the Italian Peninsula, and the Greek City States vying for hegemony with the occasional cameo of Persia. Today is no different in terms of theater, but this time the Greek phalanx takes on the Roman legions.
We also need to get caught up in Greece. Cassander (remember him) had yoinked Macedon during the wars after Alexander The Partitioner's death. Alexander's mother fought with him to reclaim the Macedonian throne, and Macedon allied Aeacides of Epirus took her side
Aeacides marched on Macedon...but then his troops mutinied...then deserted back home...then overthrew him back in Epirus. Cassander essentially took control of Epirus while Aeacides bolted north to Illyria, with his 2 year old Son Pyrrhus
Cassander sent on of his generals to be regent in Epirus while while King Glaukius kept Aeacides and his family under refuge. Cassander went up North to teach Glaukius a lesson, but decided the east was a more pressing concern as Antigonus was looking too beefy in Asia Minor
Aeacides decides this was a good time to get all his shit back in Epirus, Cassander wasn't too distracted to be unable to send an army to stop this form happening, and stop it he did. Aeacides was killed in the process.
Glaukius, in 307, invaded Epirus and restored Pyrrhus to the throne after deposing then king Neoptelomus, who was prompted to use the uno reverse card he had saved up, and deposed him back 6 years later when Pyrrhus was 17.
Pyrrhus fled to the court of Demitrius, son of Antigonus and his brother in law. He learned much from the two in terms of battle tactics and siege warfare, and the young man was soon put to work at the Battle of Ipsus (which REALLY should get it's own thread lol)
After Antigonus' death (yeah lol I REALLY should have made a thread on Ipsus ffs) Demetrius and Pyrrhus fled to South Greece. They soon allied themselves with Ptolemy of egypt, and Pyrrhus cut a popular figure at Alexandria, even marrying Ptolemy's daughter.
In 297, Cassander croaked, and Ptolemy gave Pyrrhus some troops and funds to go take his kingdom back from Neoptelomus, which he duly did. By 294 Demitrius had seized the rest of Macedon and almost of all Greece, so the two became natural rivals.
After an invasion, a counter invasion, some 1 on 1 combat to decide a battle, desertion and political maneuvering, Pyrrhus did manage to defeat Demetrius, but found himself isolated by Lysimachus, one of the combatants of Ipsus( I should have made a thread on Ipsus fr)
So Pyrrhus looked west, to Rome.
Rome, were getting annoyed. The Spartan colony of Tarentum kept pestering them militarily, and sinking their warships. Once Tarentum sufficiently poked the bear, they asked Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, to protect them from the Romans.
Rome, were getting annoyed. The Spartan colony of Tarentum kept pestering them militarily, and sinking their warships. Once Tarentum sufficiently poked the bear, they asked Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, to protect them from the Romans.
Pyrrhus was happy to oblige. In 280 BC he arrived in Italy and his troop number was swelled by Ptolemy who was very happy to shepherd the restless king elsewhere.
Pyrrhus landed in Italy (after almost dying in a storm lol) and immediately took control of Tarentum.
Pyrrhus landed in Italy (after almost dying in a storm lol) and immediately took control of Tarentum.
Meanwhile, Rome were alerted to the threat and started marching towards Pyrrhus, hoping to scare them off. Pyrrhus sent them a letter saying he was simply here to arbitrate, and Rome replied how they were simply here to stomp him into the dirt 
The Battle of Heraclea could have gotten it's own thread. Pyrrhus took heavy casualties, but his war elephants managed to route the romans, and win the Battle. His forces were quickly replenished by neutral and allied states, and he and the Romans talked about peace.
At least they would have, but Rome were only going to talk if Pyrrhus left Italy and took his army with him. They simply didn't trust him to keep any peace (which is fair, the guy broke treaties a lot). Pyrrhus said 'lol no' and started plundering the country side, as you do
Rome also started to reinforce. This wasn't just going to be a simple bolstering of the troops, they ended up with near double what they had at Heraclea. Both sides camped for the winter and prepared for the next engagement.
Rome had just gained mastery of Central Europe, and were not keen on giving any of their shiny new holdings up. Pyrrhus, the restless, courageous, young king wanted to prove himself on the "world" stage.
Greek culture took on Roman culture, legion vs phalanx. Two worlds were about to collide.
The Battle of Asculum, was about to begin.
The Battle of Asculum, was about to begin.
