DOCSLIB.ORG

Pyrrhic Victories and the Cost of Family Law Litigation

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Pyrrhic Victories and the Cost of Family Law Litigation LOS ANGELES & SAN FRANCISCO www.dailyjournal.com MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2019 PERSPECTIVE Pyrrhic victories and the cost of family law litigation By Scott M. Gordon next evolution, but that is where “One more such victory they should be looking. It has been said that it is hard to write and we are undone.” the next chapter of your life if — Pyrrhus of Eprius you keep re-reading the last one. Unfortunately, many family pirus was a region be- law litigants approach their case tween what is now Greece like they are playing out a scene Eand Albania. It is a rugged from an old Three Stooges movie and mountainous place made up using that pie they are trying to of the Pindus Mountains and jag- divide as a weapon. While there is ged ridges of the Dinaric Alps. a deep and immediate satisfaction According to Greek mythology, in seeing the object of your ire Eperios was the daughter of two with a face full of pie, you are in of the demi-gods that populated the end, just left with a mess and the Pantheon. Her brother Pen- no more pie. The cost of litigation theus was slain after angering Shutterstock must be considered throughout Dionysus, the God of Wine. Epe- the case. Family law lawyers are rios died while helping carry the In many, if not most cases, the primary issue is called upon to do very demand- body of her slain brother through ing and technical work. The trac- the mountains and she was bur- how to divide those same resources that will be ing of an asset or valuation of a ied in a small thicket that later used to fund the case. In other words, the pie business is time consuming work became sacred. The surrounding being divided will become smaller and smaller as that requires a methodical and de- country was named after her. Life tailed approach. This is resource in this tough land created tough the conflict goes on and until they find themselves intensive work. hard scrabble people. This land like the victorious but depleted Pyrrhus. So, what are the options to give rise to fierce warriors, it is ending up with nothing but pie the derivation of a term still used in the face? Some inspiration today, “Pyrrhic victory.” can be taken from the legendary So how is a remote region of in the Battle of Heraclea in 280 be ruined.” (Plutarch, “Parallel Yankee’s catcher Yogi Berra who Ancient Greece relevant to the BCE. It was a fierce and bloody Lives: Pyrrhus”) said: “You better cut the pizza modern practice of family law? It battle. The Greek historian, Di- Like King Pyrrhus and the Ro- in four pieces because I’m not comes down to one of the ancient onysius, reported that the dead mans, most family law litigants hungry enough to eat six.” When kings of the region, Pyrrhus I (319 included: 15,000 Romans and come to the dispute with limited family law litigants spend their BCE–272 BCE). Pyrrhus was a 13,000 Epirot. Many of Pyrrhus’ resources. In many, if not most time talking about how to divide gifted general and statesman. He best troops and his most trusted cases, the primary issue is how to the pie instead of throwing it, a rose to become the young king of friends and generals were lost. divide those same resources that better outcome is reached, and the hard land of Epirus and was The next meeting of the Ro- will be used to fund the case. In they can divide the pieces howev- a strong opponent of the growing mans and Epirots was in 279 other words, the pie being divided er they want — even if the result and expanding state of Rome. BCE at the Battle of Asculum. will become smaller and smaller is not conventional. In 280 BCE, Pyrrhus entered Pyrrhus again defeated the Ro- as the conflict goes on and until The ancient histories note that Italy in pursuit of the Roman mans, but it was a costly victory. they find themselves like the vic- negotiations and settlement talks legions. His army consisted of In the end, the Romans lost 6,000 torious but depleted Pyrrhus. In occurred between Pyrrhus and 20,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, legionnaires. Pyrrhus lost 3,500 so many cases, the litigants take the Romans. After the Battle of 2,000 archers, 500 slingers and troops including many of his of- the short view focusing on the Heraclea, Pyrrhus held a number 20 war elephants. Through some ficers. It was after his victory at specific issue before them with- of Roman troops as prisoners. brilliant strategy, Pyrrhus was Asculum, Pyrrhus famously said: out considering the end game. It Instead of acting harshly against able, as unlikely as it seemed, to “If we are victorious in one more is hard for litigants going through them, Pyrrhus offered the prison- defeat the vast Roman legions battle with the Romans, we shall a dissolution to focus on their ers gold to join his army and be Mediation gives flexibility in family law cases replacements for some of his lost ticipant in the negotiation. The have some bad facts. Something his defeat of the Romans, he was troops. But, the offer of a bribe so reaction Pyrrhus had to the rejec- they wish was not in the case and involved in a battle in the city of offended the Romans’ sensibil- tion of his offer, provides great may in fact harm their side. In Argos. He was locked in a fierce ities that they rejected the offers insight. He was not offended by litigation, a great deal of effort is battle on a crowded city street out of hand. Out of respect for the the rebuke of his offer. Instead, expended in trying to shield that against an Argive soldier. The intrepid Roman soldiers and in an the Greek king made another information and those facts. But soldier’s elderly mother looked attempt to further his attempts to try using a different tactic. The in most every case, they come down from the roof top of her find a peaceful settlement, Pyr- refusal of an offer is not the end out — and the later — the more home to see her son about to be rhus released the prisoners to the of the process. It is a step on the harmful they will be. When par- the next victim of the warrior Roman commanders and again way to resolution as long as the ties embrace those facts and get king. She pried a tile off the roof sued for peace. The requests rejection is looked at in context them out in the negotiation — and sent it flying toward her son’s were rejected. It is reported that and the lessons learned are taken where they will appear anyway, attacker. Above the din of the bat- the Romans would not consider into account in the next step of and in most cases will have much tle, the sound of the tile finding peace unless the Greeks left the the process. less impact. its mark could be heard. King Italian peninsula. Just before the Battle of Ascu- Using negotiation and media- Pyrrhus was knocked from his There are lessons here for those lum, the Roman Consoul, Fabri- tion in cases gives the parties the horse and killed. If only he had of us involved in family law cas- cius, was approached with a letter most flexibility and opportunity settled with the Romans. es. Offers are creatures of con- from Pyrrhus’ personal doctor. for creativity in disposition. Go- text. What may seem a fair and In the letter, the doctor offered ing back to Yogi Berra’s pizza, Scott M. Gordon, a retired judge generous offer viewed through to poison the King of Epirus to in a negotiation, the parties can of the Los Angeles County Supe- the prism of the person making spare Rome from further harm. carve to pizza up into as many rior Court, is a mediator and ar- the offer can be viewed an insult The doctor asked for a reward in pieces as they like, and in what- bitrator at Signature Resolution. to the person receiving the offer. proportion to the service to Rome. ever shape they want (although Understanding context means Fabricius was so offended by the Yogi’s New York fans might have taking a 360-degree view of the offer, that he sent a letter to his trouble with that — remember negotiation. Just like a pebble hit- enemy warning of the treason and context). Once they get to trial, ting water, every offer, counter- plot. Pyrrhus, in acknowledge- the judge will have fewer options offer and position in a mediation ment, released Roman prisoners and choices to resolve the mat- will ripple in all directions. without any request for ransom ter. Those choices that may have For those with a single linear and sent an emissary to negotiate been so important to the litigants focus, this means missing out on peace. Unfortunately, the efforts just won’t be available in trial. most of what is happening around to find acceptable terms of peace So how are roof tiles involved? them. Every term must be viewed were rejected by the Romans. They deal with how King Pyr- from the perspective each par- In every case, each side will rhus left this world. Shortly after Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal. ©2019 Daily Journal Corporation. All rights reserved. Reprinted by ReprintPros 949-702-5390..
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Fighting for Rom
    FIGHTING FOR ROM @ Merit Software 13707 Gamma Road l Dallas, Texas 75244 (214) 385-2353 LOADING INSTRUCTIONS LOADING-AMIGA To load the game, insert the game disk into your Amiga’s disk drive and then switch on your computer. The game will load auto- matically. LOADING-ATARI ST Insert the game disk into your disk drive, then switch on your computer. Then double-click on the COHORT.PRG file to load the game. IBM PC VERSION LOADING INSTRUCTIONS (FLOPPY DISK) Insert your DOS, disk into Drive A: and turn on the power to your computer. At the A:\ prompt, replace your DOS disk with the appropriate Fighting for Rome disk and type: COHORT [ENTER]. HARD DISK INSTALLATION At the C:\ prompt, switch to your A: or B: drive and type INSTALL [ENTER]. This installation will create a sub-directory on your C: drive, named COHORT. To start the game once it is installed on your C: drive, type the followlng: CD\COHORT [ENTER] COHORT [ENTER] TUTORIAL Introduction Fighting for Rome is a wargame. Unlike many other wargames, however, it is extremely easy to learn and play. Newcomers to computer wargaming may find this tutorial helpful: it guides the player through the steps needed, to start a game. We recommend people initially start a game and just play around to accustom themselves to the icon control system. You can easily restart the game whenever you feel ready to do so. This tutorial's goal is just to get you started with a game. You will still need to consult the instructions in order to fill out your knowledge of the system.
    [Show full text]
  • Don't Be a Pyrrhus
    Legal Insight Attorneys at Law Don’t Be a Pyrrhus – 5 Steps To Help Avoid Making Your Litigation Victory a Loss J. Tucker Barr In 279 B.C., King Pyrrhus of Epirus defeated the Roman army at the Battle of Asculum. King Pyrrus was not thrilled about the big win for Team Epirus. The victory was very costly – King Pyrrhus lost most of his army and many of his commanders. So great were the poor king’s casualties that he declared, “If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined.” If only Pyrrhus had taken some time to assess the risks before picking a fight with the Romans, the term “Pyrrhic Victory” might have an altogether different meaning for us today. While history has forever fixed the meaning of “Pyrrhic Victory,” companies with legal claims need not repeat the king’s error. Instead, they must resist the urge to pounce on their adversaries with litigation simply because there seems to be a clear path to victory on liability. Liability, of course, is only half the battle. When conducting an initial case assessment, litigators and in-house counsel tend to focus largely on issues of liability. Even after a case is filed, damages issues are often given secondary importance, and sometimes are substantively considered for the first time when drafting the last few interrogatories or the last page of a Rule 30(b)(6) deposition notice. Such complacency can lead to perhaps the worst result in the world of litigation for a plaintiff—a win on liability with an award of zero damages (with a litigation bill from your attorney as a consolation prize).
    [Show full text]
  • Japan's “Reinterpretation” of Article 9
    N2_RICHTER.DOCX (DO NOT DELETE) 2/21/2016 1:41 PM Japan’s “Reinterpretation” of Article 9: A Pyrrhic Victory for American Foreign Policy? Jeffrey P. Richter* ABSTRACT: Article 9 of the Japanese constitution expressly renounces war as a means to resolve international disputes. Yet since its initial promulgation in 1947, Article 9 has been interpreted to allow Japan the right to self-defense. To that end, Japan today possesses one of the most powerful and modern militaries in the world. In the summer of 2014, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe circumvented the constitutional amendment process, and, through a cabinet decision, issued a “reinterpretation” of Article 9 that allowed Japan for the first time to engage in collective self-defense. The questionable constitutionality of Abe’s reinterpretation engendered much debate and protest in Japan and abroad. The United States effectively ignored the domestic and international outcry and gave the reinterpretation its blessing, however, as it has desired greater assistance from the Japanese military since the beginning of the Cold War. Yet the unstable legal basis on which Abe’s reinterpretation rests creates the very real danger that Japan’s newly-declared right of collective self-defense could eventually be retracted, leaving the United States without the support upon which it has based new foreign policy commitments. This Note argues that the United States must take steps in order to prevent Japan’s reinterpretation of Article 9 from becoming a Pyrrhic victory for American foreign policy. First, the United States should encourage Japan to legitimize any right of collective self-defense through traditional legal structures and thus solidify its reinterpretation of Article 9.
    [Show full text]
  • Plutarch's Pyrrhus and Euripides' Phoenician Women
    Histos () – PLUTARCH’S PYRRHUS AND EURIPIDES’ PHOENI- CIAN WOMEN : BIOGRAPHY AND TRAGEDY ON PLEONECTIC PARENTING The principal concern of this paper is to explore the relevance of Euripides’ Phoenician Women to Plutarch’s Life of Pyrrhus. It will be argued that the rele- vance of the play is much more substantial than usually acknowledged: that its relevance goes beyond the two direct quotations from the play which oc- cur in the Life . It is worth stressing at the outset that of the five quotations from the play in Plutarch’s extant Lives as a whole, two are in the Pyrrhus : that may plausibly be claimed as a concentration ( Pyrrh. and ; cf. Demetr . ; Sull . ; Comp. Nic.-Crass . ). In what follows, I shall attempt to explain how and why the play matters to a reading of the Life . The essence of my claim is that the reader’s knowledge of Euripides’ play is made to provide what may be termed ‘added value’ to Plutarch’s Life , with the further validation of Eu- ripidean authority. The general relevance to Plutarch’s Lives of Athenian tragedy (and in- deed of Homeric epic) has long been recognised. And Judith Mossman has explored tragic and epic elements in the Pyrrhus in particular. The aim of the present paper is to draw attention to the special relevance of a specific play to this Life . I shall argue that a reading of the Life should entail not only a broad awareness of tragedy (and epic), but a sustained memory of a particu- lar play as the Life unfolds.
    [Show full text]
  • Southern Campaign of the Revolution National Heritage Area Suitability / Feasibility Study North Carolina and South Carolina
    SOUTHERN CAMPAIGN OF THE REVOLUTION National Heritage Area Suitability / Feasibility Study North Carolina and South Carolina National Park Service | U.S. Department of the Interior July 2014 EX ECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION Following consideration of the counties above, the National Park Service determined The Department of the Interior, National that a focused corridor containing the Park Service (NPS), has prepared this concentration of historic resources that are National Heritage Area Suitability / Feasibility representative of the story best meets Study to determine the suitability and national heritage area feasibility criteria. feasibility of designating areas of North Carolina and South Carolina as a national heritage area. This study meets the THE NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE requirements of the NPS interim National SOUTHERN CAMPAIGN OF THE Heritage Area Feasibility Study Guidelines AMERICAN REVOLUTION (2003) and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. Just as the American Revolution shaped the course of American history, the Southern Campaign dramatically altered the course of LEGISLATIVE HISTORY the Revolution. The initial phase of the war in the South brought a string of American Congress directed the Secretary of the victories, drove British forces from the Interior to conduct a study regarding the region, cowed American Loyalists, and suitability and feasibility of designating the pacified the southern states. Southern Campaign of the Revolution National Heritage Area (Public Law 109- The second phase of the Southern Campaign 338). The study was conducted in opened after nearly five years of bloody consultation with state historic preservation combat in other parts of America that had officers; state historical societies; the North resulted in a frustrating stalemate.
    [Show full text]
  • KKOB 11.02.2018 Pyrrhic Victories
    Hello Everyone, Bales from 2300 years ago rarely make news on the local business pages, or on financial websites. Sll, lessons can be learned from the ancient past….and today’s missive aempts to make that distant connecon. I hope you find it edifying, and even a lile entertaining. Signed, Your I‐Would‐Have‐Been‐Terrified‐Had‐Angry‐Elephants‐Been‐Charging‐At‐Me Financial Advisor, Greg KKOB 11.02.2018 Pyrrhic Victories Bob: So, Greg, when you told me the topic for today was going to be the Bale of Asculum, I thought three things: “When was the Bale Asculum? Why should I care? And, what does this have to do with invesng?” Greg: Those are all very legimate quesons. So, to answer. First, the bale took place in 279 BC in the south of Italy. Second, you probably shouldn’t care. And, third, it has lile to do with invesng. So, why bring it up? Bob: I have no idea…but, I know you well enough to know you will make some connecon to Wall Street. So, I’m ready…let’s hear it. Greg: Well, it was West Point grad Simon Black who reminded me of this event; and I believe if your intrepid listeners understand what happened on that balefield that day, they’ll become beer investors. So here goes. 2300 years ago, King Pyrrhus of Epirus (Epirus would be northwest Greece today) launched an aack on what was then a fledgling Roman Republic. Pyrrhus believed he was a direct descendent of Achilles; and saw himself as the successor to Alexander the Great.
    [Show full text]
  • Heracles and the Foundings of Sparta and Rome
    Heracles and the Foundings of Sparta and Rome A Thesis by Nicholas Granitz Advised by Dr. Edith Foster Assisted by Drs. Burkett and Levithan In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts and the Ashbrook Statesmanship Thesis and Honors Capstone Project Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio 2011 Submitted November 29th, 2011 Nicholas Granitz Abstract This thesis finds that both the Spartans and the Romans consciously adopted Heracles as a model for their societies. This adoption is seen both through their historical actions and, especially, in their founding myths, which identify the city’s founders with Heracles. Although the argument relies on previous scholarly work interpreting the character of Heracles, several connections, especially those in the Sparta chapter, are original arguments for Heracles’ relevance in founding mythology. A close analysis of the Twelve Labors of Heracles is the foundation for my arguments. The analysis of Sparta relies on the works of Tyrtaeus, Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, and Plutarch. The analysis of Rome relies on the works of Fabius Pictor, Virgil, Livy, and Plutarch. Secondary sources were also important, especially the writings of G. Karl Galinsky, whose work is influential throughout the thesis. 2 Nicholas Granitz Table of Contents Introduction 04 Chapter One: Heracles 07 Chapter Two: Sparta and Heracles 37 Chapter Three: Rome and Hercules 55 Conclusion 71 Works Cited 77 I am indebted to Dr. Edith Foster, Dr. Chris Burkett, and my family and friends for making the completion of this thesis possible. Thank you. 3 Nicholas Granitz Introduction Heracles and the Foundings of Sparta and Rome Greek and Roman polytheism was an influential cultural force in the ancient world, ingrained in every facet of ancient life.
    [Show full text]
  • Foundation Document Overview, Guilford Courthouse National
    NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Foundation Document Overview Guilford Courthouse National Military Park North Carolina Contact Information For more information about the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park Foundation Document, contact: [email protected] or 336-288-1776 or write to: Superintendent, Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, 2332 New Garden Road, Greensboro, NC 27410-2355 Purpose Significance Significance statements express why Guilford Courthouse National Military Park resources and values are important enough to merit national park unit designation. Statements of significance describe why an area is important within a global, national, regional, and systemwide context. These statements are linked to the purpose of the park unit, and are supported by data, research, and consensus. Significance statements describe the distinctive nature of the park and inform management decisions, focusing efforts on preserving and protecting the most important resources and values of the park unit. • The Battle of Guilford Courthouse, one of the most intense engagements of the Revolutionary War, was so costly to the British that Cornwallis ultimately changed his whole southern strategy and abandoned his plans to capture the backcountry of North Carolina and South Carolina. • Cornwallis’ retreat to Virginia freed Greene to turn southward and retake control of the South. The purpose of GUILFORD COURTHOUSE • The British retreat set the stage for Cornwallis to be NATIONAL MILITARY PARK is to preserve bottled up at Yorktown where American and French forces for historical and professional compelled him to surrender on October 19, 1781. military study as well as the benefit, education, and inspiration of the • The Battle of Guilford Court House constitutes one of the public, the battlefield and the accounts final links in a chain of events that led to ultimate American of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse victory in the Revolutionary War.
    [Show full text]
  • SPQR Scenario Book 3 the BATTLE of BENEVENTUM Pyrrhus of Epirus Vs
    SPQRSPQR Scenario Scenario Book Book 11 SPQR Great Battles of the Roman Republic 3rd Edition SCENARIO BOOK BENEVENTUM, 275 BC Pyrrhus of Epirus vs. Roman Consul M. Curius Dentatus—p. 3 SPQR BAGRADAS PLAINS, 255 BC SCENARIOS Xanthippus vs. Roman Consul M. Atilius Regulus—p. 8 scenario design CANNAE, 216 BC mark herman Hannibal Barca vs. Consul G. Terentius Varro—p. 10 richard h. berg ZAMA, 202 BC game development Hannibal Barca vs. Proconsul P. Cornelius Scipio—p. 16 alan ray CYNOSCEPHALAE, 197 BC art director rodger macgowan King Phillip V of Macedon vs. Consul T. Quinctius Flamininus—p. 20 GMT Games, LLC P.O. Box 1308, Hanford, CA 93232–1308 www.GMTGames.com ©© 2008 2008 GMT GMT Games Games LLC LLC 2 SPQRSPQR ScenarioScenario BookBook 2 RULES FOR COMPETITIVE PLAY We have designed the following battles/scenarios to be as historically CREDITS accurate (within the limits of available research materials) as possible. While this allows them to be excellent tools for study and solitaire play, Original System Designed By: Mark Herman some of the battles, because they were not balanced historically, will fall short of that gamer’s paradise of “perfect” game balance. Game System Designed By: Mark Herman/ Richard Berg We understand that many of you prefer an “I Want to Win” approach to wargaming, as opposed to, say, a “What’s Happening Here” view. Well, Beneventum and Cynoscephalae Designed by: Mark we like to be All Things to All People, here at GMT, and we are aware, Herman as noted above, that “history” often fails to cooperate with our desire to produce balanced “games”.
    [Show full text]
  • III. Rise of the Roman Empire A. Conquest of Italy (390-272 BC) 1
    www.HistoryAtOurHouse.Com Lower Elementary Class Notes III. Rise of the Roman Empire A. Conquest of Italy (390-272 BC) 1. Rome was sacked by the Gauls of northern Italy c.390 BC, and the Twelve Tables were destroyed. 2. This was terrible, but Rome would never be sacked again for precisely 800 years! 3. The Romans then attacked southern Italy. The Greek colonies there received help from Pyrrhus, the king of Epirus (a cousin of Alexander the Great). 4. Pyrrhus crossed over to Italy with a formidable army, including 20 war elephants brought back to Greece from Asia. 5. The first battle against the Romans was a Greek victory but the cost of the battle was so high that Pyrrhus exclaimed, “Another such victory and I shall be ruined!” 6. Historians have called this type of victory – which is almost as bad as a loss – a “Pyrrhic victory.” 7. Sure enough, after another such win, Pyrrhus' forces were so weakened that he lost the next battle and the war. B. Managing the Conquered Territory 1. Like the Persians, the Romans expected taxes and soldiers from the people they conquered. 2. What was different about Rome, however, was that it was a republic, and since its government included the idea of protecting peoples' rights, the Romans needed to decide if they were going to protect the rights of the people they had conquered. 3. They decided to make their allies earn this protection. a) Conquered cities in Italy were each made into a “municipium.” b) This gave the people of those cities the right to self-government, as long as they maintained their loyalty to Rome.
    [Show full text]
  • Another Such Victory and We Are Undone: a Call to an American Indian Declaration of Independence
    Tulsa Law Review Volume 40 Issue 1 Tribal Sovereignty and United States v. Lara Fall 2004 Another Such Victory and We Are Undone: A Call to an American Indian Declaration of Independence William Bradford Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.utulsa.edu/tlr Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation William Bradford, Another Such Victory and We Are Undone: A Call to an American Indian Declaration of Independence, 40 Tulsa L. Rev. 71 (2013). Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.utulsa.edu/tlr/vol40/iss1/5 This Native American Symposia Articles is brought to you for free and open access by TU Law Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Tulsa Law Review by an authorized editor of TU Law Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Bradford: Another Such Victory and We Are Undone: A Call to an American Ind "ANOTHER SUCH VICTORY AND WE ARE UNDONE": A CALL TO AN AMERICAN INDIAN DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE William Bradford* I. INTRODUCTION In 279 B.C., Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, a city-state in Greece, was summoned by the people of Tarentum, a Greek colony in southern Italy, to aid them against the tyranny of Rome. At the Battle of Asculum, Pyrrhus defeated the Roman legions after two days of bloody combat in which he lost a great many of his most competent officers and many of his men. When congratulated on the victory by a subordinate, Pyrrhus, far from home and unable to replace his losses with fresh troops-unlike the Romans, who only needed to outlast Pyrrhus on their home soil-is reported to have said, "Another such victory and we are undone." This statement gave rise to the expression "Pyrrhic victory," used to describe a triumph accompanied by such enormous losses that it is the functional equivalent of a defeat.
    [Show full text]
  • The Pyrrhic War
    July 26, 2020 Vol. 43 No. 30 1375 W. Old Hickory Boulevard - Nashville, Tennessee 37207-1499 615.865.6979 ~ News Update 615.860.0521 www.NorthsideNashville.com ~ [email protected] The Pyrrhic War The term “Pyrrhic victory” is named for the ancient ruler of Epirus, King Pyrrhus, who went down in history for winning a string of major battles against Rome and Carthage but still losing the war he was fighting. The conflict, known as the Pyrrhic War, began in 281 BCE when the 38-year-old monarch from western Greece offered to lend his support to Tarentum, a city-state in southern Italy at odds with the burgeoning Roman republic. Pyrrhus’ interest in protecting the people of Tarentum was based on more than mere altruism — by thrashing Rome and saving small city, the monarch would gain a foothold in Italy from which he could realize his own imperial ambitions. The following year, the would-be emperor crossed the Adriatic with an army of 25,000 men and a secret weapon: 20 war elephants on loan from Ptolemy II of Egypt. Pyrrhus sent word to the Romans that he was in Italy with his army to mediate the dispute with Tarentum. Rome refused all invitations to the peace table and instead attacked with 30,000 men. The two armies met at Heraclea, just west of Tarentum. The ensuing battle saw Greek phalanx and Roman legion fight each other to a bloody stalemate. At one point, fearing for his safety, Pyrrhus traded his distinctive royal battle armor for the less conspicuous panoply of one of his lieutenants.
    [Show full text]