Heraclea 280 BC.
28500 foot and horse, 20 Elephants, less some garrison troops but compensated by tarrantine militia, so perhaps a total of 35,000, oposed by romans with 4 legio, + Allies so some 40,000 the two camp close to each other near to heraclea, where the stream of Siris flowes.
The Romans are aware that samnites and Lucanians are marching to join pyhrus, and attack early in the day before they can combine their forces, the small Epieriote guard at the crossing is driven in by the legio, while roman cav fail to cut them of from pulling back to the main body.
Pyhrus rode with 3,000 cav immediatly he saw the Roman advance, he hoped to catch them while crossing the water obstacle and thus fight at an advantage(compare to hannibals use of mounted in water features in spain), also it allowed time for the epiriote inf to form up.
In the struggle pyrhus was unhorsed by an italian cavalryman, and the eperiote cav failed to prevent the legions forming up in good order after fighting their way across.
The legions and eperiote Phalanx then clashed, and a long struggle began.
After being singled out(for personal combat) he took of his distinctive armour and cloak and instead dressed as one of his line cav, and a substitute took his place, this backfired when the bodygaurd went under , and Pyrus, much like William I had to ride bare headed along the front ranks to show himself alive and well.
The infantry contest continued without either side gaining a clear advantage, untill the roman cav were driven of by the elephants, this allowed them on their return to threaten the legions flanks, as the legions took stock of this threat, Pyrus led his thessalian cav(considerd some of the best in the world) into the legions, this promted their wothdrawl from the field, romes loss was 7-15,000, Pyrus 4-13,000.
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/
Try here for source documents on him.
Hanny
What would help next?, details of arms and armour, or more of the above?
