Battle of Thurii

The naval Battle of Thurii[1] was fought between Ancient Rome and the Greek colony of Tarentum[2]

Following the battle, Tarentum appealed for aid to Pyrrhus, ruler of Epirus, for military aid.[1][3] Motivated by his diplomatic obligations to Tarentum, and a personal desire for military accomplishment, Pyrrhus landed a Greek army of some 25,000 men[1] and a contingent of war elephants[1] on Italian soil in 280 B.C,[4] where his forces were joined by the Greeks and a portion of the Samnites who revolted against Roman control.

The battle

The Romans had 30,000 men against the small 10,000 men of Tarentum who fought bravely but were overwhelmed by the Romans numbers and the effectiveness of the Roman legion.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 History Of Rome P78
  2. ↑ The Classical World, p. 294
  3. ↑ Antiquity, p. 151
  4. ↑ The Classical World, p. 304

Coordinates: 39°53′6″N 17°16′37″E / 39.88500°N 17.27694°E / 39.88500; 17.27694

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