Battle of Asculum (279 BC)

Heraclea - Ausculum - Beneventum

The Battle of Asculum (or Ausculum ) found in 279 BC near the present town of Ascoli Satriano and was organized between the Romans and the King of the Molosser, Pyrrhus of Epirus ( 319-272 BC), discharged.

The battle was the last battle won by Pyrrhus, who had arrived with 25,000 men and 20 elephants to Italy. After the victory against the Romans in the Battle of Heraclea, Pyrrhus was hoping for support from apostate Roman allied comrades, however, which largely failed to materialize. It joined Although about 15,000 former allied comrades Pyrrhus to, but he had hoped for more.

Although it was King Pyrrhus and the Battle of Asculum still win, but under even greater losses than at Heraclea. These high losses eventually led to the fact that he indeed several battles but not the war won ( Pyrrhic ). The subsequent defeat at Maleventum (also called Battle of Beneventum ) in the year 275 BC, finally sealed his fate.