What it is, a Pyrrhic victory?

Everyone tends to fill his speech with colorful epithets, metaphors, original similes and expressions, which serve not only to give the words the brightness, but also indicate the level of education and erudition of its carrier.

Unfortunately, many “juicy” momentum, in spite of its popularity,
Used in value, often the opposite of their true meaning. Such use can play a cruel joke on those who like to show off a bright word. Every phrase requires a deep understanding and knowledge about what or whom it owes its existence, and in what situations its use would be appropriate.

One such expression is “Pyrrhic victory". Who or what was this Pierre? Why history remains the memory of this victory?

A Little background

King Pyrrhus (some sources Pierre I) – king of Epirus (one of the territories of Greece), who lived in the period 319 (320) – 270 (272) . BC (before Christ).

Due to the fact that the sources which mention this ruler and military leader, found a lot, we can assume that the figure he was, if not popular, it is quite noticeable.

As they say historical records, in the year 313 BC  his father Eacid was dethroned, and the young heir was smuggled from the borders of Epirus to Illyria, where he was placed under the patronage of Governor of this territory, king Główna. Despite repeated suggestions of the enemies of the ransom of the young Prince, Główna refused to give his pupil. Moreover, in the year when Pyrrhus was 12, the ruler of Illyria returned him to the throne of Epirus.

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During his reign, Pyrrhus was led by civil wars, usual for those times. His troops repeatedly invaded the borders of Thessaly and Macedonia. He had to go as hostage in Egypt, but came back in as the husband of the adopted daughter of the Egyptian king. For some time Pierre even was king of Macedonia, but pretty soon was forced to abandon the throne.

Soon to help protect from the attacks of the Romans called the Greek metropolis of Trent. Not without the help of the Egyptian and Macedonian rulers Pierre gathered quite an impressive army and arrived in Trent. It was more than 50 elephants, 25,000 troops (infantry and horsemen). Moreover, Egypt has funded transportation and subsistence of the army.

The First battle with the army of the Romans occurred in 280 BC, and it was the first won a Pyrrhic victory. Well deserved, despite the fact that the Governor lost some of the most experienced and valuable soldiers. The second battle occurred near the village of Asculum (some sources – Auscul) in 279 BC came out the Winner Apyrase king, however, as they say in their briefs, the witnesses, the loss in the two-day battle were such that the commander remarked that another such victory will leave him without an army (in some translations: “If we will win this price, we die”). It is this outcome of a military confrontation and was named “Pyrrhic victory", which eventually became a sustainable phrase.

Nowadays one can often hear the phrase “Pyrrhic victory". The meaning of these words has not changed. As before, so talking about winning with losses of such magnitude, that to lose it would be more profitable. In other words, it is a victory equal to defeat.