Description
By Jacob Abbott. Enter the turbulent world of ancient warfare, ambition, and empire in this classic account of one of antiquity’s most brilliant and tragic commanders.
In Pyrrhus, celebrated nineteenth-century historian Jacob Abbott tells the dramatic story of Pyrrhus of Epirus, the fearless warrior-king whose campaigns against Rome gave history the enduring phrase “Pyrrhic victory.” Renowned as one of the greatest generals of the ancient world, Pyrrhus fought in an age shaped by the aftermath of Alexander the Great and the fierce struggles among the Hellenistic kingdoms for power and survival.
Abbott traces Pyrrhus’s rise from royal exile to king and conqueror, following his daring military campaigns across Greece, Italy, Sicily, and Macedonia. Readers are drawn into a world of battlefield strategy, political intrigue, shifting alliances, and relentless ambition as Pyrrhus attempts to challenge the growing strength of Roman Republic itself. The book vividly recounts the famous battles in which Pyrrhus defeated the Romans at enormous cost, victories so devastating to his own forces that they became synonymous with triumph purchased at ruinous expense.
Written in Abbott’s engaging and accessible style, Pyrrhus combines biography and history to bring the ancient Mediterranean world vividly to life. More than a military narrative, it is the story of a restless and gifted ruler whose courage and ambition ultimately collided with the harsh realities of power and empire.
This carefully restored reprint revives a beloved historical classic for modern readers. Ideal for students, history enthusiasts, and admirers of ancient warfare, Pyrrhus remains a compelling introduction to one of the most fascinating military figures of the ancient world.
About the author: Jacob Abbott (1803–1879) was a native of the state of Maine who was a professor of mathematics and natural philosophy, a minister, and founder of two schools (the Mount Vernon School for Young Ladies in Boston and the Mount Vernon School for Boys, in New York City). He wrote more than 180 books and became famous for his easy-to-read style of historical storytelling, stripped of the dry dustiness which characterized other texts.
Contents
Preface
Chapter 1: Olympias and Antipater
Chapter 2: Cassander
Chapter 3: Early Life of Pyrrhus
Chapter 4: Wars in Macedon
Chapter 5: War in Italy
Chapter 6: Negotiations
Chapter 7: The Sicilian Campaign
Chapter 8: The Retreat from Italy
Chapter 9: The Family of Lysimachus
Chapter 10: Sparta
Chapter 11: The Reconquest of Macedon
Chapter 12: The Last Campaign of Pyrrhus
Index
