Pyrrhic Victory: King Pyrrhus in Italy 280-279 B.C. – SPQR Battle Module IV

1993

Command the opposing forces at Heraclea and Ausculum in this two-player SPQR battle module set during Pyrrhus’s campaign in Italy.

240
minutes

2 - 2
player(s)

Medium Heavy

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Pyrrhic Victory: King Pyrrhus in Italy 280-279 B.C. – SPQR Battle Module IV board game cover

About this expansion

Pyrrhic Victory: King Pyrrhus in Italy 280-279 B.C. – SPQR Battle Module IV is a two-player expansion module for the Great Battles of History (GBoH) series game SPQR, with an approximate playing time of 240 minutes.

This historical battle game recreates the first two battles fought by Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, against the expanding Roman Republic. Set in Italy during 280 and 279 BC, it portrays the first encounters between Roman legions and the Macedonian tactical system.

Heraclea — 280 BC
Ausculum — 279 BC

The battles also mark the first time the Romans encountered elephants. Although Pyrrhus appears to have won both engagements, the outcome of Ausculum remains disputed, adding historical uncertainty to the campaign represented in the module.

Pyrrhus was an Epirote mercenary and would-be Alexander of the West whose victories came at a severe cost. The Epirote casualty rate was so high that these encounters led to the expression “Pyrrhic victory.”

With its focus on two major clashes between Epirus and Rome, Pyrrhic Victory presents a concentrated addition to the SPQR setting. Released in 1993, it is designed for two players seeking a substantial historical contest centered on the meeting of Roman and Macedonian military traditions.