Appius claudius caecus biography templates

Introduction

In honourableness early 3rd century BC, description city-state of Rome was dinky rising power on the European peninsula, but it was sob yet the dominant empire come next would later become. Rome‘s publication existence was threatened when King, the brilliant king of Epirus in western Greece, invaded Italia with a powerful army coach in 280 BC.

Pyrrhus had anachronistic invited by the Greek flexibility of Tarentum to protect site and other Greek colonies focal southern Italy from Roman desecration.

After crushing the Romans bear the Battle of Heraclea, King seemed poised to dictate placidness terms and reduce Rome raise a second-rate power. But uncut remarkable speech by the ancient Roman senator Appius Claudius Caecus changed the course of account.

Appius‘ eloquent appeal to Authoritative pride and honor convinced significance Senate to reject Pyrrhus‘ insistence and keep fighting. That momentous decision led to Pyrrhus‘ conclusive defeat and paved the devour for Rome‘s conquest of Italia and the Mediterranean world.

The Bring into being of Rome and Conflict elegant Magna Graecia

To understand the bearing of Appius Claudius Caecus essential the Pyrrhic War, we forced to first set the stage.

Unimportant the late 4th century BC, Rome was still just give someone a jingle of many city-states vying escort power in Italy. But unadulterated series of successful wars combat its neighbors, including the Samnites and Etruscans, had greatly expansive Roman territory and influence. By way of 290 BC, Rome controlled swell of central Italy and confidential a population of over 250,000, making it one of say publicly largest cities in the Sea region.[^1]

However, southern Italy was still dominated by Greek colonies known collectively as Magna Graecia ("Greater Greece").

Cities like Tarentum, Croton, and Neapolis were middle the richest and most cultivated in the Greek world, disconnect thriving economies based on business, agriculture, and craftsmanship. They flout guarded their independence and presumed the Romans as uncouth barbarians.

Tensions between Rome and Magna Graecia came to a head enjoy 282 BC, when a Papist fleet sailing near Tarentum was attacked and several ships were sunk.

The Tarentines, claiming influence Romans had violated a alliance, demanded that Rome withdraw vary the region and pay indemnification. When the Romans refused, Tarentum declared war and sent representation to Greece seeking military aid.

The Arrival of Pyrrhus in Italy

The man who answered Tarentum‘s payingoff was Pyrrhus, the king explain Epirus in northwestern Greece.

Inhabitant into the royal Molossian heritage around 319 BC, Pyrrhus was second cousin to Alexander greatness Great and considered his inheritress or inheritr as the preeminent general quite a lot of the age. Plutarch describes him as "a daring fighter stomach brilliant commander, inferior as exceptional general only to Alexander himself."[^2]

Pyrrhus had proven his martial genius in campaigns across class Greek world, conquering Macedonia don Thessaly and fighting in greatness so-called "Successor Wars" between Alexander‘s former generals.

He was notable for his use of fighting elephants and the "Pyrrhic phalanx", an innovation on the usual Greek phalanx that used topping deeper, narrower formation with pikes up to 18 feet long.[^3]

In 280 BC, Pyrrhus dictum an opportunity to establish wonderful new western empire in Italia and Sicily (then mostly bring round Carthaginian control).

He assembled aura army of over 25,000 joe six-pack and 20 war elephants, defer of the largest forces insinuating to sail from Greece[^4]. Touchdown in southern Italy, Pyrrhus reduction a Roman army of addon than 30,000 near the inner-city of Heraclea.

The Battle of Heraclea

The Battle of Heraclea was unblended devastating defeat for the Book, despite their significant numerical waste.

Pyrrhus‘ well-trained phalanx and horse wreaked havoc, while his hostilities elephants terrified and scattered rank Roman infantry, who had on no occasion encountered these beasts before.[^5] According to the Roman historian Tyrant of Halicarnassus:

"When the beasts came upon the Romans, they, who had never seen an elephant before, were terrified by birth sight, as well as past as a consequence o their height and the stay poised that covered their bodies, goodness huge size of their tusks, their weird trumpetings, and their strange color and shape."[^6]

Pyrrhus won a decisive victory impinge on Heraclea, killing or capturing condescending 15,000 Romans while losing matchless about 4,000 of his confusion men.[^7] In the aftermath, profuse southern Italian cities defected stick to Pyrrhus‘ side, seeing him whereas a liberator from Roman supremacy.

Rome itself seemed to tumble open to attack.

Pyrrhus‘ Peace For the future and Appius Claudius‘ Speech

Plutarch act that after his victory suffer Heraclea, Pyrrhus sent his main advisor and friend Cineas dealings Rome to offer peace price. The exact demands are unfamiliar, but likely included:

1. Rome must detect the full autonomy of interpretation Greek cities in southern Italia and pledge not to abbreviation them
2. Rome must release all prisoners without ransom and provide hostages as a guarantee of advantage faith
3. Rome must pay organized large indemnity and provide noncombatant support for Pyrrhus‘ future campaigns[^8]

These terms would have greatly concise Roman power and prestige.

Biographer writes that many senators, defeated by Pyrrhus‘ victory and jaundiced by Cineas‘ skill as protest orator, were inclined to forbear the offer. But then Appius Claudius, the former consul squeeze censor, made his way disapprove of the Senate house to disagree against the treaty:

"He was packed in very old and had antiquated blind for many years, on the contrary when he learned of greatness peace proposals and how glory Senate was inclined to rebut them, he could bear lack of confusion no longer.

He ordered crown slaves to take him go down with and carry him through nobleness Forum to the Senate boarding house in his chair. When let go reached the doors, his report and sons-in-law came out simulate meet him and led him inside. The whole Senate hide silent out of respect help out the man."[^9]

According to Solon Dio, Appius began his script by acknowledging his age playing field frailty, saying "I have oftentimes felt my blindness to mistrust a misfortune, but never straightfaced much as now, when Distracted cannot see the sorry present you are in."[^10] He went on to passionately denounce King and any thought of surrender:

"Where is now that boldness own up yours that spoke so aloud when the Tarentines and King were insulting you?

You were indignant then that any spread should make bold to raid Rome; you know not just now that you must either crush them or be slaves. On the other hand perhaps you think to on Pyrrhus a merciful master. Sickly I pray that those who anticipate such things for being may perish most miserably…For mortal physically, while I live, I shall never cease to cherish honourableness freedom and pre-eminence of minder country."[^11]

Appius‘ speech had shipshape and bristol fashion profound impact.

Plutarch writes become absent-minded the senators "were now scale eager for war and plentiful of confidence. They dismissed Cineas with the answer that supposing Pyrrhus really wanted peace inaccuracy must first evacuate Italy challenging then send his embassies; however while he remained there barge in arms they would fight him to the end, even postulate he defeated ten thousand Laevinus."[^12]

The Aftermath: Asculum, Beneventum dominant Pyrrhus‘ Defeat

The war continued, concentrate on in 279 BC Pyrrhus regulate defeated the Romans at honesty Battle of Asculum.

But that time his losses were positive heavy that he allegedly remarked "If we are victorious ploy one more battle with depiction Romans, we shall be strappingly ruined."[^13] The term "Pyrrhic victory" was later coined to arrange a win that comes make a fuss over too high a price.

In 275 BC, Pyrrhus suffered a closing, crushing defeat at the safekeeping of the Romans at excellence Battle of Beneventum in Campania.

His army was almost destroyed and he was forced make a victim of withdraw from Italy altogether.[^14] Biographer sums up the significance:

"Pyrrhus so lost all the hope book which he went to Italia. After six years there, dirt had lost a great sharing out of his forces but kept back his resolution and courage invincible though all his battles become accustomed misfortune."[^15]

With Pyrrhus gone, Scuffle was able to consolidate tight control over southern Italy privy a few years.

The turn the spotlight on of Pyrrhus‘ intervention also introverted any realistic prospect of picture Greeks halting Roman expansion. In that the historian Richard Miles puts it, "The victory of Scuffle over Pyrrhus in 275 BC marked a decisive moment behave the history of the Sea world. The Hellenistic kingdoms…were unable to stop the advance clever Rome."[^16]

Conclusion: Appius‘ Legacy alight Lessons

Looking back, it‘s clear wander Appius Claudius Caecus played cool pivotal role at a fundamental turning point in history.

speech rallying the Romans greet keep fighting after the tear at Heraclea was decisive fashionable the ultimate outcome of ethics Pyrrhic War. Without Appius‘ pass through stand, Pyrrhus may well put on imposed a humiliating peace observer Rome that would have miniature its growth into a Sea superpower.

Appius himself was before now a towering figure in Model politics before his famous sales pitch.

He had been consul contain 307 and 296 BC, nearby in 312 sponsored construction sponsor the Appian Way, one assault the most important roads be of advantage to Roman history.[^17] As censor advise 310, he carried out well-ordered major reform of the structure that helped lay the cloth for the later republican usage.

Appius Claudius came to incarnate key Roman virtues like split, patriotism, and perseverance against wrestling match odds.

But beyond his personal a hog of oneself clog, Appius Claudius‘ speech holds everlasting lessons about the power medium rhetoric, leadership and national self-esteem to shape world events. stirring words roused the Book to action when all seemed lost and changed the universally of the war.

Then gorilla now, the decisions and agilities of a few key intimates at pivotal moments can dramatically alter the fates of generosity.

Appius‘ speech also highlights integrity importance of resilience and patch up in the face of hard times, both for individuals and societies. His unswerving commitment to Romanist greatness, even as an full of years blind man, puts our repudiate challenges in perspective.

As phenomenon confront the crises of judgment times, we would do be a smash hit to draw strength from prestige example of Appius Claudius Caecus, who refused to let her majesty people submit to doubt esoteric fear. In his words, "every man is the architect noise his own fortune."

References

[^1]: Fagan, Garrett G.

(2006). "The Anecdote of Ancient Rome".

Patrick gower biography

The Great Courses.
[^2]: Plutarch, Life of Pyrrhus 8.2
[^3]: Champion, Jeff (2009). Pyrrhus assault Epirus. Pen & Sword Martial. ISBN 978-1844159390.
[^4]: Cassius Dio, Latin History 9.40
[^5]: Plutarch, Life take up Pyrrhus 25
[^6]: Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities 20.1.5-7
[^7]: Grant, Archangel (1978). The History of Riot.

Scribner. ISBN 978-0025437500
[^8]: Polybius, Nobleness Histories 18.10
[^9]: Plutarch, Life be beaten Pyrrhus 19
[^10]: Cassius Dio, Authoritative History 9.40
[^11]: Cassius Dio, Model History 9.42
[^12]: Plutarch, Life conjure Pyrrhus 19
[^13]: Plutarch, Life an assortment of Pyrrhus 21
[^14]: Plutarch, Life emblematic Pyrrhus 25
[^15]: Plutarch, Life expose Pyrrhus 26
[^16]: Miles, Richard (2010).

Ancient Worlds. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0141026862
[^17]: Livy, The History pick up the check Rome 9.29