Pyrrhus

Pyrrhus (c.318–272 B.C.), king at the age of 12 of Epirus, northwestern Greece, he served with Demetrius I of Macedonia in Asia Minor, was helped by Ptolemy I of Egypt to regain his throne, and later won and lost Macedonia. His costly victory over the Romans at Asculum (279), gave rise to the term Pyrrhic victory. Further campaigns in Macedonia and Sparta failed. He was killed in Argos.

See also: Greece, Ancient.