Battle of Thurii

Part of a series on the
Military of ancient Rome 753 BC – AD 476
Structural history Army Unit types and ranks Decorations and punishments Legions Auxilia Generals Navy Fleets Admirals
Campaign history Wars and battles
Technological history Military engineering Castra Siege engines Triumphal arches Roads
Political history
Strategy and tactics Infantry tactics
Frontiers and fortifications Limes Limes Britannicus Antonine Wall Hadrian's Wall Saxon Shore Limes Germanicus Alb Limes Lauter Valley Limes Lower Germanic Limes Main Limes Neckar-Odenwald Limes Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes Wetterau Limes Danube–Iller–Rhine Limes Norican Limes Claustra Alpium Iuliarum Pannonian Limes Limes Alutanus Limes Moesiae Trajan's Wall Anastasian Wall Limes Sarmatiae Limes Arabicus Limes Tripolitanus Limes Mauretaniae
Military of ancient Rome portal

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

Following the battle, Tarentum appealed 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 BC,^[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

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